Offbeat Ways to See Florida by Boat

Even though some of the state's most memorable experiences happen on the water, rather than in it, most visitors to Florida head straight for the beach. And for those who enjoy doing things a little differently, Florida boasts some fun alternatives to the usual packed party boats. From an electric boat gliding through the salt marshes of Amelia Island to a schooner chasing sunsets off Key West, these five unique experiences prove that the state is full of watery surprises.

Serene River Cruises, Amelia Island

Located on Florida's northeastern tip just south of the Georgia border, Amelia Island is ringed by quiet tidal creeks and undisturbed salt marshes. Serene River Cruises, operated by Captain Scott Berden out of Fernandina Beach, offers the best and most relaxing way to see this natural setting up close: his 18-foot launch, Duffy.

With seating for six on soft vinyl seats and a fully enclosed cabin protecting passengers from the elements, this cute electric boat is so quiet and relaxing it feels more like a floating living room than a tour boat. I took Captain Scott's 90-minute sunset cruise and was amazed that the electric motor couldn't even be heard over the sound of water rippling along the boat's hull.

Following the Amelia River from Amelia Island Marina, the boat's shallow draft let us slip into marsh channels and backwaters that larger tour vessels can't reach. And watching the sun drop behind the marsh grass from that cozy cabin with no one else around was certainly a highlight of my Amelia Island stay.

Cruises run as private outings, and Captain Scott told me that he's had everything from romantic wedding proposals to family groups looking for a fun alternative to the typical tourist cruise offerings. Guests aboard Serene River Cruises also get the boat to themselves and can bring their favorite drinks aboard.

St. Augustine Eco Tours, St. Augustine

Founded by the Spanish in 1565 and the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States, St. Augustine looks even better from the water. St. Augustine Eco Tours operates from the city marina south of the Bridge of Lions, running small-group boat, sailing, and kayak trips through the estuaries surrounding the old city. I joined a morning boat tour of Matanzas Bay, a 90-minute outing led by company founder Zach McKenna.

McKenna is worth the trip on his own. A graduate of the city's Flagler College, he's a boat captain, interpretive naturalist, and dolphin researcher who studies the local Atlantic bottlenose dolphin population. The company also holds permits to respond to injured marine wildlife, working alongside local, state, and federal agencies to assist distressed birds, sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, and small whales.

That rescue work shaped my own tour. McKenna had received a report of an injured manatee somewhere in the bay, so part of our adventure was spent scanning the shallows for it. Although we didn't find the animal, watching a professional researcher read the water and check known haunts while explaining what he was looking for was fascinating.

There was plenty to see, regardless, including pelicans, terns, and wading birds along the marsh edges, as well as superb views of the old city itself. The best of these included the Castillo de San Marcos, built by the Spanish in the 17th century and the oldest stone fort in the United States.

Silver Springs Glass-Bottom Boats, Ocala

Just six miles east of downtown Ocala in the heart of Florida's horse country, Silver Springs State Park safeguards one of the largest artesian springs in the country. It's also one of the state's oldest tourist attractions, its glass-bottom boats having operated since 1878 when a local fitted a pane of glass into the hull of a rowboat so passengers could peer through the incredibly clear waters into the spring below.

Nearly 150 years later, a fleet of glass-bottom boats now carry visitors along the Silver River where the main spring, along with its feeder springs, discharge 550 million gallons of crystal-clear water every day. While the standard 30-minute tours depart several times an hour, I opted for the extended 90-minute river tour. Though a little more expensive, the extra time on the water is worth the upgrade.

And what an experience it is. Feeling a little like you're sitting around a kitchen table, passengers sit around the boat's long, rectangular glass-paneled hull and look straight down into Mammoth Spring, the river's head spring. The water's clarity is astounding.

Along with fish, turtles, and submerged Native American and Spanish artifacts, your captain steers the vessel over props left over from the park's days as a Hollywood filming location. They also share stories from the springs' steamboat era while pointing out great blue herons and other wildlife. While I saw none on my trip, we were told some alligators live within the park, along with a colony of rhesus macaques that has lived wild along the river since the late 1930s.

Kayak and canoe rentals are also available for those wanting to paddle the five-mile-long river, and 14 miles of walking trails crisscross the property. The grounds are also fun to explore and include quiet spots to kick back, relax, and have a picnic. The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center is also interesting and includes a reconstructed 1800s pioneer settlement and one of the park's original glass-bottom boats.

Amphicars at Disney Springs, Orlando

Of all Florida's unique water experiences, The Boathouse restaurant in Disney Springs boasts the quirkiest. Located near the Orlando theme parks on Lake Buena Vista, here you can climb into the back seat of a classic (and somewhat rare) 1960s Amphicar and ride it straight down a ramp into the water.

And while at first you'll cling a little too tightly to the seat in front of you, these amazing watercraft-cum-cars really are very safe. Just 3,878 were manufactured in Germany between 1961 and 1968, with fewer than 400 surviving today. Even former US presidents owned one: Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter. Johnson famously pranked guests at his Texas ranch by pretending the brakes had failed before driving into a lake.

Although powered by modest British-built 43-horsepower engines, we were told they could manage seven knots on water and 70 mph on land. Given their compact size and just how close the water seemed to be once we were on it, seven knots on the completely calm lake seemed fast enough.

The Boathouse is the only place in the world offering captain-guided Amphicar tours, and your launch is guaranteed to attract a crowd watching as you splash into the water. Each narrated 20-minute tour includes details of the history of the vehicle and a slow-paced loop of the lake, with the captain steering using the front wheels as rudders.

Rides run daily, weather permitting, and you can sign up at the Boathouse Boatique or at the dock podium on a first-come, first-served basis. And if you dine at The Boathouse (I thoroughly recommend you do… and request the boat table!), you may be eligible for a discount off one of the most unusual cruises you're ever likely to experience.

Chasing Sunsets off Key West

Every evening in Key West, crowds pack Mallory Square to watch the sun drop into the Gulf of Mexico. It's a nightly celebration that has been going on for more than 50 years. For a less crowded take on the ritual, though, I booked a sunset sailing cruise. Out on the open water, drink in hand while enjoying a glorious sunset… life really doesn't get much better than that.

Several operators run sunset sail excursions from the Historic Key West Seaport, covering a range of styles and budgets. We went with Danger Charters, a locally owned operator that has sailed from Key West since 1993 and opted for their "Wind & Wine Sunset Sail." This two-hour cruise aboard a 65-foot schooner is limited to 26 guests, so it's worlds apart from the party boats that also work the harbor.

The route follows calm waters off the island's west coast and is timed so the sails are up and the drinks poured well before the sun reaches the horizon. And the nibbles and drinks are generous, with the crew pouring eight bottled (not boxed) wines from around the world, including a sparkling white. Sipping a glass of decent wine as the sky turned orange over the water was, for me, Key West at its finest.

Be sure to book ahead, particularly during the peak season from December through April. And when you're out there on the water, keep your eyes on the horizon. On rare evenings when conditions are right, the elusive "green flash," a fleeting emerald shimmer, sometimes appears just as the sun disappears.

Florida Is Better by Boat

From the salt marshes of Amelia Island to the open water off Key West, these five experiences are unique to the destination where they're hosted. An electric boat drifting through a tidal creek, a dolphin researcher scanning Matanzas Bay, a glass hull hovering over a first-magnitude spring, a 1960s German car motoring across a lake, and a ship sailing into the sunset… they each reveal a side of the state that's unique, a little quirky, and definitely worth doing.