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Great Blue Heron.
Orlando, Florida is a popular travel destination for conventions and families. The tourist destinations of Disneyworld, Sea World and Gatorland will generally keep anyone busy. However, if you want to try something different, I recommend visiting an oasis of calm and natural beauty called The Thousand Islands. A little over an hour’s drive from bustling Orlando, near Cape Canaveral, it is a convenient day trip. Look at the slide show below for a taste of what you'll see.
The Thousand Islands area is located between Cocoa Beach on the east and Merritt Island on the west. Believed to be the result of a storm surge breaking through the barrier island, this area is a maze of heavily vegetated islands separated by natural and dredged channels. Part of the Indian River Lagoon watershed, recreational uses include fishing, boating, swimming, and nature appreciation. There are numerous commercial businesses ready to assist you in exploring the mangrove swamps.
An established and popular eco-kayak tour operator is Adventure Kayak of Cocoa Beach. When I visited in March 2009, a standard 2½ hour kayak trip was an incredible value ($28 per adult and $15 for children 17 and under) and included kayak rental, life vest, bottled water and a knowledgeable guide. The trips are scheduled in the morning and afternoon, leaving the remainder of the day available to explore other activities in Cocoa Beach. During the summer, bioluminescent kayak tours are available after sunset. Special group tours and private tours are available with prior arrangements.
My guide is a knowledgeable outdoorsman and former Navy survival instructor. The trip began with a safety briefing and short paddling instruction. The waterways are generally shallow (2 to 3 feet or less) except where they have been dredged, and the water is calm making this a perfect area for beginning kayakers and children to have an enjoyable experience. These salt water wetlands are home to a diversity of species. However, an encounter with the fresh water alligator shouldn’t be a problem.
Key to this eco-system are the mangrove trees. Specially adapted to salt water, the mangrove trees prevent coastal erosion, mitigate storm damage, and act as a filter for sediment that would otherwise adversely affect sea life. The tangle of tree roots act as nurseries for small fish. The mangrove trees produce live young. Once their flowers have been pollinated by bees and insects, the resulting seed stays on the parent tree until it germinates and produces roots. It then detaches and floats away to another location to establish itself.
Once on the water, it is likely you will see a variety of wildlife including birds such as the blue heron, egrets and osprey. In the deeper areas which have been dredged for boat access, you might see dolphin going after mullet. The warm blooded manatee is often present once the water temperature rises in the late spring and summer. In the shallow lagoon areas, small red stingray approximately one to two feet long can be seen burrowing into the sand. Helmet crabs, snails and turtles are also frequent sights. Sunglasses with polarized lenses make it easier to spot wildlife beneath the surface of the water.
If you go: The drive from Disneyworld is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Take FL-528 east toward Cape Canaveral, and then continue on FL-A1A towards Cocoa Beach. Specific kayak launch locations will be provided when you sign up for the tour. If you forget sunscreen, towels, swimsuits or other water gear, stop off at Ron Jon Surf Shop located at 4151 N. Atlantic Ave. in Cocoa Beach.
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