In order to make your cruise relaxing and enjoyable, as well as, allowing you to experience the river at its best, we would like to suggest the following as possible itineraries that are designed for the number of days that you will be on the water. Be sure to check charts as you travel to alert you to shallow areas, the off-limits military area, and sandbars that might make your trip less fun. We have tried to give you tips that will help you as you cruise, but remember to always consult the charts about depths etc. If you aren't sure. . .give us a call

2 Days South | 2 Days North | 3 Days South | 3 Days North

2 Day/1 Night South

Lake Crescent

Leave Crystal Cove and cruise up the river to Dunn's Creek . Turn left at Dunn's Creek (just before red marker #17 ) and continue in the creek until you come to Lake Crescent. While traveling in the creek, idle back to 2200 rpm, try to stay to the right and enjoy the scenery. Look carefully for turtles, alligators, osprey, Great Blue Herons, Ibis, and the bald eagle that often circles the area! The cruise to Lake Crescent takes about 3 hours.

Lake Crescent is 22 miles long and is great for fishing or water play anywhere. Swimming and going down the water slide are fine in this lake as long as you are not right at the shore. Cruise down to the lower end of the lake and pull up to the dock at Crescent City for an enjoyable meal at the Sprague House, an historic Steamboat Resort Inn located just 1 block from the dock. Walking another block further will bring you to some quaint shops for some fun browsing or serious shopping. You can stay overnight at the dock or anchor out anywhere in the Lake. On your way back from the lake, just after you go under the U.S.Highway17 bridge, turn left into Murphy's creek (idle back to 1200 rpm). Set a course down the middle of the waterway and keep a sharp eye out for floating obstacles or trees protruding from the bank. This creek continues around Murphy's Island which is an uninhabited island owned by the state. This creek has more abundant wildlife than Dunn's and is a terrific place to take alligator pictures. They tend to sun year around and we have never had a trip where gators weren't present. When approaching the river, you will be fine if you continue in the middle of the creek.. Stay on this course, until you reach the middle of of the river. Then make your right turn to head back to Crystal Cove. Do not go between the green channel marker and the island-stay in the main channel of the river. Going around Murphy's Island will add 45 minutes to an hour to your return trip.

Seven Sisters Islands

Leave Crystal Cove and cruise up river (down stream). After passing through the railroad bridge, (you will need to call the bridge tender on VHF Channel 9) you will travel a bit further south to a series of islands that are a great place to anchor out for the night. Just before Green Marker # 31 there is a channel leading to Hermit's Cove. Turn left and follow this waterway at an idle to a "T"-bear to the left and go about 100 yards. You will see a small tavern,painted red,on the shore about 250 yards to the east. Center the boat equal distance from the three islands and anchor out for the night. You will have to pay close attention to the provided river chart, as depth varies throughout the Islands. There is also a permanent mooring in the area that River Adventures has permission to use.

The trip to Seven Sisters will take about 2 ½ hours.

This is a great place for a peaceful evening of fishing, grilling out and wildlife watching, but it is not a good place to play in the water. This area has many birds, turtles and of course, gators. After dark, it is fun to take the spotlight that is aboard and shine it around the shoreline. You will see many orange eyes staring back at you as the light picks up the eyes of the gators! When returning to the river, go back the same way you came in.

Redneck Riviera - If you want a place to swim, the "redneck Riviera" is a sandbar safe for swimming. Park the boat in deeper water North of the sandbar.

Turkey Island

It takes about 45 minutes to go from Seven Sisters to Turkey Island.

Continue south on the river to red marker # 44. Just past Turkey Island and turn to the left. In between Turkey Island and Sportsman's Harbor (a waterfront subdivision on your right) there is a great spring run flat that is a great spot for swimming and going down the water slide. This is the outfall of Welaka Springs. If you have rented a skiff or kayak, or are towing your own boat, it would be fun to explore the springs.

On the way back to Crystal Cove, you can go around Muphy's island by cruising down Murphy's Creek. At Marker # 26, turn to the left and stay in the middle of the creek entrance . (idle back to 1200 rpm). Set a course down the middle of the waterway and keep a sharp eye out for floating obstacles or trees protruding from the bank. This creek continues around Murphy's Island which is an uninhabited island owned by the state. This creek has more abundant wildlife than Dunn's Creek and is a terrific place to take alligator pictures. They tend to sun year around and we have never had a trip where gators weren't present. When you come to the end of Murpy's Creek, turn left into Dunn's Creek and continue to the channel of the river, turn right and head home. Adding the trip around Murpy's Island will add 45 minutes to an hour to your return trip.

Ocklawaha River

At the north entrance to Little Lake George (approx 3hrs south of Crystal Cove), the Ocklawaha is a really wild and scenic stream/river is perfect for kayaking or running a small boat up. Our houseboats CAN NOT go in. Calm, Narrow and very safe, you'll see the back blocks of the St Johns at it best.

2 Day/ 1 Night - North

6 Mile Creek - Outback Crab Shack

Cruising North out of Crystal Cove Marina for about 3 ½ hours will bring you to 6 mile creek and a very long, but easy to maneuver dock.. After securing the boat, make your way to the Outback Crab Shack Restaurant.

The atmosphere is very casual and you can enjoy wonderful seafood either outdoors or inside. Be prepared to come away with a doggie bag, as the servings are very generous. The boiled or fried seafood platters will easily feed 4 people. There is also a friendly raccoon who will come out of the woods hoping for a snack if you can't finish all of your dinner. After eating you will more than likely see turtles near the dock and there may even be some gators hoping for a handout. Although they don't mind you assisting the raccoon, please don't feed the gators, but enjoy watching them and have your cameras ready. If you want, you may spend the night at the dock or head back out to the river and push on to the north.

Green Cove Springs

Continuing for another hour to the north will bring you to Green Cove Springs. At Green Cove Springs, there is a very nice city dock which will easily accommodate the houseboat. A short 1-block walk will bring you to Ronnie's Wings which is another casual restaurant specializing in Wings. Ronnies wings are great as is the rest of the menu. After dinner, you can take in a movie at the newly renovated Clay (County) Theater that is just another block away. Docking is allowed for overnight if you desire, however you will need to call ahead for permission. We will provide you with that phone number if you choose to stay.

Black Creek

After leaving Green Cove Springs, you will arrive at Black Creek (on the west side of the river) in about 1 to 1 ½ hours. You will pass under the highway bridge on the creek and you may continue in the creek until you approach the railroad bridge. You MAY NOT go under the railroad bridge and it would be wise not to approach too closely as there are low power lines near the bridge. If you are renting one of our skiffs or kayaks, or you are towing your own boat or jet ski, you can go on up into the creek . There are little beach areas and some rope swings out over the water that are great fun!! The area between the highway bridge and the railroad bridge is a good place to anchor for the night. You will not want to anchor in the middle, but stay off to the side. Check your chart for depths.

3 Day/ 2 Night South

Silver Glenn Springs

Heading right out of Crystal Cove and cruising 4½ to 5 hours up river will take you to a well-known local favorite-Silver Glenn Springs. Follow the channel to Lake George then head toward the springs. Check the chart to familiarize yourself with the depths and sandbars at the entrance to the springs. As you go farther back into the springs, the water becomes crystal clear and you will be able to see fish swimming about. In cool weather, there are manatees in the springs. What a place for playing in the water-swimming, water sliding, kayaking, or just floating and relaxing.

3 Days/ 2 Nights North

Doctors Inlet/Lake

Doctors Inlet/Lake is located about 1 hour north of Black Creek. After going under the highway bridge, you will be in Doctors Lake. This lake is good for swimming or water sliding and you may easily anchor in most places, taking care to watch the depth. There is a restaurant at Whiteys Fish Camp which is in the canal connecting Doctors Lake to Lake Asbury. You will not be able to get the houseboat into this canal, but if you have a smaller boat in tow, you will be able to visit Whiteys-a casual but fun fish camp type restaurant.

Jacksonville-The Landing, South Bank, Metropolitan Park

About 7 ½ hours after leaving Crystal Cove you will arrive in downtown Jacksonville. After passing through the railroad bridge, ( you will need to call the bridge tender) you will have several choices for docking. The best is the Landing which is an area of shopping and dinning. There is also docking at the South Bank and Metropolitan Park-a particularly good place to dock if you are attending a football game at Alltel Stadium. There are numerous restaurants available in the area by walking, utilizing a boat that you are towing, or by the Water Taxi.

If you are staying for more than 3 days/2 nights you may combine any of the itineraries we have previously mentioned. You will simply have longer to stay or more time to explore the different locations. All of the boats are equipped with charts of the river so that you will have the exact locations and be able to navigate the waters successfully. Any questions?

River Adventures Houseboat Rental Company
St. Johns River - Palatka, Florida

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