Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company
KAYAKING
( 352-795-5650;
www.floridakayakcompany.com
;
707 N Citrus Ave; tours $50-85)
Rents kayaks and canoes, as well as guiding excellent eco-tours to Kings Bay, Chassahow-
itzka, Ozello backcountry and Rainbow River. Guided tours are led by knowledgeable
wildlife biologists, naturalists and a former park ranger.
Nature Coast Kayak Tours
KAYAKING
( 352-795-9877;
www.naturecoastkayaktours.com
; 8153 W Justin Lane; per person $40)
Small kayak-only tours with Tracy Colson, a conservation-minded no-touch advocate.
Tours explore the unspoilt waterways of the Chassahowitzka and Withlacoochee rivers,
Ozello and Lake Rousseau.
SOUTH OF TAMPA
People who prefer Florida's Gulf side over its Atlantic one generally fall in love with this
stretch of sun-kissed coastline from Sarasota to Naples. These two affluent, cultured towns
set the tone for the whole region, where visits sway between soporific beach days and art-
museum meanders, fine dining and designer cocktails. With their rowdy bars and casual
fun, Siesta Key and Fort Myers Beach are slight exceptions, but even they don't reach the
same pitch of spring break hysteria just north. No, in this region you'll remember hunting
prehistoric shark's teeth in Venice and jewel-like tulip shells in Sanibel, a night at the cir-
cus in Sarasota and buying art in Matlacha.
Sarasota
Entire vacations can be spent soaking up the sights and pretty beaches of sophisticated
Sarasota, but this city took its time to become the culturally rich place it is today. Even
after marauding Spanish explorers expelled the native Calusa people from this coastline in
the 15th century, the land lay virtually empty. That is until the Seminole Wars inspired the
Armed Occupation Act (1842), which deeded 160 acres and six months' provisions to any-
one who would settle here and bear arms to protect their farms. Sailing boats and steam-
ships were the only connection to the outside world, until the Tampa railroad came to town
