The Florida Keys offers a wide variety of paddling options, from the blues and greens of the open waters to the winding mangrove trails. Fortunately, the clear, shallow waters give you the opportunity to see the best part of the Keys, the marine life and underwater environment.

Your weekend in the Keys with Adventure Times begins with a freetime evening or afternoon as you are welcome to check in anytime after 2 pm Thursday. Friday morning we will review and teach paddling techniques and head out for our first keys day trip following a waterfront outdoor breakfast. Friday evening we will have cookout behind Popps on the bay as you enjoy a famous Key's sunset and get to know your fellow paddlers.

The next morning we make a short paddle into Florida Bay to Lignumvitae Key (interesting article reprint from the Palm Beach Post), a State Botanical site with a rich history, where park ranger will lead us on a guided tour of the island. The virgin tropical forest is home to rare plants, birds, snails and trees, some thousands of years old. We will also tour the Matheson House, built in 1919.

When we leave Lignumvitae, we paddle to Indian Key on the Atlantic side. Watch beneath your kayak as we glide over patch reefs teeming with fish. After a healthy lunch there is plenty of time to snorkel or wander the ruins of a historic town, destroyed in 1840. A self-guided tour gives you the opportunity to imagine what life was like on the tiny island more than 160 years ago.

On Sunday we wind our way through the mangrove islands on our way to John Pennekamp State Park. You may choose to jump in and cool off along the way. After lunch and some more paddling we head for home, taking with us the memories of our weekend adventure.