Kayaking North Florida’s Sacred Springs & Rivers

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a great time to take this program. The waterways were almost empty. It was awesomeness.

We took the "Kayaking North Florida’s Sacred Springs & Rivers" and had a marvelous time. Knowledgeable and competent guides took us on trips on different types of rivers including many springs, parks and the local research institute. We stayed at an amazing bed and breakfast, , met and became friends with interesting people, ate great food and learned so much about the environment including the importance of the Florida aquafer that is being systematically damaged by over-development and business interests. This trip is well worth taking.

The Sacred Spring & Rivers trip was all that it was advertised and word of mouth reviews. The charming town of Gainesville Florida along with the Sweetwater Branch Inn provided the foundation for a GREAT trip! Our guide Lars Andersen did a fantastic job of sharing his wealth knowledge about Florida's springs, habitat and ecological challenges that Florida faces. I have to say that the use of wireless headsets that the Road Scholar provides ensures that everyone can hear what all the guides were saying. Our Road Scholar hostess Gail made certain that our needs were attended to. Job well done by all! I highly recommend this tour for everyone.

This is a great value! The Sweetwater Branch was a gorgeous inn and the meals were amazing. The paddling equipment was easy to use and the streams were stunningly beautiful. Luckily, our 14 stalwart paddlers bonded into a congenial, fun-loving group without exception. Road Scholar at its finest!

Awesome trip. I’ve attended twice and it even managed to improve the second time. Great accommodations, food, and leaders. Lars Anderson is a local gem. What he doesn’t know about local history and nature you probably don’t need to know. Sweetwater Inn is a delight. Paddling and floating the rivers is relaxing and educational. We were fortunate to have a very congenial group. Jazz band at farewell dinner was the icing on the cake.

Kayaking North Florida’s Sacred Springs & Rivers: Gayle was amazing. Lars was great, helpful and very knowledgeable. The springs and rivers we kayaked were beautiful. The lodging was lovely. Great food. Wine, cheese and sausage was a nice time to visit with other Road Scholars. I'm so glad to have experienced this trip!

This is a wonderful program for anyone who enjoys the outdoors and would like to experience a beautiful part of Florida that many beach-going tourists do not get to experience! If you like to kayak, or would like to improve your kayaking skills in a relaxing setting, this is an excellent adventure. Learning about Florida's freshwater systems and the flora and fauna is an additional enhancement. The instructors on this program are excellent, the accommodations outstanding, and the meals superb!

It was a beautiful trip, the food was good, the inn charming, Gayle the group leader really nice and efficient.

Kayaking the Springs and Rivers of North Florida

A wonderful educational experience on the Florida Springs and in the parks.

We were educated, challenged on the river, and spoiled at the Sweetwater Branch Inn. Just the right combination of experiences.

Cornelia Holbrook, the owner of the Sweetwater Branch Inn and Bed and Breakfast developed this program and has had an association with Road Scholar and Elderhostel since she was a tike (Holbrook travel). That she really cares about this program shows. The part of the Inn that we stay in are unique rooms in two restored Victorian houses. The grounds are lovely. Downtown Gainesville is an easy walk with an adjacent park. The kayaking is easy on aquifer fed springs so we see flora and fauna including birds, alligators, fish, manatees, even monkeys at Silver Springs. The outfitter is first rate. My brother and have done this program twice.

As this was the second time in two years that I chose this program, it can be assumed that I REALLY liked it. The accommodations are exquisite, as is the food prepared by the inn. The kayaking is very enjoyable, easy if you want it to be, more strenuous if you do some speed trials. The rivers are different in vegetation, and animals. The one day off the river provides an overview of a complex prairie/wetland with a chance to see an extraordinary array of birds, alligators and turtles. We learned that a grouping of alligators is called a "congregation". The kayak leader, Lars, is almost infinitely knowledgeable about all aspects of the rivers and history; but did not overwhelm with chatter while on the river (and you can just turn off the listening device). All in all, an experience that I thought was worth repeating.

Wonderful paddling trip that was easier than others I've done with RS. It included great educational presentations about these waters. Very scenic above and below the waters! Well run trip. While Jan weather was unusually cold one paddle day, it was still very doable!

Kayaking North Florida’s Sacred Springs and Rivers was the perfect way to learn more and experience the beauty of this natural area of Florida. Our days were filled with kayaking, hiking, and learning about this important ecosystem. The accommodations were very nice, oh so comfortable and welcoming. The food was very good. And we were blessed with terrific weather. This is my fifth Road Scholar trip and I would highly recommend it!

I thoroughly enjoyed this program. Kayaking the beautiful springs and rivers was almost surreal. It was great to have Lars' interpretation throughout the paddling. I learned so much about the natural world and the abundant wildlife we saw. The Inn was super comfortable and inviting and the food was amazing. Ann did a great job of keeping us safe and on schedule.

Kayaking the Springs of North Florida was so much fun! I loved my room in the beautiful Sweetwater Inn and am ready to go back. The three springs each offered a look at unique settings, but my favorite was the Ichetucknee River as the water was crystal clear blue and there weren’t many people around. We saw manatee in two different springs, a few gators, a multitude of turtles sunning on logs and many different birds while paddling. There were countless gators at Payne’s Prairie while hiking on the walking bridges looking down. Lars Anderson was a superb guide as his knowledge of the environment is extensive and his stories are great.

This is a very special small group event. There were people from far away, even another country, who attended. There were repeat guests. I plan to repeat this excursion. The guided tours on the gorgeous Florida Springs waters was amazing.

We first did this exact same trip in 2021 and were excited to do it again in 2023, two years later. We may very well do it again in 2025! Here’s proof you can indeed kayak the same river twice, and there is nothing better than encountering the pristine Ichetucknee, Santa Fe and Silver Rivers, and those gorgeous springs. I hate to say it—better see them while you can—because there are so many stresses on the springs from commercial bottlers, agricultural irrigation, homeowner’s lawn fertilizers, cattle ranches, artesian wells, and more. But when you are on the river and in the middle of those blue springs, hearing the birdlife all around, viewing the turtles all lined up on a log, and the gators lazing about in the sun, well, you can feel your blood pressure lowering and your breath deepening. It’s a trip filled with Zen moments of gratitude and appreciation and celebration of the world around us and that in our 70s, we are still able to hike and kayak and explore. Once again, Cornelia’s hospitality and meals at Gainesville’s Sweetwater Branch Inn B&B are unsurpassed. Once again, the tour guides (this time Mary, Jackie, and Lars) did all the work, and the participants had all the pleasures of being in the middle of this astounding environment. Once again, the invited speakers were masters of geology, hydrology, cultural history and more. An added dollop this time was our being able to hear from the Micanopy logging master who works to retrieve abandoned cypress and pine logs at the bottom of the river and transform them into architectural works of art. And another dollop was the thrill of our closing night dinner back at Sweetwater Branch Inn with the Front Porch jazz band (including our very own Mary and Jackie!) offering up American songbook standards. Truly, this is the best of the Road Scholar approach. --Ben and Joyce Wiley/Largo FL

I'm not sure what I enjoyed more...the beautiful kayak days or the education about our springs. An excellent experience no matter why you choose it.

A unique opportunity to experience the nature of inland Northern Florida, so unlike costal Florida. Beautiful natural springs & rivers with abundant wildlife sightings.

Wonderful program. Mary, Jackie and Lars are well organized, extremely informed and caring leaders. Sweetwater Branch Inn is lovely with very comfortable accommodations. Group size of 14 allowed everyone to get to know each other well. If you enjoy kayaking and spending the day outdoors, you will love this program.

This is a great program. We were first time Road Scholar travelers and it far exceeded our expectations. Cornelia and staff at Sweetwater Branch Inn provided an outstanding experience. The beautifully restored homes and food made this tour a lifetime memory. Thanks to all. Jim

Kayaking North Florida Scared Springs and Rivers is a great program! Leisurely pace, great environmental knowledge shared, well organized program!

Seeing the springs, learning how important they are to Florida as well to our ecosystem is amazing. The program, leaders, accommodations, small group size, & meals are first class.

This was my first trip (Kayaking North Florida) with RS and I am filled with awe. I got to learn about the ecology of the area that I kayaked and hiked. I will forever feel connected with this amazing place.

Nice accommodations, good meals. An interesting combination of rivers and springs. Each had something different to offer. A good opportunity to learn about the Floridan Aquifer and its condition and outlook for the future.

Great fun, and educational too. Lars is an excellent outfitter, and accommodates all levels of kayaking experience. And the B&B (Sweetwater Branch Inn) is welcoming and goes out of its way to ensure a great time.

Absolutely fantastic trip. I would sign up for anything that Lars Anderson did. His paddling trips were so informative and excellent for any level of kayaker. The Sweetwater Branch Inn could not have been more perfect. Cornelia had everything extremely well organized and I felt very comfortable. I so appreciated all she did for individually wrapped foods when possible and the happy hours were an extra treat. Music in the main area was very relaxing and enjoyable. There were plenty of options for sitting indoors or outside. Each of the rooms were outstanding with their own personality. The food she provided was outstanding and she had many options for vegetarians and those who preferred gluten free options. Everyone who worked there was very helpful and friendly. It was so nice of Anne to step in on the second day to help cover the rest of the trip when Debbie had to step back due to illness. The visit to Paynes Prairie was very informative and the guide was also outstanding. The only 2 disappointments was the omission of the lecture on industry and Native American history and the visit for lunch to Micanopy. There was only one restaurant open with very long lines and the shops were primarily antiques. Overall I would still say this was an excellent trip andI look forward to more with Roads Scholar in the future.

A great way to quietly enjoy the streams & wildlife. Good guide, lodging, food, & educational experience.

Our group of intrepid paddlers enjoyed three amazing kayaking adventures. Our guide, Lars Andersen turned the rivers into an outdoor classroom with entertaining and understandable commentary. We experienced beautiful landscapes and were able to see an incredible variety of wildlife. Our visit to Paynes Prairie and Sweetwater Wetlands Park provided an opportunity to learn about the area’s unique ecological features as well as how Gainseville is restoring water quality. Another star of the program was the Sweetwater Branch Inn, it is a beautiful and welcoming place and made the program even more enjoyable. .

Kayaking the springs and rivers was fantastic! We saw animals, birds and beautiful scenery galore! Our hotel was wonderful, meals were delish and the company of the other RoadScholars and guides was warm and friendly. Thanks RS for a great experience!

Exploring the natural springs and rivers of north Florida by kayak is a unique experience,

There were three days of easy kayaking almost entirely downstream, on rivers that were different enough from each other to make each unique. There was one day of light walking accompanied by narrative from guides and rangers in two very interesting environments. The only somewhat strenuous activity was getting up from the kayak seat to a standing position. The accommodation was one of the best I've experienced in 17 RS trips. Really a classy resort with nice amenities including heated pool and whirlpool and evening wine and cheese socials. BUT, as this is Florida after all, adherence to indoor mask wearing was spotty. This included staff even when they were speaking directly to you within a few feet. As I said, hit or miss.

In addition to the wonderful paddling and bird sightings, we learned a great deal about the aquifer that feeds the rivers of northern Florida.

Top notch all the way. Facilitated by professionals who are tops in their field, personable, and eager to share their knowledge and passion.

I highly recommend this program whether new to kayaking or have been doing it for years. The artisan springs are just beautiful with clear water where you can see manatees, turtles, fish and even a couple of alligators. As you float gently down the rivers, there is plenty of water birds to see on the banks, flying overhead and hunting in the water. The tree canopy with Spanish moss, cypress knees and palmettos made for a beautiful backdrop to the wildlife. Lars, our kayaking guide, was very professional, friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the rivers, springs, plants and wildlife. His guidance added to the enjoyment of the river trips. The Sweetwater Branch Inn is a beautiful, historic property located just a few blocks from downtown. The grounds are lovely, the room was very comfortable and beautifully decorated. Every meal we had was delicious and accommodated different dietary restrictions. Cornelia, the owner and our hostess, was always available and made sure we didn’t want for anything. Thank you to Doug and Glenn for driving us safely to our adventures and delivering our picnic lunches.

It was a sublime week of glorious weather and sparkling springs on the Ichetucknee, Santa Fe and Silver Rivers. Our naturalist guide Lars kept a running commentary on wildlife and birdlife while on the water as we used the headphones. Close encounters with manatees only added to the magic of the place. At other times, you were free to disconnect, float on your own and just listen to the water and the wind. The kayaking crew did all the heavy lifting, arranging and launching. All you had to do was paddle and enjoy the meandering, spring-fed rivers. Presentations and films from experts at the Springs Institute put all this "sacred springs" into context as it was clear how threatened these springs are from agricultural irrigation, commercial bottling, and homeowner pollution. Our accommodations at Gainesville's Sweetwater Branch Inn B&B were superb. Cornelia and her crew made sure we were well-fed and well-feted, both at home and with picnic lunches. The day's outing to Payne's Prairie State Park was surprising and revelatory--what an amazing natural resource right there in the Gainesville area when I usually associate prairies with the midwest. This is the best of the Road Scholar approach to onsite experience and learning--fun, spirited, educational, with a compatible and companionable group of like-minded travelers. And most of all, those beautiful, powerful, fragile, vulnerable springs where we were privileged to paddle. We've done a number of RS kayaking outings (Columbia River in Pacific NW, Low Country South Carolina, Maryland's Eastern Shore/Chesapeake, Acadia NP in Maine, and later this year, Kayaking in the Everglades). This experience on the springs and rivers of Northern Florida count among the absolute best.

This was a great kayaking trip. The rivers were clear and beautiful and the trip leader, Lars Anderson was terrific. The paddling was easy and all downstream. We saw many Manatees, turtles, birds, fish, etc. It was so helpful to have the listening devices on the river, as we could all hear what was going on. The food and accommodations were great. If they do a second version of this trip, I think most everyone on the trip would sign up to go again.

Our first trip, this was inspiring, joyful, and free from our usual stresses. We were welcomed warmly at the Inn, first by our “Head Shepherd” Glen, then by Cornelia, our friendly and gracious Innkeeper. The accommodations were exceptional, and the food was outstanding. We were new to kayaking and chose the much maligned tandem kayak which worked well for us. We were encouraged by our fellow participants and, if needed, our guides were there to help us. By the end of our stay, we had made many dear friends with whom we shared much joy. The Florida springs are vital to the state. We learned first hand from passionate instructors the importance of maintaining the springs for the good health and well being for all who rely on these waters. This was a fascinating adventure which has inspired us to return to both kayaking and to the springs.

An excellent program. Would highly recommend.

Fantastic trip -- a bit larger group than expected but was really not a problem at all. Easy kayaking on smooth, wonderfully clear water. Alligators were no problem and we did see a few snakes in and around the water but they were no problem either. It was fantastic when the big old manatee came up right next to my kayak! Resort/Inn was truly a gem -- gorgeously furnished with love and a great sense of comfort and concern for the guests. I will keep a lookout for more such programs!

Super program. I learned a lot about Florida springs and visited places that I plan to revisit.

This program met my expectations to see a lot of water birds and beautiful scenery while enjoying my hobby of kayaking. The accommodations for this program were very fine and the food was divine. Our group leader, Jonathan Varol and outfitter Lars Anderson were great!

We really enjoyed the 3 diverse kayaking experiences with an experienced guide. The day of hikes in different locations was a very nice additional activity. The listening devices were a great asset especially for those who like to take pictures or linger but don't want to miss the commentary.

Fun, and educational Kayaking adventure with excellent leaders on three clear water/dark water steams; 99 % of the 15 miles are with the currant.

Want to stay in a stunning historic Bed and Breakfast and enjoy kayaking Florida springs? Then you might want to sign up for this programs. The Sweetwater Inn was superb and the food outstanding (as well as plentiful). Even though I am a Floridian, I learned many things about Florida's springs and water supply. Although the weather was cool, we had wonderful trips down several rivers. The use of listening devices meant we could easily hear our tour guides. Dr. Bob Knight of the Florida Springs Institute and river guide Lars Anderson was extremely knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. This tour is a bit 'spirited' with very little free time, but I am sure it will be tweaked over time. My husband and I participated in the very first program. Everyone in our group made several constructive suggestions and Cornelia, the Inn Keeper, was very responsive to ideas for improvements and suggestions.