Rum 138 — Attraction in Alachua

This place was awesome. The only issue I had was I showed up late and I felt pressure to catch the bus leaving for the river. I wish I had just taken the next one (but that's my issue not theirs - the lesson is take your time and get there with plenty of time). But they were great about explaining the springs, the ins-and-outs of the trip and everything you could possibly want to know before heading out. Super friendly. The trip itself down the river was awesome! Once you pass Ginnie Springs which can get a little party-ish and loud - you are treated to an almost eerie still calm quiet. You are alone with the crystal clear water, turtles, and small dragon flies that keep the other bugs away. It's darn near perfect. Bring a snorkel and stop and see all the stuff below the water too. Every once in a while, there are rope swings that you can use to swing into the water as well which is super fun. Bring sunscreen, the river's east-west flow means the sun stays overhead 90% of the time. But that's good because the water is a refreshing 70 degrees! Leave your phone and car key behind in case you tip over. A GoPro was/is a great idea and we got some great footage of all of the trip and family. Bring your kids and show them how great the world can be if you put down your phone and enjoy one of the best things our state has to offer. You will NOT be...

We had such a blast here!! We were able to upgrade our original canoe reservation to tandem (2-person) kayaks, for $10 a kayak. The price was 100% worth it, because kayaking the river gave us such a better range of activity and really let us explore the the fullest. Our excursion was about 4 hours long and a very fun experience, even despite about an hour of pouring-down rain. When the rain started we were able to just pull over at the nearest shoreline area and wait it out for the worst 20 minutes of it. This is Florida, though, so by the time we got to the bridge at the end of Rum 128's course, we were already dry again - thanks Sunshine State!

Be speedy about getting ready and catching the bus on the way toward the river. The staff will load and unload your kayak and oars, explain the locations of the springs to you, provide maps and tips, and even help your boats into the water, but they can get impatient when there's a big crowd waiting on the bus and you're the last to leave.

Don't worry a bit about bringing food and drink, cell phones, a speaker, etc. The canoes and kayaks are very stable and it is totally easy to keep everything dry in the boats, especially kayaks. We regretted not bringing a full-on feast, a bluetooth speaker, and a couple of beers (in cans, of course)...

I'm an avid kayaker, and I love kayaking the Santa Fe River with Rum 138, named so, because their main shuttle drop off/pick up spot is Rum Island, and they are located on Hwy 138 in Ft. White. They are a true outfitter, selling and renting all kinds of kayaks, paddleboards and gear. Call or reserve online, your time slot for the shuttle. They load and unload your kayak, and you ride the bus to one of two drop off points on the river, so you can kayak one or two sections, whichever you want. The river is mostly a peaceful stretch of water with a few residences alongside. There's a few parks around certain springs that get pretty busy and can be noisy, but for a few dolllars admission you can get out of your kayak and use the facilities, and take a dip. Or, a leisurely paddle down river, one section, without stopping takes about 2-3 hours. You'll see lots of birds, jumping mullet and other fish, and if you're lucky, an alligator on the bank or a deer in the woods. I wish I had a dollar for every turtle I've seen! The nice people at Rum 138 will give you specifics about the river, but in general, beginners are fine. Also, Rum 138 is a cool spot that hosts events like live music and farmer's markets on certain weekends. Check it out once, and you'll be...