**GIFT CERTIFICATES available**
Unforgettable PRIVATE Scenic Silver River & Dora Canal Boat Tours
Departs from the Eustis City Docks behind the Crazy Gator; pick-up also in Mount Dora, Tavares & Ray’s Wayside Park in Ocala
What We Do and Where We Go
Our PRIVATE Boat Tours
Our 20' pontoon boat, is Coast Guard regulated with a weight limit of 900lbs and can comfortably accommodate 2 to 5 passengers on our Dora Canal and Sunset Tours and 2 to 6 passengers on our Silver Springs Adventure. Our tours are ALL Private to be able to give You, our valued passengers, the chance to experience the true natural beauty of Lake County without a crowded boat full of strangers. We have a camping toilet onboard with a drop down privacy curtain, and Captain David is always happy to stop at one of the restrooms along your tour! We are pet friendly and you are encouraged to bring snacks and drinks (alcohol is welcomed) onboard to make you feel at home. We always have Free cold bottles of water for you as well!
Come as passengers and leave as friends; our goal is to give you a truly memorable experience that will bring you back time and again with friends and family
The Harris Chain of Lakes
The Harris Chain of Lakes is a 77,500-acre, 8-lake chain of lakes. It spans portions of Astatula, Eustis, Howey-in-the-Hills, Leesburg, Mount Dora, Tavares and Yalaha, in Lake County, Florida.The 8 Lakes that make up the Harris Chain of Lakes are: Lake Griffin, Big Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, Lake Dora, Lake Beauclair, Lake Yale, Lake Eustis, and Lake Carlton. While Lake Yale is technically part of the Harris Chain, it is not connected by navigable waterway to the other lakes.
The “Prettiest Mile of Water in the World”
The Dora Canal is truly a Scenic and Serene waterway that will take you back in time to see what drew the Timucua Indian Tribe here so many years ago.
The canal, also known as the Elfin River, is about 1.25 miles long and connects Lake Eustis and Lake Dora.
This pristine, jungle-like waterway is part of a large Cypress swamp, fed by underground springs and abundant rainfall. Its beautiful, stately old Bald Cypress trees draped with Spanish moss provide a picturesque canopy for the abundant flora and fauna below. The opportunity to see wildlife in this sanctuary makes it a favorite location to observe many creatures in their natural habitat. A plethora of wading birds, herons, egrets, anhinga, wood ducks, ospreys, eagles, otters, alligators, turtles, snakes and fish are commonly seen here. The canal provides great subjects for photography, or an opportunity for a peaceful, quiet and enjoyable ride.
An Adventure of a Lifetime!
A Day Trip to Silver Springs
4 -/+ hours (could be longer depending on the goodies Mother Nature decides to share that day! Captain David will not be on a time schedule - he takes his time, allowing his guests to relish in all the wonderful scenery and wildlife)
2-6 passengers
call Melissa for all the specifics!
An Amazing and oh so Memorable excursion to Silver Springs!
The cruise begins in Ocala at Ray's Wayside Park - there you will be greeted by Captain David and your journey through the crystal clear Silver River to Silver Springs will begin!
Have your cameras handy at all times! The wildlife is incredible: gators, eagles, herons, hawks, egrets, turtles, manatee and so much more! Always be on the lookout for troops of Rhesus Macaques Monkeys as well! The colony was established in Silver Springs about 1938 and they have continued to thrive, making themselves a home along the Silver River.
Pack a cooler for the day!!! Bring lunch, snacks and any beverages you like! We will have a cooler full of Free cold bottled water for you as well!
This trip is one you will be talking about for years to come
Featured Tours
** 2 hour Dora Canal Tour (2-5 passengers)
$35.00 per person (tax inc.)
9am, 11:30am, 2:00pm and 5:00
The Dora Canal is truly a masterpiece of nature - voted the "prettiest mile of water in the world" This tour will take you on a trip back in time!
**Dora Canal Tour with Sandbar Swim**
Summertime is finally here!
How about a 4 hour Cruise with Captain David?!!
10am (text or call for more information)
Take our POPULAR Dora Canal Tour combined with a swim at the Sandbar on Lake Dora. The sandbar is located on the shoreline of Deer Island; 3 to 4 feet of water with a white Sandy bottom. There will be plenty of time for swimming, floating and relaxing.
Bring your own cooler: food, adult beverages, swimming floats, etc. There is a changing station on board if you need to change into a bathing suit or just wear one on the boat!
2-5 people max with a 950 pound limit per Coast Guard regulations. We will depart at 10am and arrive back at 2 or so. Music is provided!!! However, bring your own Bluetooth speaker if you like!!
The boat is equipped with Bimini top, swim ladder, portable potty as well as comfortable seating.
Come enjoy the scenic Dora canal and swim in Lake Dora with us this summer.
We look forward to seeing you
Sunset Cruises
**1 hour Sunset Cruise (2-5 passengers)....
$25 per person (tax inc.)
What better way to end the day than on the water watching a beautiful sunset? Our lakes offers some breathtaking colors; especially after the sun has gone down!
Stop at the Crazy Gator Restaurant for a cocktail and a meal.
They offer great outdoor and indoor seating venues with beautiful views of the water.
Bring a to-go cocktail onboard with you to toast the end of a wonderful day!
Photo Gallery
Meet Captain David Kidd
United States Coast Guard Licensed Master Captain
Captain David was born and raised right here in Central Florida. His love and desire to learn our waterways started at the early age of 5. After serving 6 years in the Army, he would often be found boating and fishing. He was happy on any body of water (fresh or salt) and would go from the Harris Chain of Lakes to the Inter-Coastal waters; spanning from Titusville to Daytona Beach. Captain David became a Florida Naturalist due to his constant desire of wanting to be near the water and his love for the overwhelming beauty of this wonderful state. He has been a Captain on large tour boats for many years and has realized his true passion is to take people to places those large boats cannot navigate. Going off the beaten path and showing his passengers the remote areas of what has been preserved and is still the Real Florida. He is a true native Floridian who enjoys sharing his in-depth knowledge of the history in this fantastic area that he has Always called Home!
Behind the Scenes
Captain David's wife Melissa was born and raised on Long Island, New York and from her deep love of the horse industry and desire to be near water, found her way to Central Florida. She accompanies her husband occasionaly on tours, but for the most part is behind the scenes. She is on the other end of your email inquiries and is also the friendly voice on the phone; always happy to answer any questions you have! She, along with Captain David want you to feel like friends by the time you depart for your boat tour!
Contact Us
Special Requests Available
We are happy to customize a tour to accommodate your interests! If you have a special request, please send us a message, and we will be sure to get back to you soon. If you would like an immediate answer then please give us a call.
Real Florida Scenic Boat Tours
402 Bay Street, Eustis, Florida 32726, United States
Hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
