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The Wilderness Way is proud to offer a variety of
outstanding tours. The Tours are guided by
experienced paddlers, knowledgeable about the history and ecology of the region.
Meet our Guides. |
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Upcoming
Kayaking
Eco-Adventures
and Events:
Please call
850-877-7200
to register |
Mini Trip (MT): $39 per person.
This includes the kayak rental. Mini trips are extra
beginner-friendly! Also great for private groups, such as birthdays or reunions.
Bring your own boat, $30pp.
Half-Day Trip (HDT): $49 per
person with a Wilderness Way kayak. $35 per person with your own
kayak. We take leisurely riverside picnic breaks on our
river-wilderness trips. Bring your binoculars, but leave your watch at
home! We'll be back... eventually. We take time to take in all the
spectacular scenery.
Full-Day Trip (FDT): $69 per
person with Wilderness Way kayak. $54 per person with your own boat.
We pack up the van and head out of town to explore other fantastic waterways.
Advanced Beginner Level Trip (AB) not suggested as first or second
trip
Intermediate Level
Trip (INT) paddler experienced in self-rescue and appropriate cold
water-paddling gear
What Should I
Bring on a Guided Kayaking Trip?
- Drinking water
- Sun protection
- Flashlight for sunset trips
- Footwear that can get wet (water
sandals, old sneakers)
- Sense of adventure
What should I wear on a Kayaking
trip?
- Dress comfortably in
synthetic water resistant materials like nylon or poly-blends.
- Your feet will likely get
wet, so wear water shoes or old sneakers.
- Bringing along a change of
clothes is suggested.
The Wilderness Way provides:
- Kayak and gear
- Enthusiastic, knowledgeable
guides
- Transportation to and from
river from the shop
- Picnic lunch (full and half-day
trips) Snack (Mini-trip)
Essentials of Kayaking Class:
Come join the fun and learn the
essentials of Kayaking.
- Certified instructors will guide
participants in actively learning:
- Parts and function of a kayak &
paddle
- How to enter & exit a kayak
- Fundamental paddling strokes
- Crucial water safety skills
including self-rescue and assisted rescue
- How to dress and prepare for a
kayak trip
- Pointers for transporting &
storing kayaks
- Class size is limited . Class
time: 9AM-4PM
- Cost: $92 per person. Includes
kayak, gear and all course materials.
- Parking at Lake $3.00
- Please call for more information or
to register: 850.877.7200
Weather & Cancellation Policy Reminder:
Deposit (credit card works fine via phone) is required and
fully refundable if you cancel 24 hours or more before
the trip. If trips are postponed due to bad weather,
you can select the next trip of your choice.
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 "Turtle
Bob" Walker
has been leading trips in the
Panhandle of Florida for over twenty years. He treasures the Tallahassee
local rivers and knows the slow, spring fed river, the Wacissa, like the
back of his hand. Joining Turtle Bob on a trip guarantees an adventure
that will you will never forget. It will touch you and leave you with an
appreciation of Florida waterways and wildlife. Turtle Bob's greatest
passion is for turtles and earned him his nickname "Turtle Bob" has worked for decades on the preservation and propagation of
turtles. Turtle Bob is currently involved in the Nokuse Plantation
conservation project in Western Florida.
www.nokuse.org
Elizete
"El" Velado, Guide Elizete has been enthusiastically
 kayaking
Florida's rivers and coasts for 6 years. She began
paddling in high school while working at a
Jacksonville-area outfitter. Before relocating to
Tallahassee for college, she served as a guide and shop
manager there. She’s paddled miles of rivers and coast
between Jacksonville and Daytona, and is now working her
way through the waterways of the panhandle. El sets her sights
high. In fact, you can usually catch her gazing up to
the tree tops searching for birds of prey. She enjoys
spotting those raptors!
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 Martha Haynes, Guide
Martha has
been running, biking, hiking and camping for
much of her life
and paddling in the Big Bend
area since she and her family moved to the
Wakulla River in 2001. She has led multi-night
camping trips in the Okefenokee Swamp, paddled
most of the Apalachicola Paddling Trails, and
paddled and camped on much of the Suwannee from
Fargo to the Gulf.
Martha is an ACA Essentials
of Kayak Touring certified instructor, a
graduate of the TCC Ecotourism Institute Green
Guide program, and a Leave No Trace trainer. |
Kermit Brown, Guide
Kermit is a North Florida native,
writer, and retired historian. Kermit
has lived in Tallahassee since 1976. He
has been active in the outdoor business
for the past decade and paddling a canoe
since childhood. Kermit is an Eagle
Scout. Kermit’s canoe companion of more
than 3 decades is his naturalist wife
Dianne. Together, many times over,
Kermit and Dianne have paddled the streams, rivers and
lakes in the Big Bend area. Kermit’s
knowledge of Florida’s rich culture and
his enthusiastic passion for the area’s
natural beauty and social histories
assures a rewarding outdoor experience
for trip guests.
 Lori
Forster, Guide
After growing up in the hills of
Northeast Iowa, Lori has spent more than
twenty years wandering the forests,
greenways, and waterways of North
Florida. “Kayaking areas I’ve hiked,
biked, or snorkeled lets me see the
great outdoors in a whole new way.” Be
warned, when “Hurricane Lori” is
guiding, expect the unexpected
Craig Brown, Guide
As a Florida Native, Craig developed his
appreciation and respect for the
outdoors as an Eagle Scout. “Growing up
in Daytona Beach, leisure time was spent
in the water, on the water, or under the
water. Then the Navy put me on a ship
and I got to see the water on the other
side of the globe!” Since so many
visitors to Florida see only theme park
rides, Craig feels it is his job to make
sure guests experience the natural
beauty of the state.
Jennifer Hinckley, Guide
Jennifer passionately loves the
outdoors. She spends her working
time using fire as a tool on
national lands. During her
non-working time, Jennifer is
engrossed in outdoor activities,
like hiking, camping, and biking
with her trusty dog, Riley.
Jennifer canoed and swam the rivers
and lakes of central Florida growing
up. A few years ago she was bitten
by the kayaking bug. She is excited
to live and paddle in such a
beautiful place.
Mike Mendez, Guide
Mike has
been paddling in the Big Bend area for
the last 30 years. He enjoys the
serenity of the outdoors and the beauty
that this area has to offer. Although he
loves open water kayaking with the
dolphins and an occasional Orca ( Alaska
), his favorite place to paddle is the
quiet Wacissa river . Mike loves to talk
about boats and paddling styles.
While not on the water he can be found
home schooling his seven year old
daughter Tekla.
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Dawn Peffer, Guide
You’ll usually see "Dynamo Dawn" on the
river with camera, binoculars,
and a field guide in hand to
spot & photograph Florida’s
spectacular wildlife at every
quiet twist and bend in the
river. Dawn is a wildlife
artist and uses the
photographs and paddling
experiences as inspiration for
her paintings. When paddling,
she prefers to go off the beaten
path of the river to explore the
narrow passages in search of all
things feathered and furry.
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Georgia Ackerman and Rick
Zelznak, Owners, The
Wilderness Way Georgia took
 up kayak paddling as an
alternative sport to the couple’s favorite pastime of desert camping
more than a decade ago in Arizona . She was quickly hooked as a paddling
student after her first formal instructional roll class in a community
wave pool. Desert lake camping trips evolved into coastal drives to San
Diego to paddle the Pacific. Eventually, Georgia and Rick migrated
back to the warm waters of North Florida to paddle the panhandle
waterways filled with alligators, turtles, fish and manatee. Georgia's favorite paddle is St. Marks Wildlife Refuge where she can
quietly admire scores of birds resting on oyster bars and rays and crabs
bustling below her kayak. Georgia is an ACA (American Canoe Association)
Essentials of Kayak Touring certified instructor.
"Wilderness Rick", instructor
and guide, can
 usually
be found paddling rapidly upstream on the Wakulla River in a touring
kayak to meet a downstream group of guests on a manatee watch. Rick is
also an active camper and cyclist who enjoys open water paddling
especially the coastal area of St. George Island. He enjoys the solitude
and scenery of paddling through gulf coastal waves spotted with schools
of dolphins, fish and pelicans. When they’re not at the shop
or on the water with guests, Rick and Georgia can usually be found out
paddling with their two children, Cole and Karly. Rick is an ACA
(American Canoe Association) Essentials of Kayak Touring certified
instructor. |
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