sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

[duke1012]

can anyone suggest some places to go I live in sanford fl and just got our first (running) boat and well we want to go somewhere not to far for a day trip i would love to put in at the ramp on 17/92 and I 4 ,,I do not have a gps but can get a cruising guide ,,,we have a 20' walkaround please help ,,I am so bored of going in circles in the lake ,,,,would love to go to hontoon island or silver glenn or any of those little lowns on the river

 

[flycaster]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

can anyone suggest some places to go I live in sanford fl and just got our first (running) boat and well we want to go somewhere not to far for a day trip i would love to put in at the ramp on 17/92 and I 4 ,,I do not have a gps but can get a cruising guide ,,,we have a 20' walkaround please help ,,I am so bored of going in circles in the lake ,,,,would love to go to hontoon island or silver glenn or any of those little lowns on the river

Your best bet would be to put in at the park on the NORTH side of the river (ST JOHNS RIVER) Ramp fee is/was $2.00. The ramp on the south side (almost under the bridge) I have heard that your belongings are not safe in your truck as it does not have any security.
Take a slow ride down ( as the river runs SOUTH to NORTH) the river, be sure that you observe the speed signs and no wake zones because the river is a manatee zone and patrolled by the sheriff's department BIG TIME.
Getting a map of the river is a must as when you get up close to Blue Springs there are some islands and getting on the wrong side could cause you to waste some time.
HAPPY BOATING on the St Johns River.
Lost of wild life to see.

flycaster

 

[duke1012]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

thanks man,,,do you happen to know what the best map or guide to buy would be ,,and yeah I think you are correct in saying that parking lot doesnt look to safe ,,,oh yeah do you think bass pro shop will have maps of the river

 

[cribber]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

Do you have a GPS app on your cell phone? I use my Garmin Nuvi for getting around on our local lakes and waterways. The only issue is it doesn't give you depth charts.

Also here is an online Chart courtesy of Tasha's Daddy from another thread.

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11498.shtml

If you change the end of the URL to 11495.shtml the map continues on to Lake George.

 

[robert graham]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

Go to Google maps and zero in on the river from Sanford to Lake George. We cruise that part a lot and there's plenty to see and do, Highbanks Restaurant, about 30 minutes up from Sanford is great for lunch and dinner(live music some nights), then 10 miles to Blue Springs to swim, snorkle, scuba, then Hontoon Island State Park, Hontoon Motel/Resort(2 nights during the week for $95 and nice place with pool, if you want to overnight, Google Hontoon Resort), then about 20 miles on to Astor, nice restaurant there, then Lake George, Silver Glen Springs(it's beautiful but a party place on weekends, better during the week), then Salt Springs for swimming,etc., then 10 miles on to the Oklawaha River(Very Beautiful ride up there), then to Welaka(nice public dock, excellent restaurant right there, Welaka Wooden Boat Shop and Museum). Maybe you should plan some overnighters, because you couldn't do it all in one day! There are several idle speed/Manatee zones along there that will slow you down but it's so pretty you won't mind! Good Luck!

 

[robert graham]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

You can get the maps you need from:Kingfisher Maps,Inc., 110 Liberty Drive, Clemson, S.C.29631, 800-326-0257, www.kfmaps.com, info@kfmaps.com, there's several maps each showing about a third of the river from Jacksonville down to well below Sanford. Maps give markers, depths, etc. After you cruise the river a few times you won't much need the maps since you'll know where everything is and how many miles apart they are. Good Luck!

 

[BIGALF]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

The park is a very good place to start your trip up the Saint Johns. However, you must be back before it closes or you get locked in. You will have to beg a camper to let you out if there are any campers staying there that night.
Go to the Swamp House Grill for lunch. It's a nice place to sit and have lunch. Just watch your speed or else it will cost you a lot of money. Go to Blue Spring and take a walk up the boardwalk to the spring. If you want to trailer up to Crow's Bluff and then go north. You can go at a faster speed. It's a full day to go to Silver Glen from there and return if you go. Going to Silver Glen is a little trickey for a new boater to that water but you got to go there in the summer to really enjoy the water. Whenever your on the river look for me and Miss. B . Havin ( 240 Sea Ray Deck Boat).

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

Crow's Bluff to Silver Glen is a nice little trip to make. Listen to Robert Graham, he's right on the money.

 

[staydry]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

ST Johns is nice...we usually take a trip around Goat Island...nice cruise & wildlife viewing and is located just north of Highbanks...we keep an eye out for the little birdhouses that are hanging all over....don't know what the purpose is or who put them there.

Don't know how much boating experience you have but you need to get over to the ICW and check it out....I thinks its much better boating especially the flats around Edgewater...just follow other boaters and you'll learn the routes...GL

 

[nlain]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

Go to

http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletChart/AtlanticCoastBookletCharts.htm

download and print 11491, 11492, 11495, 11498, these are booklet charts, pdf format so you need acrobat reader, you can print them out and take them with you, they are free. If your printer will print both sides of paper do that, if not print the odd pages then print the even pages, you may have to experiment a little to get the right printing order. These charts go from the Atlantic Ocean all the way down to Lake Harney

On the chance the above link does not work go to


http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/staff/BookletChart.html

You will see 2 blocks down the page a little, in the left one and click on Atlantic Coast, then scroll down till you see St Johns River listings. The right hand block gives printing instructions and a place to download acrobat reader if you do not have it.

 

[duke1012]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

I want to thank all of you guys for the suggestions i went ahead yesterday and took a spin up to blue springs I freakin loved it the ride was great I bought a map from kingfisher that made the trip a piece of cake and built up my confidence ,,I can truly say i am now addicted to the boat ,,I will be looking out for any of you guys,,,I dont have a name for my boat yet but its coming ,,,,

 

[BIGALF]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

Good think you did it yesterday. i did it today and it rained all day. however, we stopped at the swamphouse grill and had a good lunch before we headed back.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: sanford fl ,,where to go 1st time trip

Nice to hear from someone else in our backyard! I live just off of Highbanks (where the Swamp House Grill is), but our boat is moored at Monroe Harbour Marina in Lake Monroe.

Another place that wasn't mentioned is Captain's Cove Restaurant at the BoatTree Marina. It's right at I-4 and the river. Take the left (south) entrance into the marina and go all the way to the back. There is quite a bit of dockage there. There is a great restaurant, a covered large outdoor bar, monster pool, which is open to all, and many tables & chairs around the pool. They also have outside bathrooms & a bathhouse. Weekends usually have live music.

We have been known to drive to the marina, get in the boat & drive back to Captain's Cove or the Swamp House, spend a few hours at either and then take the boat back to the marina just to drive back home. It's all about being on the water.

Also, that water trail around Goat Island is a fantastic place to see wildlife/gators. Just idle through and you'll see a ton.