Get Up And Go Kayaking - Weeki Wachee — Local services in Spring Hill

My girlfriend and I took part this weekend in the guided manatee tour - something we’d been looking forward to enjoying since moving to Florida ten months ago and it was amazing.

Our tour guide, Davis, was incredibly passionate for, and knowledgeable of the local wildlife, ecosystem, and actively sought to provide both a fun but educational experience. We saw numerous jumping/flying fish, manatees (despite it being nearly the end of season), a very rare (and large!) hawk, among others, while also pointing out beautiful local flora as well.

The day started with some minor complications with people arriving ~15-20 minutes late, outside the window, and he checked in with all of us to ensure that gap wouldn’t impact our plans. Even after the other party arrived and hadn’t filled out all their forms or done prep, he kept a remarkably cheerful and helpful attitude navigating things - taking care of both them while simultaneously performing the training for us as well.

The visibility of the boats was pretty good - particularly depending where you were. At the start of the tour with the muddy waters (a feature of that ecological area) I thought I just couldn’t see but he demonstrated with the paddle how it’s a trick if the eye and how the sediments so close to the surface were a trick. Loved the cool ecological fact, and he demonstrated with his paddle by disturbing the mud, and how we could see it clearly at first, then gone. He proactively told us about all the things we could see, as well as spots of interest he’d noticed on previous tours. Bald eagles (and nests which we saw), black bears, otters, deer, alligator gar, etc. It kept the groups attention and we were enamored with the search (and a few flying/jumping fish at the start!)

Further along he’d point out changes in the water depth/transparency, including a crazy ~150 hole, more unique and beautiful plants, eyeing some unique birds, chatting about the locals there, and spotting all the manatees for us from up on his paddleboard. When we’d first started I was hopeful but concerned that it was the end and we might only find one, but by the end saw 6-7 beneath us or breaking the surface.

He was also a great conversationalist, chatting about life, diet (beef jerky is great until it’s every day), and swapping book recommendations with my girlfriend about Florida wild life scandals. The whole time he also made sure to take pictures of our group for later and in case we didn’t get enough, and more than once steered an errant and inattentive kayaker who wasn’t paying attention away from a dock or boat that would’ve definitely hurt otherwise.

The experience was amazing, and Davis made it all that much better. Highly recommend him, the tour, and definitely to arrive early. For everyone’s sake...

The clear kayak tour with Get Up and Go kayaking at Weeki Wachee was an amazing half day activity during our trip down to St. Pete for a few days. The drive was about an hour and a half, but well worth it. Their pricing is very competitive compared to other kayak rentals in the area, and booking was fast and simple!

We got lucky enough to have Davis as our tour guide and I can not say enough great things about him! He was so kind, detailed, well spoken, and accommodating towards every single persons needs. He was also extremely knowledgeable about the Weeki Wachee and taught us so much about the river, it’s wildlife, and plant diversity. He was persistent in guiding us to look for the manatees and even extended the tour a bit over the typical 2.5 hours to make sure we got to see them. My son and I even had one swim directly under our kayak! It’s obvious he is very caring and passionate about the environment and conservation. We could not have asked for a better guide!

Sadly the water was a bit muddy and darker than the usual blue springs due to water coming into the springs from the gulf, but that just gives us a good reason to come back sooner! It was an amazing...

This kayaking experience was exceptional and went beyond my expectations! We chose the clear waters of the Weeki Wachee River, and the pristine clarity of the water was breathtaking. Riding in a transparent kayak allowed us to see the underwater scenery clearly, which was a truly unique experience. The scenery along the way was beautiful, with lush trees on both sides, creating a peaceful natural atmosphere. Our guide, Davis, was both professional and friendly. He thoroughly explained each part of the journey and made sure we felt safe during the activity. His patience and guidance made it easy for us, even as beginners, to get comfortable with kayaking. Davis is highly knowledgeable about the local environment and shared interesting information about the plants and animals we encountered along the river, adding an educational element to the trip. This experience was not only a chance to connect with nature but also a memorable way to relax and unwind. If you’re looking for a unique outdoor activity, I highly recommend this kayaking tour, especially with David as your guide. You’re sure to create...