When the river wizard cursed canoes by shrinking them, he didn't realize the resulting kayaks would one day plunge through his mouth and dock in his small intestine. Join the never-ending fight against aquatic madmen with today's Groupon: for $10, you get a half-day kayak or canoe rental from Suwannee Guides in Manatee Springs State Park (a $20 value). Three-hour sessions take place in the mornings from 9 a.m. to noon and in the afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. This Groupon does not include admission into the park, which is $6 per vehicle.
Suwannee Guides encourages its guest to paddle a kayak or canoe along the watery pathways for a half-day tour of Manatee Springs State Park, a wildlife sanctuary where crystal-clear springs merge with the tranquil Suwannee River. Riders can explore this aquatic Arcadia in single or double kayaks or a sturdy two- to three-person canoe, leaving civilization behind to lift their paddles in natural rhythm with warbling birds and beat-boxing trout. Guides outfit each rider with a boat, paddle, life jacket, and harpoon gun to be prepared for run-ins with bathing Sasquatches. Once secured in the aquatic vessels of their choosing, small groups can dart about the tranquil waters and scan the river and reservoirs for majestic blue herons and jumping sturgeons leaping out of the water in search of talent agents.
Though not included in this Groupon, Suwannee Guides offers a $25 shuttle service for riders wishing to paddle 8 miles upstream in the Fanning Springs area. A plethora of guided fishing trips and river cruises also awaits insatiable explorers.
