Pensacola is a historic city along the famous Florida Panhandle. Specifically, Little Sabine Bay is the only place to go “night glow kayaking.” This adventure will find you in a crystal-clear kayak so that you can see all the marine life beneath you.
The kayaks include LED lights, which give the sea creatures a distinct glow. See sea denizens such as fish, jellyfish, starfish, and stingrays. This is a family-friendly activity as the bay is relatively shallow and you can have one or two people in each kayak.
Note that every child must be accompanied by an adult. There is also a minimum weight of 30 pounds. If parents approve, kids between 10 and 17 can go solo.
Each session is approximately 45 minutes. You can book a tour any time from 7:00 pm through 11:30 pm seven days a week. Wait until it is dark if possible. Parking is limited but public parking is right across the street.
While there are many year-round 72-degree Fahrenheit natural springs off Crystal River here, if you visit Three Sisters Springs during manatee season, you can go kayaking with manatees. You can go solo, take a two-hour tour in a clear kayak, or even go on a “kayak and swim eco-tour” of the river. Crystal River has a very low current, so this is a great place for beginners and families too.
No permit is needed to kayak here. Both Hunter Springs Park and Kings Bay have metered parking and several kayak launches. There’s Crystal River Preserve State Park too. If you rent a kayak, you can usually park in the company’s parking lot.