Saint Augustine, FL Outdoor Activities
Recommended Outdoor Activities by Groupon Customers
Helmed by a crew of Coast Guard-licensed captains, Daytona Beach Parasail orchestrates coastal adventures that include parasailing, fishing charters, and kayak rentals on local clear waters. Beneath puffy horizon-skirting clouds, banana-boat rides slice through waters just offshore, pulled behind a high-speed watercraft manned by a captain with at least one banana tattoo. Some of the best underwater views come courtesy of the company's eco tours, in which flat-bottomed boats provide closeup views of leaping dolphins, swimming manatees, and gracefully moving stingrays beneath the water's surface.Daytona Beach Parasail also provides shuttle service to and from nearby hotels for no extra charge.
Conner's A-Maize-Ing Acres mixes agriculture with entertainment, dazzling visitors come harvest time with its slate of attractions. As the season changes from summer to fall, the farm rolls out family-oriented activities ranging from ambling hayrides to walks through the pumpkin patch. More than 100 barnyard animals lean toward outstretched hands, whereas a hay jump and corn box beckon kids with energy to burn. Amid all the hustle and bustle, an old barn—emblazoned with the greeting Howdy above its door—reminds folks to slow down, drink in the crisp air, and brainstorm Halloween costumes that will make neighborhood dogs whimper.
The seasoned jumpers on staff at Skydive Amelia Island have all successfully completed thousands of jumps. The dedicated professionals securely strap themselves to beginning skydivers and plunge from a plane to enter a freefall of up to 120 miles per hour. These experienced skydivers hope their enthusiasm for diving is catching, as one of them says: “The falling is so exhilarating, I just wanted to keep on doing it”.
The red and black ship cuts through the waters of Matanzas Bay, its sails waving in the wind. On deck, members of a pirate crew call one another by names such as Oly Mackarel, Jaybird, Anastasia, Clipper, and Dirty James as they cavort between bow and stern, dazzling their audiences. Their ship, the Black Raven, was designed as a floating live performance theater—and accommodates more than 120 passengers as a crew of performers in full buccaneer dress produce interactive and dynamic plays in the spotlight. The actors work the crowd with a variety of rehearsed but unscripted skits, geared toward audiences of all ages, and may change their performance to engage specific audience members.
With help from a staff of paddleboarders, surfers, environmental scientists, and a dog named Dillon, Kayak Amelia founders Jody and Ray Hetchka combine their love for outdoor sports with environmental conservation. Ray, a certified naturalist and self-described tree hugger, peppers guided kayak, bicycle, and paddleboard eco tours with facts on flora, fauna, and all the best smells circulating throughout the island's delicate ecosystem. In addition to guided tours, Kayak Amelia teaches paddleboard and kayak lessons, and leads fishing trips and overnight kayak excursions. Guests can sign up for tours, or rent equipment for the day, at Kayak Amelia's storefront, Y.B. Green's General Store, which carries eco-friendly gifts such as beeswax candles, carved bone necklaces, and clay-dyed clothing.
