I never tire of spending time paddling. Extra points if that time is spent easily exploring on my own with an afternoon open and not much pre-planning, which is exactly how I found myself one afternoon on Siesta Key, Florida. For not a bunch of money but with a bunch of time, Siesta Sports Rentals is a great way to get some time paddling through a nature preserve rife with birds, beaches, and a few shells to boot.
At a Glance – Siesta Sports Rentals
A Tour Guides Take: Easy and warm, be mindful of the tide as that hampered some of our exploration. Spend time paddling, bird watching, mangrove tunneling, and beach combing for an easy access paddle trip, great for families and couples with an afternoon free and a little adventure needed
Where: Jim Neville Marine Preserve – Siesta Key, Florida
What: Kayak Rental
(and it’s not just Florida where you find great kayaking)
Booking
Ride and Paddle by Siesta Sports Rentals makes their reservations easy. You can walk in and ask (like we did) or find a comprehensive list of options, including bike rentals and more, by heading to their website.
We rented two single kayaks for $35.00 each for a 3-hour afternoon rental, for an after-tax total of about $82.
Check-In
We walked in for our reservation so check-in was simultaneous. You can have a kayak delivered to where you’re staying, or opt as we did to meet at the launch point near Turtle Beach and Jim Neville Marine Preserve on the south side of Siesta Key.
Equipment
Kayak, PFD, and paddles provided, as well as a dry bag for our stuff. Lessons were available if needed, and we were even provided photos of us launching taken by the woman who dropped off the kayaks!
The Trip
Launching from the marina at Turtle Beach Park, we paddled through a calm pass fringed on each side by condos and other development. Sadly our trip occurred just a few months after a devastating string of hurricanes hit the area and debris and destruction lined the pass. Still, the water was pretty, the sun was out, and we eventually made it to the mangrove covered islands that comprise Jim Neville Marine Park. Flanked periodically by boaters, you never feel crowded and the abundant birds never feel too threatened as to scatter off.
One small but significant benefit for us happened to be the new inlet opened by the previously mentioned hurricanes, Midnight Pass. We were able to beach our kayaks and walk along the shore picking up beautiful shells while looking out at the vast Florida Gulf Coast, sun slowly getting lower throughout the trip.
Back in our boats, we began the intricate bobbing and weaving through mangroves, around sand bars, and into secluded and quiet bays, all the while watching eagles, pelicans, and a whole host of other birds I couldn’t recognize swoop low on the water.
Rounding the corner of another mangrove island, we found ourselves facing a bit of wind, adding to the excitement without any real reservations of worry. You can paddle the entire marine preserve quickly in under an hour, or at the leisurely pace we did in around 3 hours and feel completely comfortable you’ve gotten what you came for.
Siesta Sports Rentals – Post Trip Thoughts
This is not the longest, the prettiest, nor the most exciting thing you can do on a kayak. It is however the most fun thing you can do on a kayak around the Jim Neville Marine Preserve, and there’s beauty in that. Not everything needs to spike your adrenaline. There are some things you do exactly because they are easy and leisurely, which is why we chose our afternoon jaunt with Siesta Sports Rentals.
I’ve never been to Siesta Key. I’ve never kayaked the Jim Neville Marine Preserve. But now I have done both. The memories of the day outweigh the cost of opportunity. If you like spending time in a kayak and want the joy of an easy trip through a quiet part of our protected planet, take the time to explore this little corner of the wild. Let Siesta Sports Rentals help. You won’t be disappointed.
(Find more kayaking adventures with The Spotlight)
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