Blackwater Creek Kayak Adventure - This kayak adventure was a Christmas gift, and I must say we enjoyed it immensely. My wife had never kayaked before, while I had once kayaked several miles of the Marne River in France. Blackwater Creek gets its name from the color of the water, which looks very much like freshly brewed tea. The creek source is Lake Norris, which is spring fed. However, the abundance of Cypress trees and plant life that comprises the swamp which, where navigable is called Blackwater Creek, gives the creek its name due to the tanin content of the water. We put the kayaks in the water near the entrance to a county park near Eustis, Florida, and began paddling against a very slight current as we headed upstream toward Lake Norris. It was fairly effortless but, novices that we are we had to learn to work together to steer as we worked our way toward the lake against perhaps a 1 mile per hour current. At 9:00 AM it was still cool so we didn't see any gators on the way to the lake. Once we exited the swamp (Blackwater Creek is really just a channel through a swamp that is perhaps 10 feet wide, with trees and plants all around) and made our way into Lake Norris, we were immediately drenched in sunshine, a balmy breeze and unlimited vistas of Cypress Trees lining the shores of the lake. We explored the shoreline near the creek mouth and after about a half hour headed back to the creek. It's surprising what a difference paddling downstream is compared to paddling against the current. Because so little paddling is required except to steer, it is incredibly quiet. The temperature had warmed considerably as the sun climbed higher in the sky, and as a result we saw several alligators, a few turtles and far more bird activity than on our way upstream. Our Tour Guide, Astrid, was a pro. Having abandoned advanced degrees as a software engineer, her motivation is to share the importance of habitat and wildlife preservation as she encourages her kayakers to enjoy the amazing natural beauty of Florida. This is an excellent and very safe adventure, and Blackwater Creek is quite beautiful. I highly recommend it to people of all ages. We plan to kayak on the Wekiva River to see the manatees next.

Peaceful Kajak-Trip - The Lake Norris Kajak-Adventure was a great experiment. This is such a peacefull area. Astrid, our guide, was showing us the hole wildlife and environment. She is very knowlegeable. And she takes great pictures. We could only enjoy our trip. She is calm and helpful. Thank you, Astrid. Lunch was very healthy and exactly what we needed. I will do this trip again with Venture Outdoors. Ellie

Kayaking adventure in Orlando, Florida - We were visiting a friend who recently moved to Florida, and we wanted to enjoy a local kayaking trip. We were originally scheduled to kayak at Lake Noris, but Astrid Jackson (our guide) recommended adjusting our plans due to low water levels at the lake. Instead, we ended up kayaking the Wekiva River. We put in at Katies landing outside of Orlando, Florida. What an amazing adventure we had, including multiple encounters with the local wildlife. This included a multitude of incredible birds, and, of course, multiple encounters with Florida’s famous alligators. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife. We never felt uncomfortable or unsafe at any time. She met and exceeded all of our expectations and not once ever made us feel rushed, or as if she was in a hurry to get to the end of the trip. The entire trip she took endless amounts of photographs and films, so that we could enjoy being in the moment and not have to spend all our time trying to find our cell phones to take pictures. My wife thought this was one of the best kayaking trips she has ever experienced. We would highly recommend Venture Outdoors with Astrid Jackson.

THE BEST ACTIVITY FOR A FAMILY! - This was an amazing activity, my family and I loved it. Kids friendly. Astrid was an amazing guide girl, very communicative, patient, knowledgeable, quiet and responsible. I will recommend this activity to families if your kids can stay quiet and sit down for a few. I love the smile in Astrid’s face and how she loves to do everything memorable. I will go again if I ever go to Orlando again. Thank you Astrid!

Peaceful flora and fauna! - What a fun and interesting day! We paddled with Astrid and learned so much about the flora and fauna in Black Creek and Lake Norris. It was great to get out and see nature, so quiet and peaceful.

Forget the amusement parks, do this instead! - If you want to do something fun while in the Orlando area do this tour, it beats standing in line at the amusement parks by a long shot. Astrid is a wonderful guide. She instilled a sense of confidence from the start, was knowledgeable about he plant and animal species, was full of fun facts, and guided us on an amazing adventure!

Nature lovers dream - We drove 3 hours to make the 9AM start time and it was more than worth it. Stunning natural beauty and Astrid was an exceptional guide. We will definitely be returning to do a different location with Astrid.

Professional , safe and fun - Venture Outdoors provides professional, thoughtful, safe guided tours with reliable equipment for paddling adventures. This was not just your run-of-the-mill tour guide or just any kayaking experience. This was a learning adventure coupled with the hidden secrets that Astrid has discovered over the course of her years of exploring. It's evident that Astrid's attention to detail whether it's in the meal preparation she put together for lunch, safety, or her explanations, this is a MUST DO!