The quiet kayak tour was a great way to start the morning! January was a great tour guide, sharing her knowledge and love of the Ft. Lauderdale area. We kayaked through a small natural area adjacent to The Bonnet House and then along the Intracoastal Waterway. We were finished with our kayak paddle by 10 a.m., and it was too early to visit the Bonnet House and Grounds, which open at 11. That gave us to time to get a snack and more water at the nearby 7-Eleven and to enjoy the Ft. Lauderdale beach while we waited. The Bonnet House is amazing, and we could tell that the tour guides enjoyed sharing information about the family, the grounds and the house. There is also the opportunity to take a tram ride for a more detailed tour of the grounds (cost $5), which we opted not to do, especially after having done our paddle and the walking tour.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Complimentary Photos
- Historical Art Museum Gallery & Studio Access
- Seashell Museum and Orchid House
- Paddle
- Bonnet House Self Guided Grounds & Gardens Access
- Life Jacket
- Guided Paddle Tour
- Paddle Board or Kayak
Excludes
- Water (Bring something for staying Hydration)
- Waterproof Bag and Waterproof Phone Case: Available for separate rental or purchase ($5 - $28)
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Turn from Sunrise Blvd to the end of the street. Make a right to the end where you will see the 2nd tall gate. These will be closed before 10am. Your Guide will meet you here at the gate.
Return
- Turn from Sunrise Blvd to the end of the street. Make a right to the end where you will see the 2nd tall gate. These will be closed before 10am. Your Guide will meet you here at the gate.
Itinerary
Fort Lauderdale Adventures is proud to offer this exploration of the Bonnet House western border for the first time ever. Celebrating over 100 years, we are able to exhibit these saltwater wetlands that support a fragile ecosystem vital to south Florida's ever endangered habitat. The jungle of mangrove trees produces a thick network of intertwined roots to prevent soil erosion and provide shelter and food for fish and wildlife. Manatee, land and sea fiddler crabs, and a variety of saltwater fish find a secure home in this ecosystem. The Cove is the perfect home for our Great Blue Heron, Green Herons, Egrett's, Ibis, and the rare Great White Heron that can only be found in this part of the world. The center of the property features the Bartlett's protected boathouse which was a private entrance to the property. Great for Celebrations! After your Paddle, enjoy a self-guided tour of the Bonnet House and Gardens. We recommend planning for at least 90 minutes: • Start at the Welcome Center to get interactive maps • For Audio use your Smartphone for the free mobile-friendly website bonnethouse.stqry.app/1 Paddle starts at 8:30am Grounds open at 11 and closes at 3pm & 4pm on weekends
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Very nice and informative staff. Wonderful kayaking with knowledgeable staff. Will definitely be taking more trips with them.
Lived in So Flo for many years, first visit! Fantastic. A throwback to a simpler and grand time in South Florida. The House and its history is so interesting. Decorated for the holidays. (Im syre tgeir special evening programs are wonderful. Guides informative and knowledgeable. Highly recommend the additional gardens tour for a $5p/p fee.. Our guide Barklay was so interesting and informative.
Courtney was a wonderful, charming tourguide - lots of stories about Florida, the history of the place, the culture - also responsive to the fact that I was doing a "vacation day" and we were able to dial back and not have too intense a kayaking day. Very nice!
Great location for a scenic and subdued experience. Wonderful informative guide coupled with ambience of the property, made for a fabulous day. I highly recommend!!!
Bonnet House and Grounds & Kayak Experience Courtney was a jewel! Self-guided tour of historic bonnet house and Gardens with an additional kayak trip of mansions, yachts & mangroves. I was able to do the house tour the day of my arrival, followed by my kayak trip from the grounds the following day at 11 AM. As I was the only participant and a solo traveler, Courtney volunteered to go out with me as a guide. She was very personable and took lots of photos for me. Great experience. Great Groupon value.
Had an unforgettable time on this guided kayak tour! The kayaks were in great condition, and the water was calm, which made for such a peaceful experience. Our guide, Troy, was super friendly and made sure we were all enjoying ourselves. We even got some nice pictures of our group while learning about the history of Bonnet House. It was the perfect mix of nature, adventure, and history. I can’t wait to do it again!
I just did the paddleboard tour at Bonnet House, and it was incredible! The environment was peaceful, and the guide, Courtney, was excellent. She took the time to explain everything and made sure we were all safe and having fun. It felt like a great workout, but at the same time, I was so relaxed just floating on the water. I would definitely come back and recommend this experience to anyone visiting Fort Lauderdale.
This paddleboarding tour was a highlight of our trip to Fort Lauderdale! The canals, often called the "Venice of America," offer a stunning view of luxurious homes and mega yachts. Our guide was fantastic, offering insights into the area’s history while keeping things lighthearted and fun. We even had a chance to spot some wildlife, like colorful birds and a couple of turtles. It was an incredible way to see the city from a whole new perspective. Highly recommended!
What a fantastic adventure! I went with my family, and we had such a great time kayaking through Coconut Cove. The guides were so friendly and made sure everyone was comfortable. We even got to learn about the Bonnet House, which was really interesting. I’ve never paddled before, but the guide made it easy to pick up, and the views were just gorgeous. If you're in the area, this is a must-do!
I had the most amazing time on the Bonnet House paddleboard tour! The scenery was absolutely stunning, and I loved learning about the history of the area. Our guide, Brian, was fantastic – very knowledgeable and made us feel super comfortable, even though I was a little nervous about paddle boarding at first. The whole experience was so relaxing yet active at the same time. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a unique way to explore Fort Lauderdale’s beauty
Nice paddle and beautiful tour of the historical bonnet house; good for beginners and anyone looking to enjoy the South Florida sun!
What an adventure! You could choose between kayaking or paddle boarding. My son and I chose paddle boarding, which was much more challenging than I thought it would be! We were on the river, so we were battling currents, the wind, and waves from boats. Requires, a lot of core and upper body strengths. Oh, and legs, Courtney, our tour guide, was excellent. If you’ve not paddle board before, I would suggest doing a less challenging terrain, i.e. Eco tour, which they offer!
Kayaks were in great shape and views from the water were fantastic. Loved also visiting the Bonnet House and learning about the place and family, and Ft. Lauderdale history. Highly recommend!
We had a blast on the water. Brian was the perfect instructor and guide. We can't wait to come back and kayak through Ft. Lauderdale.
Brian was a great guide and was so friendly and patient with us and we figured out our rhythm with the kayaks. The tour was the perfect amount of time. We felt like we saw so many things but we weren't exhausted at the end of it either. We will be coming back to Fort Lauderdale again and we will certainly be connecting with Sunrise Paddleboards while we're there. Thanks again for such a great outing!
My girlfriend and I signed up for kayaking and we are very happy with our experience. Paul was simply stellar. His courteous and accommodating demeanor warmed us up from the get-go. When my girlfriend needed to use the restroom before we set off, he facilitated it without reducing our time on the water. He was attentive to our needs, offering paddleboards, single, and tandem kayaks. His concern for our comfort, particularly regarding the back support on the tandems, was commendable, and his continual check-ins made us feel valued. An unexpected bonus was that we were his only customers that day. This led to a personalized experience that was extremely enjoyable. Paul was a vibrant conversationalist, his passion for the environment and water activities shining through. His enthusiastic presence helped dissolve our initial apprehensions and established a sense of ease that lasted throughout the trip. We had a quick journey through the Mangrove outcroppings adjacent to the Bonnet House grounds. Most of our time was spent in the intercoastal waterway, which was equally rewarding and more of a challenge with the small waves coming from passing boats. The entire experience felt safe and it was an exciting challenge. Paul's knack for photography added a memorable touch to our experience. He captured a collection of wonderful pictures that he promptly shared with us post-trip, a testament to his dedication to making our journey unforgettable. I would heartily recommend Paul's kayaking experience to anyone looking for a leisurely, comfortable outing. It may not test your paddling prowess, but the good-quality equipment, amicable company, and the lasting impression it leaves makes it a worthwhile adventure.
It was such an excellent experience. We rented kayaks for two hours. We were given excellent suggestions with helpful directions also. Since there were plenty of kayaks, we were even allowed to keep them a little longer than our two-hour limit. We even came back to some mangos to take home with us, and greetings from a beautiful little dog. The service was wonderful, friendly, and accommodating. Can't wait to come back.
Paul was awesome! We had an amazing morning. I highly recommend. We look forward to coming back next year.
We had a great experience with Paul paddleboarding for the first time in the tranquil, lovely Coconut Cove. Paul really cared about our enjoyment and comfort. Highly recommend.
My guide was fantastic. Saw iguanas and a hawk. Got exercise and got to see a little of the inter costal waterway.
We took a kayak tour this morning with Paul and had a wonderful time. Paul was very knowledgeable of all the sights and history. He made the trip fun and captured pictures of our group along the way. He took great care of us. We had experience in kayaks, but I would be comfortable recommending the tour to people who are less experienced. The tour also included access to the Bonnet House property.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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