Planning a trip to the coast can be trickier than you might think. Many people planning a visit to our area overlook one or more critical planning items and run the risk of their trip not being what they want it to be. Hopeful paddlers may have made thorough camping preparations, but their lack of familiarity with tides and coastal weather could spell disaster for their trip. More than once, families have shown up at the coast looking to rent a canoe (which is unsuitable for these waters and unavailable in this area) or hoping to just jump in a kayak and paddle over to Cumberland Island for a quick visit. Even experienced kayakers, unfamiliar with the extreme tides in this area, often show up ready to do a particular trip only to find the tides aren’t in their favor that day — or that week — and the trip they planned isn’t even possible without favorable tides.

What to bring, where to stay, where to camp, where to eat and where to get accurate trip planning information (tides, weather, maps & charts, etc) are among the resources our visiting adventurers most often ask for. This page is designed to keep up-to-date travel, lodging and planning resources available for paddlers and visitors to this area. Whether you’re planning a short day-trip to the area, or a multi-day camping excursion, the pages under this heading will help you with your trip planning and vacation planning.

Hover over the Resources Tab at the top of the page and select the appropriate heading for the information you’re seeking: Paddling Resource; St. Marys Information; or, Amelia Island Information.