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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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.

What You'll Learn

  • 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 trip experts
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Johnny Layton
Johnny Layton has been leading programs for Road Scholar since 2017. From the Florida Keys to Alaska, Johnny has led programs in 11 states and four countries. When he is not ensuring Road Scholar participants are having an amazing experience, you can find him in the sky crisscrossing the USA as a flight attendant or as a driver/guide on the Historic Trolley Tour at home in Asheville, North Carolina.

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

Profile Image of Johnny Layton
Johnny Layton View biography
Johnny Layton has been leading programs for Road Scholar since 2017. From the Florida Keys to Alaska, Johnny has led programs in 11 states and four countries. When he is not ensuring Road Scholar participants are having an amazing experience, you can find him in the sky crisscrossing the USA as a flight attendant or as a driver/guide on the Historic Trolley Tour at home in Asheville, North Carolina.
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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.
Profile Image of Ashley Konan
Ashley Konan View biography
Ashley Konan, a dedicated advocate for nature, has called Florida home for a decade. Having earned a B.S. in animal science from the University of Vermont, Ashley has traversed a diverse professional landscape, serving as a zookeeper at three different zoos, leading kayak adventures on the Indian River Lagoon, and contributing to the preservation of the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River system. Ashley's academic pursuits continue with a master's degree through Project Dragonfly at Miami University.
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You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5 B 4 L 4 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Cocoa Beach, FL
D
Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. We will be kayaking for up to four hours with breaks each paddle. Some of the paddles during the program will have sections of open water. We will be using sit-in kayaks; single or tandem kayaks are available upon request. Field trips will happen rain or shine. Due to weather and nature, there is no guarantee we will see all wild/plant life marketed in materials. Our local kayaking experts may alter routes and locations to allow for a more enjoyable experience. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, engaging in available activities on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may be changed due to local conditions/circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Nature Talk, Kayaking Thousand Islands Conservation Area
Cocoa Beach, FL
B,L,D
Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Kayaking for about 2 miles throughout the day; getting in/out of the kayak with assistance.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: At the hotel, we will be joined by our local master naturalist who will discuss wildlife and marine mammals of the Indian and Banana Rivers and of the adjacent Atlantic Ocean. Afterwards, we will set off via motorcoach for our launch point at the nearby Thousand Islands Conservation Area, an area known for its lush mangrove channels. Our outfitter use sit-in kayaks with back support designed for waterways. Single or tandem kayaks are available upon request. At the launch site we will receive a safety briefing and an introduction to our kayaks. Our local kayaking experts will point out local flora and fauna and explain the history of the area during the paddle.

Lunch: Along the way, we will stop to have boxed lunches.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will continue our kayaking exploration of the Thousand Islands Conservation Area. We then return to the hotel to have a short break before walking a short distance to dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

DAY
3
Kennedy Space Center, Night Paddle
Cocoa Beach, FL
B,L,D
Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 45 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Walking dependent on personal preference at the Kennedy Space Center; seating areas to rest throughout facility. Kayaking for approximately 1.5 hours; getting in/out of the kayak with assistance.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After transferring via motorcoach, we’ll start off our exciting adventures with an independent exploration of the Kennedy Space Center. Be sure to check out the Heroes & Legends exhibit, which is an amazing addition to Kennedy Space Center that celebrates pioneers of NASA's early space programs.

Lunch: We will have vouchers to enjoy what we like at Kennedy Space Center.

Afternoon: Our Kennedy Space Center field trip will continue with more self-led exploration and recommendations from your Group Leader. If you have not been yet, a trip to the Apollo/Saturn V Center is in order to explore the exhibits surrounding these two series of missions. Most notably, the giant F1 thruster engines of the Saturn V moon rockets that took the first humans to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s are showcased here along with command modules from Apollo XIV, space suits, and even real lunar samples that you can touch. Also on site to view is the monumental 363-foot rocket, which was launched 13 times from the Kennedy Space Center.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: After dinner, we will head out for a sunset paddle in the Barge Canal area, where we will attempt to encounter the comb jellies that live in this habitat. After our paddle, we’ll return to the hotel.

DAY
4
Indian River Paddle
Cocoa Beach, FL
B,L
Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 60 miles, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Kayaking for up to 4 hours on this day with breaks; getting in and out of the kayak with assistance.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: By motorcoach, we’ll head over to this morning’s launch site near the Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park where our expert naturalists and kayaking instructors will greet us. Setting out into the Indian River Lagoon, we will have the opportunity to discover this natural habitat of mangroves and salt water marshes, and perhaps even spot wildlife such as wading birds, dolphins, ospreys, and manatees.

Lunch: Boxed lunches along the way.

Afternoon: We will finish our paddle for the day and head back to the hotel for some well-deserved rest and an opportunity to freshen up before dinner.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Paddle Turkey Creek
Cocoa Beach, FL
B,L,D
Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 60 miles, approximately 1.5 hours total driving time. Kayaking for about 4 hours on this day with a break for lunch; getting in/out of the kayak with assistance.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will hear a lecture at the hotel on lagoon plant life from an experienced naturalist. Then, we’ll head out by motorcoach to our final kayak outing at Turkey Creek in nearby Palm Bay. There, we will paddle through fresh water as we make our way towards the creek. Along the way, we will see a different habitat with fewer mangroves and surrounded by sand pine scrub. As we paddle, be on the lookout for gators, turtles, and other wildlife.

Lunch: Boxed lunches along the way.

Afternoon: Our paddling will conclude in the early afternoon and we will return to the hotel. Upon our return, take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
6
Lecture, Program Concludes
Cocoa Beach, FL
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will have a final expert-led lecture on program-related themes in the local area. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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