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Florida

Back to Nature: Kayaking the Waterways of Florida

Program No. 22647RJ
The Florida coastline boasts beautiful nature reserves and some of the finest kayaking in America. Kayak through mangroves and wetlands to search for wildlife with expert naturalists.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
climate
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Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Dec 10 - Dec 15, 2023
Starting at
1,749
Jan 21 - Jan 26, 2024
Starting at
1,849
Feb 4 - Feb 9, 2024
Starting at
1,999
Feb 11 - Feb 16, 2024
Starting at
1,999
Mar 3 - Mar 8, 2024
Starting at
1,999
Mar 10 - Mar 15, 2024
Starting at
1,999
Dec 8 - Dec 13, 2024
Starting at
1,849
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Dec 10 - Dec 15, 2023
Starting at
2,139
Jan 21 - Jan 26, 2024
Starting at
2,259
Feb 4 - Feb 9, 2024
Starting at
2,489
Feb 11 - Feb 16, 2024
Starting at
2,489
Mar 3 - Mar 8, 2024
Starting at
2,489
Mar 10 - Mar 15, 2024
Starting at
2,489
Dec 8 - Dec 13, 2024
Starting at
2,259

At a Glance

The mangroves, wetland canals and abundance of wildlife make Florida’s Space Coast one of the premier kayaking sites in America. Join expert naturalists and kayak instructors to explore this sublime wilderness on a kayaking adventure suitable for all skill levels. Search for an array of wildlife and learn what makes this unspoiled ecosystem such a thriving habitat. Kayak through wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves, including the remarkable 1,000 Islands and the Turkey Creek Sanctuary. Discover why this region of Florida is known as the Space Coast with a visit to Kennedy Space Center.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Walking up to 2 miles a day and kayaking 3-4 hours a day in breezy conditions on coastal paddles. Kayaking is appropriate for beginner and intermediate levels.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Kayak with naturalists through Florida’s mangroves to view wading birds, dolphins, ospreys and manatees.
  • Bask in the gentle glow of Cocoa Beach's comb jellies by moonlight during a nighttime paddle.
  • View the Saturn V rocket and watch a recreation of the Apollo 11 moon landing on a field trip to Kennedy Space Center.
Featured Expert
All Experts
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Anita Allen
Anita Allen grew up in Indiana and now lives in Coral Springs, Florida. She earned her BA in zoology and MAs in environmental science and geography. She worked for many years in environmental protection and water management along with assisting with sports specialty travel groups around the world. Anita now leads groups for Road Scholar in Florida. When not leading groups, she enjoys running, kayaking and taking photographs.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Anita Allen
Anita Allen View biography
Anita Allen grew up in Indiana and now lives in Coral Springs, Florida. She earned her BA in zoology and MAs in environmental science and geography. She worked for many years in environmental protection and water management along with assisting with sports specialty travel groups around the world. Anita now leads groups for Road Scholar in Florida. When not leading groups, she enjoys running, kayaking and taking photographs.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Birds of Central Florida: A Guide to Common & Notable Species (Quick Reference Guides)
by Larry Manfredi
Birds of Central Florida covers the area from Ormond Beach south to Sebastian on the east coast and from Crystal River south to Punta Gorda on the west coast. This waterproof guide beautifully illustrates 124 species of birds that can be found in Central Florida. Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Florida Scrub Jay, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Wood Stork, Snail Kite, Limpkin, Mangrove Cuckoo, Gray Kingbird are some of the “specialties” included in this guide. This pocket-sized guide features color photos in a side-by-side format that makes it ideal for field use. It includes common and scientific names, length, wing span and season when these birds can be seen. Nature enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy using this guide.
Cocoa Beach, FL (TAN) (Then and Now)
by Wade Arnold
Cocoa Beach welcomes millions of visitors every year, but the city has always managed to keep a small town atmosphere. In 1940, it was a cozy little waterfront town with less than 50 people. A few years after World War II, America’s space race began, and the city was never the same.
North Brevard County, FL
by John T. Manning Ed. D
The early pioneer settlement of LaGrange Community in Brevard County in 1858 pre-dated the missile launches on North Merritt Island by just one hundred years. During that span of time, the northern part of Brevard County underwent significant growth and development--homes were built, land farmed, businesses established, and churches built. The citrus industry provided North Brevard with a productive agricultural economy that remained strong until the advent of the space age. With the federal government's purchase of the land north of the port of Canaveral in the 1950s, the Cape Canaveral Missile Test Center was established. Later, when more land was needed, the Kennedy Space Center was built on North Merritt Island. Many North Brevard towns, communities, and homesteads disappeared when the governmental acquisition of land forced residents to relocate, but it was this new era of technology that helped shift North Brevard from the farm age to the space age.
Canoeing & Kayaking Florida
by Johnny Molloy
ompletely updated yet again, the latest edition of Canoeing & Kayaking Florida is the most comprehensive guide to the best of Florida's unique streams, springs, creeks, and rivers. Engaging and concise, yet filled with carefully selected details vital to any successful Florida paddling adventure, Canoeing & Kayaking Florida spares readers encyclopedic fluff in favor of practical, no-nonsense information. With expanded regional maps and revised river maps, Canoeing & Kayaking Florida is simply the best and most informative Florida paddling guide available.
Explorer's Guide Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach & Florida's Space Coast
by Dianne Marcum
Visitors and residents alike will enjoy exploring Brevard County, a recreational paradise where the high-tech space program exists alongside amazing natural areas like the Indian River Lagoon estuary; the most diverse marine estuary in the U.S. Comprehensive listings make this your most informative and entertaining vacation-planning tool. Full-color photographs throughout





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.