Today we are going kayaking! Back in 2020, I bought my “pandemic kayak” on a whim without ever having kayaked before. Turns out it is something I really enjoy. Where I am located, the lake water is pretty dark from the cypress trees, so it’s always nice to venture out to clearer waters. I love being on the water, but more importantly – I love being able to see what is below the surface!
You will definitely kind clear beautiful water at King’s Landing. Located in Apopka, Florida they offer guided tours, self-guided rentals, and a bring your own vessel option. They do require a reservation, which I actually prefer – it controls the crowd so that you are not playing bumper boats with everyone around you (if you have ever been to Weeki Wachee on a hot weekend… you know)…
We made our reservation about two weeks before our trip. We had both BYOK (bring your own kayak) and renters in our party. It was easy to make the reservations, even thought they weren’t the same “type” of reservation. I did it all on the King’s Landing website and it was very easy to navigate. We paid $10 only to bring and launch our own kayaks. The rental prices vary, depending on the type of vessel you are renting. This time around, we opted for the 4 hour resevation You paddle a little upstream on the first half, then when you come back, you are basically just flowing with the current and relaxing. They do offer a longer trip, which I hope to try next time! When we arrived at our 11 am reservation time on a busy Saturday, parking was scarce. They do have limited reserved parking for those who bring their own vessels. There were 2 spots left when we arrived, so we lucked out. Had the spots not been available, it would’ve been a bit of a walk. You will notice when you are driving up to the entrance, there are many cars parked along the road.
The check-in process was nice and easy. We checked in at the quirky little gift shop. We all got wristbands (different colors for BYOK vs rentals). You are allowed to bring a small cooler, and they do check the coolers before you launch. No alcohol permitted. I would suggest lots of water and some snacks. They also have a snack bar that has hot dogs, chips, and drinks available for purchase.
Our time on the water was outstanding. Very relaxing, not over-crowded, and we saw a bit of wildlife too! Turtles, birds, and even three deer along the shore! This is by far the best kayaking experience I have had to date. For those who may be unsure of kayaking or a little nervous around the water, I would say King’s Landing is a perfect place to start. The water is very clear and very shallow in most spots. There’s no boats, just fellow kayakers and paddle boarders. I absolutely will be back to King’s Landing to try the longer day reservation. For all the info and to make a reservation, be sure to check out the King’s Landing website.
