Paddleboarding is a great way to see nature close up. When you paddleboard, you are right on top on the waterway with no one else but you and your equipment. This allows you to get a firsthand view of the area where you are in the water. As you stand on top of your board, you can see waterfowl, mammals and birds that you might not be able to see any other way. One of the best places in the entire world to go stand up paddle boarding is Florida. This beautiful state has many regional waterways where it is easy to spend your day stand up paddling. Here are some of the best places to go SUPing in all of Florida.
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Coastal Dune Lakes
The northern coast of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico makes an ideal place to take your board out. This highly scenic area offers many waterways that welcome paddlers to the interior as well as the coast. You can SUP in both salt water and fresh water in a single day. You can also see many kinds of wildlife here including alligators, sharks and dozens of varieties of turtles.
Destin Harbor
Another wonderful area to go paddleboarding in the Florida panhandle is Destin Harbor. This charming small town is where you’ll find a coastal community devoted to all things related to the water. The calm waters here make it easy even for beginners to learn how to paddleboard in a safe and protected area. This area of Florida is a magnet for wildlife of all kinds including massive pelicans in their native habitat and bass right underneath your feet.
St. Augustine
The oldest city in Florida is also the oldest city in the United States. This charming city has many things to see both on land and on in the water. The gentle waters of this Atlantic coast city let you see the entire city during a day trip. The surrounding area is also ideal for spending a lazy day out on your board. See both the city and the ocean at the same time.
New Smyrna
New Smyrna is a small coastal community located between multiple coastal waterways. This makes it an ideal place to go paddle boarding. Local area guides offer all kinds of tours including tours designed to help you see the region during the early morning hours as well as tours designed to show off the region as the sun sets across the ocean.
Naples Beach
Naples is one of Florida’s most elegant cities. It is also an area where you will find many calm waterways of all kinds. A paddleboarding trip here lets you see both the Gulf of Mexico and the regional waterways as well. The area’s abundant sunshine and many species of fish make it easy to spend an entire day on the water. This part of Florida also has many canals that can be explored via a paddle board.
Blowing Rocks Preserve
Blowing Rocks Preserve is one of the most beautiful places in all of Florida. When you visit this preserve on Jupiter Island off on the Floridian Atlantic coast, you will have the opportunity to paddleboard along waterways here that allow you to see the entire island from multiple angles. A trip paddle boarding here also allows you to travel through breaking waves and see erosion holes that can reach more than fifty feet. You can also see native species here such as sea grapes. You can also often spot turtles in the waters here right from your board as well as sharks and all kinds of native birds. The local area reef also makes a fine place to go paddleboarding and see even more regional sights.
Islamorada
Another place ideal for hitting the water in Florida is Islamorada. One of the largest keys in Florida, Islamorada is a small island that can be easily seen from all angles via a trip paddleboarding. Stand up paddleboarders can spend time here improving their technique and seeing the island from every possible view. The island has many coves where paddleboarders can rest in between time spent on the water here. See Indian Key State Park where you can easily paddle through mangroves that are not often seen by the public.
Bahia Honda State Park
Bahia Honda State Park is one of the most remote places in all of Florida and the United States. This lush island offers many places for you to spend hours in the wild, paddleboarding along undisturbed waterways filled with many natural sights. Shorebirds and wading birds are commonly found here, making this region a paradise for anyone who loves to go birding. The waterways along the island are also known for having gentle tides, allowing even those who have never spent time supping to do so here in peace and quiet.
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