Andy, the captain of the ship, was most pleasant,and made us feel well look after. He was also very good company and kept informing us all along about the area, history of the lakes, etc. He also described in detail the wildlife, as we passed by and even look out for alligators to pointed out to us, in fact, he managed to located one visually which was a delight to see. I definitely recommend to any body. PS. We take advantage of this review to express our thanks to the couple accompanied us for inviting us to a drink at Harborside restaurant on the 29th Oct.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Lunch or Dinner reservations for lakeside dining at Harborside restaurant available upon request.
- Bottled water
- We provide bottled water. Guests are welcome to bing anything they woud like to eat or drink.
Excludes
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- ALL GUESTS MUST ARRIVE 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TIME. Please meet the captain at The Living Water Cruises sign at dock 15 MIN PRIOR to departure time. BOATS DO NOT WAIT. Restrooms do not open until 11:30am; please plan accordingly. Lunch or dinner reservations are available upon request.
Return
- ALL GUESTS MUST ARRIVE 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TIME. Please meet the captain at The Living Water Cruises sign at dock 15 MIN PRIOR to departure time. BOATS DO NOT WAIT. Restrooms do not open until 11:30am; please plan accordingly. Lunch or dinner reservations are available upon request.
Itinerary
We will cruise by the famous Chain of Lakes Park where the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians once held their spring training.
Take a tour past the historic Cypress Gardens and famous Florida shaped pool from the movie "Easy to Love" with Esther Williams. You will get the history and catch a glimpse of what remains from the water side.
You will explore Winter Haven Florida's famous Chain of Lakes. Home to over 50 lakes with over 24 connected and known as the Water Ski capital of the world! You will even visit the lakes where Elvis Presley, Johnny Carson and many more have skied!
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
We had a wonderful time with our captain Jep. He was knowledgeable about the various birds and other wildlife we saw as well as he shared various historical tidbits.
We received a warm welcome from Randy. He provided a wonderful experience for my son and me. There is so much history is the Lakes. We toured 8 of the 28 or 27 lakes. Randy is a pro and knows the gator hangout spots. We got to see 3 and countless exotic birds. Thereβs so much to see on this tour. If youβre from out of town like we were I suggest a tour with RANDY! Kids of all ages will enjoy it too.
Our guide was Sage and she was wonderful! We had the boat to ourselves and she took time to answer all our questions and listen to our stories. She was very knowledgeable about the birds and sights.
We got great close ups of the shore birds around the lakes! Captain Rue was very knowledgeable about where we could find the birds we wanted to see. It was great to hear some of the local history, especially about cypress gardens and how Lego Land took over. We saw purple gallinules, osprey, Bald eagles, anhingas, cormorants, common gallinule, little blue heron, tricolor heron, snowy egret, great Egrets, Great blue heron, and roseate spoonbill! It was pretty windy too go through all the lakes so we spent more time looking for birds. A great smooth ride. Couldn't be happier!
Relaxing and informative. Saw some incredible wildlife - eagles, river otters and more! Our guide was wonderful.
Sage was our Captain and she was amazing. She had so much knowledge about the history behind the scenes. She also took time to show us the birds and the alligator. We went on the 2 hour cruise and it was absolutely worth the $40 person. Make sure to request Sage when you book your cruise.
This was a wonderful tour. Captains Rue and Stu were informative and very engaging! Highly recommend!
This is so good we did it again. My wife and I did this trip last year with captain Rue and because it was so relaxing and peaceful we booked it again and once again loved every 120 minutes of peaceful cruising and conversation with Rue. The airboat rides are full on throttle fun but this boat ride is longer and more peaceful with just as much wildlife to be seen. We are looking to return to Florida if we do we will certainly be booking again. Want something cool & different book this experience
A relaxing boat tour around a few natural lakes. We saw a few bird species and even two eagles. There were beautiful expensive homes/mansions at the water's edge. We went by Legoland, a botanical garden, and an abandoned pirates and water show. Unfortunately, there were no alligator to be seen, only saw a baby one at the end of the tour. Captain Randy was very knowledgeable about the ecosystem and history of the 14 lakes. He was very pleasant and gave us an overview of the history of the orange groves. Maybe it was not a good time of the year to have a glimpse of the alligators. If we ever visit Florida again, we would certainly try this tour again
A relaxing boat tour around a few natural lakes. We saw a few bird species and even two eagles. There were beautiful expensive homes/mansions at the water's edge. We went by Legoland, a botanical garden, and an abandoned pirates and water show. Unfortunately, there were no allegators to be seen, only saw a baby one at the end of the tour. Maybe it was not a good time of the year, September, to view the allegators
Great short ride. Exceptional guide!
Sage was our tour guide and she was very knowledgeable about birds and animals and also the history of this area. She was an excellent boat driver.
Sage was an amazing guide. Informative and entertaining.
An amazing peaceful 2 hour potoon cruise! Another beautiful day in sunny/partly cloudy day in Florida. Sage is kind, humble, and has a vast knowedge of history and wildlife in the area. She is excellent with bird identication. She focused on the ecosystem as a whole. We saw many birds, turtles, and an alligator. Thank you for a great day on the water. Things to bring sunglasses, hat, sunblock, camera, water, snacks, and cash for a tip. We excited to book another trip and request Sage again.
My dad, my wife and I had the pleasurable experience of exploring the lakes with Randy. Starting in Lake Shipp, we were introduced to the various birds, trees, canals and homes coexisting on the lakes. We explored and were informed of the progression of lake development up to Legoland and Lake Summit. We enjoyed the boat ride; and even got a chance to help save a couple wayward swimming cows. It was great!
Had a great tour! Sage is great! Highly recommend booking and requesting her as your guide!!
What a treat to go on the Chain of Lakes with Captain Rue. Not only was he on time and knowable about the lakes , he made sure we were comfortable and answered any questions we had. I would definitely go again. I have family coming November and I will be booking another tour with Captain Rue. You will not be disappointed when you go. I rate this a 10 out of 10. Thanks for a great day Looking forward to my next trip. Patti Gaudreau
We had a wonderful time with Sage. She was very knowledgeable and very friendly. The boat was clean and very comfortable and shaded. I recommend asking for Sage. It was worth the trip.
Sage was great!! She was experienced, knowledgeable, and entertaining!!!! We had a great time with her!!!
Sage was a wonderful guide! She was very knowledgeable, experienced, and entertaining!! We loved our experience!
I booked the 2 Hour Historical wildlife tour of the chain of lakes in Winter Haven. Some how on the date of the tour I made a mistake on the tour time. I received a phone call as well as a text from Sharlene that I was about to miss my tour. After speaking to Sharlene, (who was very friendly and professional) She contacted the tour guide and made arrangements for my party to join the tour at a different location. Our tour guide, Sade was excellent, very informative and caring, as it was a very hot day, she offered us water, towels and hats to help us stay cool. I would differently recommend this tour and this company, ask for tour guide Sade !!!!!!
Excellent low stress 2-hour tour a sage. The captain did an excellent job with her enthusiasm and knowledge of the lakes and the attractions such as this past ski attractions, the wildlife and it was wonderful seeing the sunset
Bryce was an excellent navigator and guide. He worked hard to keep us out of the hot sun by constantly raising and lowering the canopy which was necessitated by the low bridges we went under. Being from Florida, we were familiar with the different species of birds. We did enjoy seeing the homes built around each lake.
Great experience for us. If you are looking for a relaxing time on the water, learn some local history and see some wildlife then this is the tour for you. Our captain - Sage - was so friendly and knew her stuff. Appreciated the map and the water. Looking forward to planning another tour of the northern lakes
We had a wonderful 2 hour sunset cruise around several lakes in Winter Haven. It was a perfect evening, especially weather-wise, and the cruise did not disappoint. Sage was our driver and she was friendly, engaging, and entertaining as she told us about the lakes, any wildlife we saw, and history in the area. She answered our questions and gladly took pictures. I would recommend this tour with Sage as the driver!! Dinner at Harborside prior to our cruise was delicious as always.
We actually took the 2 hour sunset cruise. It was an excellent cruise through at least five of the lakes. Sage was an amazing captain and tour guide. It was an informative, scenic, and tranquil evening. A perfect way to escape the craziness of Orlando. We also enjoyed a lovely dinner at the Harborside restaurant before the cruise.
We did the 3 hour lunch cruise it was over 100 degrees with moving on the water it wasnβt that bad.Sage our guide was a book of knowledge and very nice. Weβre definitely going back for the sunset cruise.
Great time had by all. Brice was knowledgeable and friendly with great insights. Comfortable seating.
Our second adventure together was an absolutely delightful experience from start to finish. We truly cherished every single moment and made wonderful memories that we will hold dear for years to come. Our guide, Captain Rue, was nothing short of exceptional; his expertise and extensive knowledge about the area were evident throughout our journey. He shared fascinating insights and stories that not only enriched our understanding but also enhanced the overall enjoyment of the trip. Given how thoroughly we enjoyed this excursion, we are already looking forward to returning for our third adventure soon, eager to explore more and create even more unforgettable experiences.
We picked a perfect time for the event-8:00 am. It wasn't too hot and we experiened a relaxing boat ride. Our tour guide was exceptional and very knowledgeable about where to find the wildlife and the names of the various animals we saw during our 2-hour event. He gave us a little history on the homes in the area too. We really enjoyed our guide and the tour and are planning to bring the rest of the family when we return to Orlando.
We had an amazing tour guide - Saige. I will definitely request Saige on the next tour as well. It was a very beautiful and peaceful boat tour. The beautiful different types of birds that I had never seen before. Just an amazing experience.
Captain Bryce was awesome! Very knowledgeable and had some hilarious stories. Would liked to have done the sunset cruise, but that didn't work out with our schedule.
Bryce was a great tour guide. The only problem was we went the wrong time of year. There was not much wildlife out there and it was an extremely warm day. I recommend people doing this in February or March.
We had a good enjoyable tour on the Chain of lakes on Winter Haven the tour Capt was extremely knowledgeable and took his time to ensure we saw and experienced everything.
We had a wonderful experience. Bruce, our guide, was gracious and knowledgeable. He took great care of us.
Bryce was our captain and tour guide today. He was very informative and most accommodating. It was a perfect morning on the water!
Sage was amazing! She showed us some really neat things. Not a lot of wildlife but the she knew a lot about the ones we did see. The boat ride was relaxing.
Our boat ride was better than we expected. The lakes were lovely and we enjoyed going through the connecting canals. Our driver/guide, Brice, was very informative about the sites and history and was interested in our comfort level during the ride. It was easy to find the launch site and the restaurant there was a nice treat for lunch. I would definitely recommend this activity if visiting this area and looking for a good value experience.
What a great tour of very charming lakes, with a close look at the former Cypress Gardens botanical park ski show area and property. That property is now Legoland but the ski area and grand stand are now vacant. Along the way youβll see filming locations of old Tarzan movies, and a small island used for a few scenes of Gilliganβs Island tv series. Lots of different wildlife, and youβll go through several canals connecting each lake. We had Sage as our tour guide and pontoon boat operator, she is top rate, passionate and knows so many facts about the entire area. Ask for her when you book. We took the 2 hour tour, wonderful!
The boat captain Sage was excellent. She was very professional and very knowledgeable of the areas history. We had a perfect day with a slight breeze. We had reservations at the Harborside restaurant afterwards and the food was delicious. Great trip and we will definitely do it again.
Great experience ! Sage was our pilot and she was informative and patiently answered all of our dumb questions. I would definitely do this again and recommend it to anyone.
It was a wonderful 2 hour boat ride. We saw quite a bit of wildlife, including a couple of alligators. Our tour guide was Sage and she was super friendly and very knowledgeable.
Captain Rue was amazing!! So much knowledge and he even made reservations for us at Harborside Restaurant. Take this tour!!
I want to share my experience because it was definitely worth the trip. Our captain was a young man that was very knowledgeable. Also very safe on the water. My only dissatisfaction with this event was the fact that they had a Bimini top, but did not use it.It was 90Β° weather. He said it was too windy which it was not and we did not go fast because it was Memorial Day and there was lots of people on the lake so in my opinion in 90Β° weather for two hours, my experience was that my legs were burning through my Capri pants that, and it was a little much for me, but it could have been solved if the Bimini top was at least opened for half the ride.
This was a very informative tour about the area on the Chain of Lakes boat ride. Our guide was outstanding.
We had a good time but by the ad, thought there would be more nature scenary. Captain Darrell was very entertaining, informative and helpful. The seating made it hard to see. We were on right side of boat and most things pointed out where on that side and it was hard to turn around.
Had a fantastic experience this past weekend with my mom. Sage was fantastic... Very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna as well as the history! She was kind and courteous, always checking in on us and the other guests. Nice small tour size if 8 people. Highly recommend! Bring sunscreen and a hat!!
Great two hour boat trip, well worth the money, relaxing and informative, captain Dru was very knowledgeable
My sister and I did the Chain of Lakes tour on Friday 11am. I can honestly recommend this experience to any lover of history and the fauna and flora of Winterhaven. Rue was our extremely knowledgeable tour guide and the 2-hour tour yielded a wealth of information and an unforgettable experience. The boat ride was not rushed and definitely worth the money and time. Ideal for any age group and especially seniors who need time away from the rush of theme parks and the bustling city.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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