Cedar Key, an hour west of Gainesville is a peaceful tiny fishing hamlet on the Gulf coast. Captain Doug's boat tours to the Cedar Key NWR offers a thrilling experience in birdwatching. We spotted common loons, ospreys, brown pelicans, white pelicans, horned grebe, ruddy turnstone, laughing gulls, herring gulls, sanderlings, wood stork and tons of double crested cormorants which are... More

It is hard to imagine the Cedar Key area back in the days when the cedar trees were being logged . Now the area is definitely off the beaten path. The water in this area is extremely shallow and the weekend of the Open House the tides were extremely low, so it was a relief when we made it out... More

Most of the 13 National Wildlife Refuge islands are accessible most of the year with a couple of exceptions for bird nesting seasons. Can access by boat, kayak, canoe only. Very romantic islands because they are relatively unknown and boat only access. Can let your dogs run free as long as you pick up after them and do not let... More

For the novice or experienced kayaker, this is a perfect place to enjoy. Kayak from the marina to Atsena Otie Key, only 0.6 miles,beach your kayak, and hike the trail past the remains of the old Faber Pencil mill, the cistern and on to the civil war cemetery. If you go during mosquite season, however, be sure to carry and... More

Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge is one of the least known refuges on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Located about 1 hour southwest of Gainesville, Florida; Cedar Keys NWR covers about 800 acres on 13 keys (islands) in the Gulf. Most of the keys are tiny, the two most significant keys for visitors are Atsena Otie Key - about 1... More