{"id":11996,"date":"2019-09-04T14:16:57","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T19:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.acqualinaresort.com\/?p=11996"},"modified":"2025-09-26T15:05:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T20:05:54","slug":"kayaking-through-acqualinas-wild-backyard-oleta-river-state-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.acqualinaresort.com\/blog\/sports-culture\/kayaking-through-acqualinas-wild-backyard-oleta-river-state-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Kayaking through Acqualina\u2019s Wild Backyard, Oleta River State Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Paul Rubio<\/em><\/p>\n

Sipping poolside cocktails or sunbathing next to the Atlantic at Acqualina Resort & Spa, it\u2019s hard to envision the verdant, wild environs that once blanketed the community of Sunny Isles Beach. However, drive a mere six minutes inland from the resort, and you\u2019ll discover a pocket of nature-rich Florida, alive and well.<\/p>\n

Say hello to Oleta<\/em>\u00a0River\u00a0State Park, <\/em>a stunning mash-up of a tidal mangrove ecosystem and palm-studded islands enveloped by Biscayne Bay. Thanks to a partnership with the park, resort guests can explore Oleta on a private kayak tour with one of the park\u2019s expert lead guides, Lauren. This two-hour Acqua Experience is an exciting \u2014 and highly rewarding \u2014 immersion into natural Florida.<\/p>\n

\"Kayaker

After entering the park, Lauren will greet you at the BG Oleta River Outdoors Center, where she\u2019ll provide a water safety briefing, collect waivers, fit the family for life jackets, protect valuables in a dry bag, and review the basics of paddling and kayaking. Don\u2019t worry if it\u2019s your first or fifteenth time on a kayak, or whether your group has small children or senior citizens: Lauren will tailor the trip to your party\u2019s preferences and skill set.<\/p>\n

Once the formalities are over, the fun begins. Slip into a single or tandem kayak and paddle into the mangroves alongside Lauren. Expect to kayak for about an hour, first under the mystical mangrove canopy of Crazy Creek and then through the sparkling blue waters of Biscayne Bay. Throughout, Lauren informs and entertains with scientific information about the surrounding ecosystems and the history of Florida’s largest urban park. For example, you\u2019ll learn about the three different species of mangroves found in the park and the oyster beds, crabs, reptiles, and bird life that make this sub-tropical ecosystem tick.<\/p>\n

\"Miami

Photo: Paul Rubio<\/em><\/p>\n

Reach Biscayne Bay, and keep an eye out for the many dolphins and manatees that frequent this area. You\u2019ll likely want to risk removing your iPhone from the dry bag in the event the dolphins come in close range \u2014 it\u2019s certainly an experience worth capturing on video. But regardless of the marine life you spot during your kayak trip, Lauren will show you where to snap an Instagram-perfect shot of Oleta River State Park\u2019s fishing pier and beach cove (with Acqualina\u2019s skyscrapers in the background, no less).<\/p>\n

For the second hour, prepare to choose your own Oleta adventure. Choice one: kayak over to palm tree-laced Sandspur Island and traverse this uninhabited piece of land by foot or hang out on its pristine beaches. Choice two: paddle to Oleta\u2019s placid beach cove to wander the wide stretch of sand or simply swim or relax in the shallow waters.\u00a0 Whichever you choose, you\u2019ll leave surprised and delighted by this highly personalized, quick immersion into Florida nature, located right in Acqualina\u2019s backyard.<\/p>\n

There is a two-person minimum for this Acqua Experience, and the cost is $45 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under, plus 18% service charge. Advanced reservations are encouraged, and 10AM is the suggested start time for tours (though other times are also possible). Note that participants must first enter Oleta River State Park through the main entrance and pay the park entrance fee of $4.00 per vehicle with single occupancy, $6.00 for 2-8 people. For an optimal Oleta experience, consider planning your visit on a weekday to avoid park entrance lines. Finally, bring a towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, snacks, sandals, and swimwear for this mini-adventure.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Featured Photo: Paul Rubio<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Paul Rubio Sipping poolside cocktails or sunbathing next to the Atlantic at Acqualina Resort & Spa, it\u2019s hard to envision the verdant, wild environs that once blanketed the community […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":11998,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[229],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-culture"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nKayaking through Oleta River State Park, Acqualina\u2019s Wild Backyard | Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Slip into a kayak to paddle in Oleta River State Park alongside your guide. 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