Kayaking in the Florida Keys

B I G   P I N E   K E Y, Fla., Oct. 20 -- A caravan of kayaks snakes through anarrow opening in a mangrove forest in the back country waters ofthe lower Florida Keys.

Inside, the sun peeks through a canopy of twisted branches aboveand illuminates the leaf-stained red water below.

The path along this natural creek was cut away in the early1900s, likely by European settlers, and now provides a glimpse ofthe unique keys ecosystem to tourists and locals who take the timeto observe baby snappers fighting the current and tarantula-lookingtree crabs climbing the branches.

"The slower you go, the more you see," said kayaking guideBill Keogh, who offers daily guided tours.

The Lure of Soft Adventure

Kayaking is growing in popularity among tourists looking to getaway from it all in the Florida Keys, said Harold Wheeler,marketing director for the Monroe County Tourist DevelopmentCouncil.

The tourism council doesn't keep statistics on kayaking,but rentals and paddling lessons are sprouting up all over theKeys.

"It's what we consider soft adventure travel," Wheeler said."A lot of people are interested in that soft adventure now."

The draw of Big Pine Kayak Adventures is the 44-year-old Keogh,who has become an expert on the Keys ecosystem during the pastdecade as a guide.

He explains which sea grasses are edible, points out thedifference between a heron and an egret and tells how mangrovesdrop their green bean-like seeds during hurricane season for betterdispersion. Keogh focuses on the details of the environment, notthe distance covered in a kayak.

"Enjoy the trip, don't worry about the destination," he said."We don't go fast and we don't go far."

The trip begins about 30 miles east of Key West on Big Pine Key.Nestled in the overlapping Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge andGreat White Heron National Wildlife Refuge on the backroads of theisland, a giant yellow kayak greets visitors in front of the marinaat Old Wooden Bridge Fishing Camp.