The free event (aside from the park's $1 entrance fee) is a great way to get tips on how to maneuver a kayak and learn if you want to get more involved in a sport that offers good upper-body exercise coupled with the opportunity to commune with Mother Nature.
Kayak Try-It Day boasts several suppliers who have hauled their boats here to introduce novices to kayaking. Nancy Eichert, the park's recreation coordinator, expects about 30 sit-on-top and cockpit kayaks to be on hand for those who want to experience handling one of the vessels in the lagoon. "There will be mostly single kayaks, but a few doubles will be on hand," Eichert explains. Throughout the day, there will also be safety lessons and demonstrations of how to and, perhaps more importantly, how not to handle a kayak.
Prospective participants should remember a few simple rules. For starters, always wear clothes that can get wet. Bring water and a hat, wear shoes, and use sun block. If you bring a camera, make sure it's waterproof, or wrap it in a dry bag. Participants must wear life jackets, supplied by the park. Finally, children must weigh more than 30 pounds, and anyone younger than age 13 must share a double kayak with an adult.
For those who want to really glide through the water, several tours throughout the day, through the White Mangrove Paddle Trail, are offered for $7.25. Snacks and hot lunches will be for sale at the marina, or bring your own.
