Day Paddling Florida's 10,000 Islands & The Florida Keys Paddling Guide

Day Paddling Florida's 10,000 Islands and Big Cypress Swamp

By Jeff Ripple. 190 pages. From southwestern Florida's Marco Islands to Cape Sable, Floridian natural historian, writer, and photographer Jeff Ripple explores the extraordinary beauty of Florida;s 10,000 Islands, many of which are still unnamed. This guide features saltwater paddling tours on the northern and central 10,000 Islands, as well as a handful of freshwater tours in the Big Cypress Swamp. Trips emanate from multiple put-ins and take-outs, including Rookery Bay Estuarine Reserve (Marco Island), Goodland, Port of the Island, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Everglades City, and Big Cypress National Preserve.

The Florida Keys Paddling Guide

By Bill Keogh. 264 pages. This new guide by natural historian Bill keogh - whom ABC News calls "an expert on the Keys ecosystem" - is your signpost to the paddler's paradise that is the Florida Keys. Those who think of these islands as only 150 miles of sandy beaches have much to learn about the archipelago visited by 4 million people every year - and there's no better way to explore it than by kayak.

Each trip includes chart and route suggestions, as well as information on distance, tidal differences, winds, and safety. You'll also find information on the wildlife, habitats, ecosystems, and historical and natural features of the area. Keogh urges the paddler: "Enjoy the trip - don't worry about the destination."