A Great Day at the Marine Discovery Center

Yesterday was a beautiful day, about 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.  We took the opportunity to launch our kayak from the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach and enjoyed the Indian River Lagoon.  The Marine Discovery Center is located on the North Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. They have a small kayak launch area behind one of their buildings - you will get your feet wet here.  You have to travel through the marina on this trip, and you must be alert for motor boat traffic.  Once we crossed under the bridge we had the whole place to ourselves and it was picturesque.  We spent about two hours on the water and saw lots of wild life.  We had several dolphins swimming around us.  We experienced dive bombing brown pelicans who were looking for fish, a few snowy egrets, and assorted other water birds.  Overall it was an excellent trip.

• Location Name: Marine Discovery Center
• Address:  162 N. Causeway.  New Smyrna Beach, FL  32169
• Contact Phone: 386-428-4828
• Cost: No charge to launch your own kayak.  Rentals are available.
• Other Details: Gift shop, Eco-Cruises, Ample Parking

Too Cold to Kayak!

Well we had a great trip planned around Chicken Island in the intracoastal waterway off of New Smyrna Beach, but unfortunately the weather would not cooperate.  At least we got to stay home and watch the NFC and AFC playoffs.  Looking forward to next weekend and warmer weather!  Until then - peace!

Ok, it wasn't this cold - but hey we're from Florida!
(Image from OntarioWildlife.net)

Lunch and Launch at JB's Fish Camp

We had such a great time yesterday, we decided to leave the kayak on the truck rack overnight and go again today.  We headed up to New Smyrna Beach to a great place called JB's Fish Camp.

• Location Name: JB's Fish Camp
• Address:  859 Pompano Rd.  New Smyrna Beach, FL  32169
• Contact Phone: 386-427-5747
• Cost: No charge for customers to launch your own kayak.  Rentals are available.
• Other Details: Excellent food available on site.

Visit JB's Fish Camp for lunch and order some rock shrimp or a chicken finger basket.  The food is great and they allow customers to launch their boats at no charge.  After a great meal, we launched our kayak and headed north to a small cove where manatees are known to gather.  It is located just north of a three story green house about a block from JB's.  We didn't get to see any manatees this visit, but we will try again later in the year, as we saw a handful there last year when we rented kayaks from JB's.  We paddled back to the south and got stuck in some shallow water on the far side of the channel, but quickly freed ourselves and proceeded to the edge of a small island.  We saw lots of brown pelicans, a few snowy egrets, and assorted other water birds.  The water can be a little choppy, and you will find a few motorboats in the area, but overall it is a great place for a day trip.

The First Trip In Our Kayak

This weekend we decided to take our new kayak on its maiden voyage.  Although we have kayaked before, we wanted our first trip to be at a location that was nearby, and free from motorboat traffic.  We decided on Cracker Creek in Port Orange, FL.

• Location Name: Cracker Creek Canoeing
• Address:  1795 Taylor Rd.  Port Orange, FL  32128
• Contact Phone: 386-304-0778
• Cost: $5.00 + tax to launch your own kayak.  Rentals are available.
• Other Details: Restrooms and Food available on site.

After a short drive up I-95 to the Port Orange exit, we traveled west 1.6 miles  and turned left into the facility.  There is a small brown sign on the right hand side of the road that tells you have reached the Old Pioneer settlement, where Cracker Creek is located.  Follow the winding driveway and park on the left, then enter the smaller building - the office - to pay your launch fee.  There are chickens and cats wandering around the parking area, so don't run them over!  After you pay your fee you can drive your vehicle down to the launch.  It is a narrow driveway so it takes a little skill to back down the incline.

Once in the water you have a choice of traveling either east or west.  We chose to go to the right (west) first and found a beautiful tree lined waterway with waterbirds like Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, and other assorted birds.  We didn't run into any alligators.  The western route is only about a mile or mile and a half, so we turned around and headed back in the other direction.  This time we ran across several other kayakers, but found the waterway to be wide enough to accommodate all.  The park gates close at 5:00, so we did not get to explore the eastern run as long as we wanted to, but we will definitely go back to Cracker Creek again.

Cracker Creek gets two paddles up from this kayaking couple.  We recommend it to all our readers.

Our Kayak Purchase

My wife and I have always enjoyed the water and outdoor activities.  We have been whitewater rafting, canoing, and kayaking many times.  After a recent trip to the Mosquito Lagoon to view the bioluminescence with a tour operator based in Titusville called "A Day Away Kayak Tours" we found out that they sell off most of their kayaks at the end of the season and replace them with newer models.  Since we had been looking for a kayak for quite some time, we were excited to stumble across a good deal on a used kayak.  If you are in central Florida and you are in the market for a used kayak then we recommend checking out the deals they have to offer each December.