Manatee & Weeki Wachee

Tampa isn’t just the City of Champions thanks to those epic Super Bowl and Stanley Cup wins in 2020 and 2021—it’s the city of fun. From Lightning games to boat days, bar crawls to concerts, there’s never a dull weekend here. We truly are spoiled for choice.

One of our first local adventures after moving to the area took us just north of the city to a little slice of Florida paradise: Weeki Wachee. Known for its crystal-clear spring water, calm currents, and the chance to spot a few friendly manatees, it’s the perfect escape when you need a dose of natural beauty (and a break from traffic).

While it’s not quite as manatee-packed as Crystal River or Three Sisters Springs, Weeki Wachee makes up for it with its stunning scenery and unique features—including one of the deepest freshwater cave systems in the U.S. Oh, and did I mention the live mermaid show in the summer? Yep. Actual mermaids.

Since we were still new to the area and didn’t have our own gear yet, we went the tour route for our Memorial Day weekend outing and found SUP Weeki on Facebook. The owner, Pam, updates the river conditions daily and is an absolute gem—affordable, knowledgeable, and super easy to work with. I seriously can’t recommend her enough.

If you’re looking for a laid-back paddle, dreamy water, and a chance to see Florida’s wild side (and maybe a mermaid or two), Weeki Wachee is 100% worth the trip.

Most tours along the Weeki Wachee run about 3–4 hours, and there are a few scenic route options to choose from. Our personal favorite? We love paddling up to Hospital Hole first—where the water gets mysteriously deep and dark—then cruising down to the State Park to wrap things up.

One of the best parts about Weeki Wachee is how beginner-friendly it is. Most of the river is shallow enough to stand in, and no paddling experience is needed. It’s a super chill float that lets you soak up the surroundings without feeling like you’re in a workout class.

Also, bonus: alligators are very rare here, which makes it even easier to relax and enjoy the ride.

Weekdays offer a more relaxed vibe with fewer paddlers on the water, but weekends are still a blast—just be sure to arrive early, especially during the warmer months. If spotting manatees is high on your list, plan your visit for spring, fall, or winter when the water’s cooler. That’s when you’re more likely to catch one gliding by or munching on riverbank greens.

One thing to note: after heavy rain, the water tends to take on a darker green hue. For those postcard-worthy crystal-clear views, aim for dry days. And don’t forget the essentials—sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, and a full water bottle are musts. Oh, and leave the booze at home—the local sheriff does make rounds on a jet ski, and it’s not the kind of souvenir you want from your trip.

Soak it all in, take your time, and enjoy a slice of Florida paradise on the magical Weeki Wachee River.

Happy Traveling,

Katrina

Central Asia - Part 1 Turkmenistan

Central Asia was just named Best Region to travel in 2020!! I cannot agree more. 

Many years ago I became completely fascinated by the Silk Road. The journeys, spices and textiles make it a cultural paradise. I wanted to maximize my time in the area and many friends raved about Lupine Travels - 5 Stans tour. Its a jam-packed and adventure filled two weeks. The days were long, but you really get a great feel of the region. Another reason I love Lupine Travel is the mix of people they get on their tours. After joining one of their tours a year earlier in Bangladesh and Bhutan. I knew the kind of people they attract on their tours. We had people from ages 24 to 70 and everyone meshed so well. 

The 5 Stans tour starts in Turkmenistan and ends in Kazakstan. If you are not a lover of long days and nights this is not for you. We were up most days before 6am and turning in for the night around 11pm. 

I decided to arrive a day early into Turkmenistan to enjoy a day of leisure before the big group showed up. We landed into Ashgabat in the early morning hours. The city was vibrantly lit up from the sky and looked somewhat to the Las Vegas strip from the air. Not what I had expected when we landed. I met up with my roommate and some of the group that morning. We decided to head out to the cable car and some locations in the city not covered in the tour. The cable car was interesting and it offers a great view of the city. I could spot this amazing looking building from the lookout point and after a bit of convincing the drivers took us. Who would have thought a broken ferris wheel within the Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center would look so cool. Its been broke for a few years, but was really neat to get up close to. 

We headed into the Russian style market for lunch. It was filled with tasty goodies and fresh fruit and veg. Another gem I did not expect was the amount of candy stores we would find. I am talking wall to wall confectionary goodness. I brought back nearly a kilo of chocolate and ate triple that over the two weeks. 

We had a traditional dinner nearby the hotel and copious amounts of vodka, for you know medicinal purposes. That is pretty true for the whole tour, as stomach illness is fairly common for everyone in this region. 

The next morning we met up with the rest of the group to start our real adventure. We took a short city tour visiting Monument of Neutrality, Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque, Independence Monument, Memorial Complex and The State Museum of the State Cultural. 

We then setoff to the desert for our overnight stay at the famous gas crater. We left the large tour bus behind and started our convoy into the desert in 5 SUVs. The roads were less than favorable, but in the end its all an adventure. We arrived at the grater at dusk and awaited the guides to put up our allocated tents. The camping was one of the highlights for me as you are hours from any city. The star filled sky paired with the light from the crater was breathtaking. The guides made a delicious lamb and veg kabob meal and we drank by the campfire until nearly sunrise. 

Early morning departure to Dashoguz for an overnight stay before we headed into Uzbekistan. This day was quite a blur due to being fairly ill. Not sure if it was food or the amount of booze consumed, but I was in a pretty bad place. Lots of meds, water and sleep once we arrived to the hotel. The group enjoyed a tour of a temple and dinner that evening.  

Onward to Khiva we crossed the border in the most humorous way. There is a small bus you must use between the border. You pretty much pack in like sardines and allow the driver to toss you around for around 5 minutes weaving through barriers. 

To be continued in Part 2 - Uzbekistan

Happy Traveling, 

Katrina