Page 26 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

ECOTOURISM

species. River Ventures has been taking visitors a unique look at Florida’s geology. Jacksonville’s Northside. A Florida naturalist
guests to swim and snorkel with the The University of Florida discovered leads this 1.25-hour guided off-trail tour
manatees since 2010. Prices for their three- evidence of a prehistoric manatee and through the maritime forest aboard cross-
hour manatee encounters include the boat crustacean fossils in the limestone caves and terrain fat-tire Segways that ensure stability
trip, snorkels, wetsuits and even swim walls and now visitors can explore this with zero emissions. Guests are given
noodles. Other more exclusive trips are preserved environment from above, with instructions on riding before setting off to
available as well. Manatee season is from nine zip lines, two rope bridges and a rappel explore the salt marshes, oak canopies and
November to March, but they can be across this area of wild Central Florida. The clear waters along the Timucuan Preserve.
spotted around Crystal River year-round. 1,600-foot “Super Zip” affords a bird’s-eye Paddlers unable to resist the call of the
Tours leave from 498 SE Kings Bay Drive, view of the deepest canyon, while the unusual beaches and rock formations
Crystal River, Florida 34429. 1-877-581-8401. thrilling 1,100-foot “Speed Trap” takes guests around the Talbot Islands have the opportu-
riverventures.com from an observation tower and over the nity to try one of Kayak Amelia’s paddle tours
cliffs to cross a water-filled canyon. to explore the tidal streams and sand bars.
SOAR ACROSS LIMESTONE 8045 NW Gainesville Rd, Ocala, Florida 13030 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville, Florida
5 CANYONS WITH CANYONS 34474. 1-352-351-9477. zipthecanyons.com 32226. 1-904-251-0016. KayakAmelia.com
ZIP LINE & CANOPY TOURS IN OCALA
The whirr of metal on metal takes guests GLIDE THROUGH TIMUCUAN PADDLE WITH SCHOLARS
flying through the air across the open 6 HISTORY AND MARITIME 7 IN A NATIONAL ESTUARINE
landscape of natural Central Florida. The FORESTS WITH KAYAK AMELIA RESEARCH RESERVE IN
ground drops away to reveal the steep cliff SEGWAY TOURS NEAR ST. AUGUSTINE
walls and gaping limestone pits of a bygone JACKSONVILLE Paddle the coastal backwaters of the 77,000-
era. Located on 100 acres of private property The hum of the Segway propels visitors past acre GTM-NERR (Guana Tolomato Matanzas
with expansive canyons, lakes and islands, sand dunes and Native American Timucuan National Estuarine Research Reserve) with
Canyons Zip Line & Canopy Tours offers shell mounds on Fort George Island in certified Florida Master Naturalist Instruc-

GTM-NERR, PONTE VEDRA • PALM COAST AND THE FLAGLER BEACHES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

24 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA