|
|
|
||||||||
Florida Pack & Paddle Tour Descriptions
Florida Pack & Paddle's
WEKIVA RIVER
Half Day Canoe Tour
This tour provides an opportunity for guests to gain a glimpse into Florida's natural beauty and history, as well as enjoy a delicious picnic buffet lunch, in only one half of a day. This is our most popular convention tour, and is also well suited for spouse programs, corporate retreats and incentive tours.
The Wekiva is a beautiful subtropical river that appears today much as it did thousands of years ago, when the Timucuan Indians hunted and fished along its banks. We begin our tour at Wekiva Springs State Park, where Wekiva Springs pours over 36 million gallons of clear, fresh water into the river every day. We discuss the natural history of the area while viewing the springs, then we walk down to the canoe beach for instruction in canoeing safety and paddling techniques before pushing off. Once on the river we point out wildlife and areas of interest as we quietly glide downstream. It's common for the paddler to see exotic wading birds, alligators, limpkins, raccoons and hawks. Plenty of fresh fruit, cold sodas and juices are provided along the way to make the trip more enjoyable.
After exploring Shell Island, an ancient Indian midden, we paddle back upstream to the State Park for a freshly prepared picnic buffet lunch. After lunch, guests are invited to swim in the springs, lie in the sun or take a short hike before boarding and departing the park.
Time: Approx. 4 hours plus travel (approx. 45 minutes from International Drive area)
Max. No. of People: 100
Tour Options: Continental Breakfast
Alternative Menus
1997 Rates:
15-19 people: $45.00 per person
20-24: people $37.00
25-29: $33.00
30-34: $31.00
35-39: $30.00
40-44: $28.00
45-49: $26.00
50-54: $25.00
54+: Please call for proposal
Florida Pack & Paddle's
WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER
Full Day Canoe Tour
The Withlacoochee River, near Brooksville is one of Florida's most scenic rivers, gently meandering through the 100,000+ acre Withlacoochee State Forest. This is our most popular full day tour, as it has something for everyone: a leisurely country drive; a beautiful, lazy river; abundant wildlife; scenic rest, swimming and picnicking spots, and excellent, freshly prepared food and drink. This tour is perfect for convention and incentive groups, team building workshops, company picnics and spouse programs.
We begin our tour with a continental breakfast at our meeting place at the Silver Lake Recreation Area. After instruction in canoeing safety and paddling techniques, we push off into the lazy current and paddle leisurely down stream, watching for alligators, wading birds, hawks and otters. Along the way we take breaks to relax, swim, stretch our legs and enjoy fresh fruit and ice-cold drinks.
Around noon, we paddle into Hog Island Recreation Area, where a fresh picnic buffet lunch awaits in the cool shade of the oak trees on the banks of the river. Guests are invited to sit back, relax and take their time to enjoy lunch, as well as the surrounding tranquility. Restrooms are available nearby.
After lunch we continue paddling downstream as the river scenery changes from oak and pine forest to lush cypress swamp. At our takeout point, we enjoy a champagne toast to celebrate a
day of sun, fun and fellowship on one of Florida's most beautiful rivers!
Time: Approx. 6 hours plus travel (approx. 1 1/4 hrs. from Disney resort area).
Max. No. of People: 100
Tour Options: Alternative menus
Post-tour Beer Cooler
1997 Rates: 20-24 people: $44.00 Per Person
25-29: $42.00
30-34: $40.00
35-39: $39.00
40-44: $38.00
45-49: $37.00
50-54: $36.00
55-75: $35.00
75+ $34.00
Florida Pack & Paddle's
OKLAWAHA RIVER
Full Day Canoe Tour
The Oklawaha River, near Silver Springs, is one of our favorite rivers for day trips. Its deep, swift water flows north, along the west side of the Ocala National Forest, and eventually makes its way to the St. Johns River near Palatka. Paddlers follow the river through a lush, subtropical environment, accented with high scenic bluffs providing guests beautiful break areas for sunning, swimming and relaxing.
The tour begins with a continental breakfast featuring freshly baked nutbreads, sweetrolls, juice and coffee at our starting point on the river. After short instruction on canoeing safety and paddling techniques, we shove off and begin our journey down the Oklawaha.
Early afternoon, we will stop for a fresh picnic buffet lunch that awaits us beneath the shade trees on the high bluffs that border the east side of the river. Guests can sit back, relax and take their time to enjoy lunch, the sunshine and swimming in the surrounding tranquility.
After lunch we continue paddling downstream as the scenic beauty of the Oklawaha River unfolds before us. We end our tour at a county park where we have a champagne toast to the Oklawaha, one of Florida's most beautiful waterways.
Time: 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. plus travel
(approx. 12 hours from Orlando).
Max. No. of People: 60
Tour Includes: Continental Breakfast
Buffet Lunch
Post-Tour Toast
1997 Rates: 15-19 people: $57.00 per person
20-24: $44.00
25-29: $41.00
30-34: $40.00
35-39: $39.00
40-44: $38.00
45-49: $37.00
50-54: $36.00
55-60: $35.00
Florida Pack & Paddle's
DeLEON SPRINGS
Breakfast Canoe Tour
Our favorite outdoor settings always combine good food, beautiful scenery and places to hike, swim or paddle. The DeLeon Springs State Recreation Area and the bordering Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, located near DeLand in West Volusia County, provide a perfect combination. This tour is ideal for convention tours, spouse programs and corporate retreats.
We begin the tour at the Old Sugar Mill Restaurant at the DeLeon Springs Recreation Area, a replica of the original 19th Century sugar mill that stood on the site. Guests are served homemade pancakes, eggs, fresh fruit and other side orders that they cook themselves on the built-in tabletop griddles. The aromas of fresh, hot breakfast, the view of the springs, the cool morning air, and the quaint atmosphere of the mill create a unique breakfast experience!
After breakfast, we walk (or waddle!) out to the beach at DeLeon Springs for discussion of the natural history of the area, river safety and paddling techniques. We then push off into the gentle flow of the spring run and paddle out into the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, a watery 18,500 acre maze of freshwater marshes, streams and lakes. The abundant wildlife in the refuge include over 200 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 58 species of reptiles and 33 species of amphibians. Our guide will point out wildlife and areas of interest to the group, and guests are free to explore the nooks and crannies on their own. Plenty of fresh fruit, sodas and juices will be provided by our guide along the way.
After paddling back to the springs, guests are invited to swim, walk the nature trail, or just enjoy the sun and the beauty of the area before departing.
Time: Approx. 4 hours plus travel (approx. 13 hours from International Drive area)
Max. No. of People: 50
Tour Options: Picnic Buffet Lunch
Alternate Menus
1997 Rates: 15 - 19 people: $49.00 per person
20 - 24: $40.00
25 - 29: $38.00
30 - 34: $35.00
35 - 39: $32.00
40 - 44: $30.00
45 - 50: $28.00
Florida Pack & Paddle's
CROWN HOTEL
Gulf Coast Getaway
We've combined two days of canoeing with dinner and lodging at one of Florida's most charming and elegant inns to create the ultimate adventure getaway. This tour is also ideal for corporate workshops.
The tour begins with a continental breakfast at our meeting place on the shores of the Withlacoochee River. After instruction in paddling and safety techniques, we enjoy a leisurely paddle downstream through the Withlacoochee State Forest, watching for alligators, wading birds and other wildlife. There is plenty of time for breaks along the way to relax, swim and enjoy fresh fruit and ice-cold drinks. Around noon we paddle to Hog Island Recreation Area, where lunch awaits the hungry paddlers. Beneath the oak trees that line the banks of the river we feast on a freshly prepared buffet picnic lunch featuring assemble-your-own deli style sandwiches, salads, cheeses, veggies and dip. After lunch we continue paddling downstream as the scenery changes from oak and pine forest into lush cypress swamp, and enjoy more refreshments at our take-out point.
A short drive from our take-out brings us to Inverness, a sleepy town tucked away among the rolling hills and lakes of Citrus County on Florida's Gulf Coast. Sitting on a quiet side street in downtown Inverness is the Crown Hotel, known throughout Florida for its English Victorian decor, warm, intimate atmosphere, and gourmet dining experience in the renowned Churchill's restaurant.
After breakfast on the second day, we'll drive a short distance to the Chassahowitzka River on the Gulf Coast for a totally different canoeing experience. We will see an amazing diversity of fish, birds and other wildlife as the fresh water of the river merges with the salt water of the Gulf. We'll paddle up the runs of three different springs, and enjoy a picnic lunch on the banks of the river. Then we'll paddle back to our put-in point for a champagne toast to celebrate two days of fun, fellowship and relaxation.
Time: 9:00 a.m. on Day One - 3:00 p.m. on Day Two plus travel time (approx. 12 hrs. from Orlando)
Max. No. of People: 50
Tour Options: Alternate Menus
1997 Rates*: 15-19 people: $189.00 per person
20-24: $163.00
25-29: $157.00
30-34: $155.00
35-39: $153.00
40-44: $151.00
45-50: $149.00
* Rates are based on double occupancy, weekend stay: For weekdays, deduct $5.00 per person. For single occupancy, add $20.00 per person
Florida Pack & Paddle's
PEACE/OKLAWAHA RIVER
Canoe Camping Adventure Tour
A canoe camping trip is a special Florida experience. Each stoke of the paddle leaves civilization farther behind and envelops the paddler in the beauty and tranquility of natural Florida. Days are spent enjoying swimming, sunning and observing wildlife, while the setting sun brings campfires, fellowship and brilliant night-time skies. Two rivers--the Oklawaha River, near Ocala, and the Peace River, near Arcadia, are favorites for overnight canoe camping.
The Oklawaha is a deep, lush, subtropical river with a strong current that flows north to the St. Johns River. Highlights of the river include ample opportunities for swimming, fishing, high scenic bluffs for lunch breaks, a side trip down a narrow, winding creek through a cypress swamp, and either primitive camping on the high banks of the river, or camping in a developed county park (with Restrooms).
The Peace River, near Arcadia, is a slow, shallow, scenic river that gently meanders from Central Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. Paddlers enjoy the river's sandy bottom for swimming and sifting through the fossil-rich river bottom, and the numerous sandy banks for sunning and camping.
Both river tours include a continental breakfast at our meeting place, instruction in paddling techniques and river safety, a guide to lead and host the group on the river, excellent meals and top quality equipment. Both rivers offer unparalleled opportunities to experience Florida's natural beauty and wildlife.
Time: 8:00 a.m. on Day One - 3:00 p.m. on Day Two, plus travel (approx. 12 hours to the Withlacoochee River, 22 hours to the Peace River)
Max. No. of People: 24
Tour Options: Alternate Menus
1997 Rates: 10 - 14 People: $199.00 per person
15 - 19: $156.00
20 - 24: $134.00
Florida Pack & Paddle's
SANTA FE RIVER &
ICHETUCKNEE SPRINGS
Overnight Basecamp Tour
We've combined the gentle Santa Fe River, the crystal clear (and cold!) Ichetucknee Springs Run, and the beautiful O'leno State Park to provide an unparalleled North Florida outdoor experience. This is our most popular tour for youth groups, as well as groups seeking a rustic setting for retreats and conferences.
We begin the Tour with a canoe trip down the scenic Santa Fe, a lush, dark river, punctuated by crystal clear springs scattered along the way. After discussions on water safety and paddling techniques, we push off into the gentle current and begin our downstream journey. The observant canoeist is often rewarded by the abundance of wildlife including otters, alligators, wading birds and hawks. After building up our appetites negotiating the river, we dock the canoes at Poe Springs Park, one of the most scenic spots along the river, where we enjoy a buffet lunch, swimming, snorkeling and sunning. After lunch we continue to the end of the run where we enjoy another spring at Rum Island before leaving for O'leno State Park.
The O'leno group camp area is an ideal base camp for groups of up to 160 people, offering rustic cabins, a dining hall, an amphitheater, a swimming area on the Santa Fe, a nature trail, volleyball, and multi purpose playing fields. Guests are free to spend the afternoon enjoying the facilities or simply relaxing in the beautiful North Florida environment. After a delicious barbecue chicken dinner, guests are treated to an old-fashioned evening of dancing by a local clogging club, and then a crackling campfire complete with marshmallows!
The second day of our tour is the highlight for many of our guests--floating down the clear, cold and beautiful Ichetucknee Springs Run on large inner tubes. The 2-3 hour float carries the tubers past lush vegetation, wading birds, schools of fish and other wildlife. The group is greeted with a hot lunch of grilled hamburgers and hotdogs at the end of the run, before boarding for the return to Orlando.
Time: 10:00 a.m. Day One - 2:00 p.m. Day Two plus travel (approx. 2 1/2 hours from Orlando)
Max. No. of People: 160
Tour Options: Alternate Menus
Rafts (instead of inner tubes)
Additional Days, Activities
Entertainment
1997 Rates: 15 - 19 people: $149.00 per person
20 - 24: $130.00
25 - 29: $113.00
30 - 34: $101.00
35 - 39: $92.00
40 - 44: $90.00
45 - 49: $85.00
50 - 54: $80.00
55 - 59: $77.00
60 - 64: $75.00
Please call for rates for larger groups
Florida Pack & Paddle's
EVERGLADES
10,000 ISLANDS
Wilderness Adventure Tour
The Everglades is a hundred-mile-long subtropical wilderness of saw-grass prairie, jungle like hammock and mangrove swamp in South Florida. At it's northwest tip, in the Gulf of Mexico near Everglades City, is the watery wonderland of the Ten Thousand Islands region. A maze of mangrove islands ranging in size from a couple of trees to several hundred acres, the area teaming with wildlife including bottlenose dolphin, manatees, osprey, pelicans, cormorants, and a variety of fish and other wetland creatures.
Our three day, two night tour of the Ten Thousand Islands begins with a continental breakfast at our starting point in Everglades City, followed by a discussion of our itinerary, gear packing, canoeing and paddling techniques, and outdoor safety. We then launch the canoes into Chokoloskee Bay and paddle across the open water to the mysterious maze of mangrove islands.
We spend the first day paddling among the mangroves and across open bays, pausing along the way to eat lunch, fish and explore. We reach our campsite in the late afternoon, and guests are free to paddle and explore the unique and beautiful surrondings while dinner is being prepared. After dinner guests can relax around the campfire beneath the quiet, star-filled skies of the Florida Everglades.
Using our island as a base camp, guests are free to spend the following day fishing, exploring nearby coves and islands, sunning, relaxing and enjoying the carefree island life! The day's catch is cooked over the campfire, and the day's experiences are savored and shared as the sun sets in the Gulf.
The following morning we begin the journey back to the mainland, taking our time to experience new sites and sounds along the way. We arrive at our take-out point by mid-afternoon, and toast our new experiences with ice cold refreshments and snacks before packing for the trip home.
Time: 8:00 a.m. on Day One, to 3:00 p.m. on Day Three plus travel (approx. 4 hours from Orlando) Note: Participants may wish to arrive in Everglades City the night before departure
Max. No. of People: 15
Tour Options: Alternate Menus
1997 Rates: 10 - 12 people: $290.00 per person
13 - 15 people: $245.00 per person
Florida Pack & Paddle's
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
Raft/Kayak/Hiking Adventure Tour
The cool mountain air, rumbling streams and rivers, and scenic valleys of the Appalachian Mountains create a perfect setting for our rafting and hiking adventure. Only a day's drive from Orlando, our three day, two night (plus travel) tour is popular with high school and college groups as a summertime retreat.
The tour begins with a welcoming dinner at our mountain top dormitory* above a trout farm near Dillard, Georgia. Dinner is followed by an orientation session around the evening campfire, where we discuss the itinerary and logistics of the next three days.
The first day takes us to the headquarters of the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) on the banks of the Nantahala River**. The NOC is one of the oldest and most respected outfitters in the United States. Guests are outfitted with two man rubber kayaks, or "duckies," for a self-guided whitewater run down the Nantahala River. A picnic lunch greets the tired and hungry paddlers as they arrive back at the NOC, and free time is provided for relaxing, people watching and shopping in NOC's vast outdoor shop.
On the second day guests rest their paddle-weary arms, and exercise their legs, on our backcountry hike up Black Rock Mountain. For their effort, the hikers are rewarded with a spectacular view of the valley from a scenic rock outcropping, where we enjoy lunch and relaxation in the warm sun.
The highlight of the tour for many guests is the third day's activity-whitewater rafting on the wild, exciting Chattooga River, famous backdrop for the movie "Deliverance." Guests join NOC guides at their Chattooga Outpost for a day of plunging rapids, breathtaking scenery, cold swimming holes and great camaraderie***.
The final dinner of our tour features fresh rainbow trout with an important twist-guests catch their own fish! No fishing experience is necessary at the trout farm, and everyone catches one. Then we grill them over hot coals for a true mountain taste treat. Dinner is topped off with a final campfire where can recap the experience of the previous days before preparing to depart the following morning.
Time: 6:00 p.m. on Day One - 9:00 a.m. on Day Five plus travel (11 - 12 hours from Orlando)
Max. No. of People: 50
Tour Options: Alternate Menus
Alternate Activities: Horseback Riding, Rock Climbing
1997 Rates: 15-19 people $277.00 Per Person
20-24: $266.00
25-29: $256.00
30-34: $247.00
35-39: $231.00
40-44: $218.00
45-50: $208.00
* Dormitory accommodations include 48 wall-mounted bunks for students, two bedrooms for chaperons.
** Rates shown include kayaking and rafting; however, Florida Pack & Paddle arranges for guests to contract directly with NOC for whitewater activities due to insurance restrictions.
*** Section 3 of the Chattooga. Add 17.00 per person for section 4.