Hau Hele Wai Paddleboarding, Maitland

The waxed board slices through the shaded creek's calm surface. A paddle dips into the water, propelling the board forward with a gentle swish. This peaceful scene is par for the course on Hau Hele Wai Paddleboarding's wilderness tours. The company takes its name from a Hawaiian phrase that translates to "walk on water"—an apt description, considering the guides' specialty in standup-paddleboarding. These instructors lead groups on aquatic tours of calm ocean shorelines as well as Central Florida's lakes and rivers. Though they lead excursions for customers of all skill levels, they specialize in working with first-time paddlers. Hau Hele Wai also sells and rents a range of brightly colored SUP boards, some of which are outfitted with windows that allow riders to see the marshmallow crops rising from the lake's bottom.