What’s Up with Paddle boarding?

June 19, 2020 Activities

Bored? Grab a board!

In the last few years, Stand Up Paddle Boarding has become a very popular activity and one we SWFloridians especially enjoy. Paddle boarding is low impact with many health benefits and easy enough to do with the whole family, or if you need a break from your “quaranteam,” you can go out on your own. Either way, we guarantee it to be a good time.

In SWFL, the month of June is a great month to be out on the water with its clear water and turquoise tint; it looks as good as the Caribbean. Typically June is not busy with the seasonal crowds having gone back home, so now the playground is ours… 

Well, we can’t keep this a secret forever; it’s time to share it with the world.

So, if you’re looking to enjoy nature, explore, get a tan, create memories with family and friends, then grab a paddle board!

Where Can I Rent a Paddle Board?

You can call one of the friendly paddle boarding rental companies we love like Finnimores Bike and Beach Rentals; they service Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach. Finnimores offer pick up and delivery, and if you rent for a day or longer, they will deliver it to your vacation home or resort. They also offer after-hour returns so you can bring it back later in the evening. Finnimores also includes free locks, making the whole experience very easy and enjoyable for you. 

Another of our favorite rental companies is Holiday Watersports, If you’re hanging out on Fort Myers Beach and want to give it a quick try Holiday Watersports has locations at the Pink Shell Resort, The Best Western and Diamonhead Resort, they offer hour and half hour rentals, you can rent a board for as low as $25 for a half hour.

Where are the Hotspots for Paddle Boarding?

If you’d like to go on your own, a great spot to paddle board with easy access is the Sanibel Causeway. Parking is free and you can pull your car right up to the water. We recommend being out on the water for a whole day; the longer you are on the board, the more dolphins you’ll get to see. Finally, watching the sunset on a paddle board from the Sanibel Causeway is an amazing experience you’ll never forget. Protip: the Sanibel Causeway’s north side is the best to avoid wind too. 

Another awesome paddle board spot is Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs. From Sanibel Island, it’s about a 45 min drive, and from Fort Myers Beach, it could be less than a 30 minute drive. Barefoot Beach is a local favorite; the water there is beautiful and when you paddle to the inlet, it feels very secluded. We love to spend time there! 

What about Paddle Board Tours?

If a tour is more of your thing, you can get on the Adventures in Paradise paddle board Eco Boat Cruise. The cruise will take you on a catamaran adventure to discover tucked away mangrove islands and shallow sandbars only accessible by boat. Once there, they’ll set you up with a paddle board and take you on an excursion with a naturalist to enjoy nature, see birds and marine life such as dolphins, manatees, turtles, and fish. 

Another tour company we recommend is Tarpon Bay Explorers; they have tours for all skill levels, and provide some basic training before you start. Tarpon Bay Explorers is located on Sanibel Island (mid-island), where they launch from their location and explore on an Eco Tour, where you’ll learn about the wildlife of J.N. “Ding” Darling’s rich mangrove estuary.

Don’t you feel like dropping everything and finding the nearest dock? We hope you catch the board bug like we did. Check back to our SWFL Travel Blog for more updates and activities that you can do this summer!

See you on the water!

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