Observations at the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival

Though it's been a few weeks since the Festival took place, it was such a lovely setting and such nice weather, we have to look back at the history and the highlights as a heads up for next year.  We know our rental guests, even if not kayakers, canoe enthusiasts or paddle boarders themselves, would love the feel and the sight of this special time.

Almost every section of Florida offers great places to kayak or canoe. But the southwestern section along Lee County is doing more than any other to promote itself as a great kayaking destination.

The 2013 Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival is a good example of how to bring attention to kayaking and canoeing.

The Calusa Blueway Paddling trail is a 190-mile marked and meandering saltwater trail. The annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival is designed to draw attention to what a great place it is to kayak.

The 2013 Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, was held November 1 to 3. The event, which started in 2006, was named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for 2012.  And for good reason.

The festival included demos, competitive canoe/kayak races, a kayak fishing tournament, paddling clinics and demonstrations, seminars, family activities, environmental events, guided tours, and celebrations along The Great Calusa Blueway.

Matlacha’s Bluegrass for a Blueway and A Taste of Matlacha were certainly highlights of the Festival.   Free to the public, the events featured music from Wild Caught and served as a fundraiser for the Pine Island Food Pantry. There were “tastes” from area restaurants and event attenders were offered a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle board for free courtesy of Florida Paddle Sports and Gulf Coast Kayak.

As interesting as the planned activities were, however, we were smitten with the unplanned images that typify the Festival.

We took home in our mind's eye, so many picture perfect moments.

There were the numerous couples sharing a kayak or paddle board and exemplifying the concept that couples who play together stay together.

And there were dads, and even moms, who paddled along with a youngster en board.

But our favorites "co-paddlers" were those with their pet pooch along for the ride.

Those that achieved the biggest kudos were the great gymnasts who flaunted their accomplishments on their paddle boards,  and the courageous wheel chair paddlers who managed to keep their balance even with their equipment on board.

To the organizers of this iconic event, we applaud you all.  To all those who have not yet attended, keep a look out for the dates set for 2014.  You will not be disappointed!