Water Sports & Paddling Outfitters in the Kings Bay, GA and Jacksonville, FL area

Up the Creek Xpeditions in St. Marys is the local go-to for guided kayak and boat tours into the tidal creeks and marshes surrounding Cumberland Island — and one of the best introductions to what life near Kings Bay actually looks like on the water. They run tours out of the St. Marys waterfront district, which means you get the charming downtown as your launch point and wild Georgia barrier island as your destination.

Kayak Amelia operates guided paddling tours through the salt marsh estuaries and tidal creeks around Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach — about 20 minutes from Kingsland — with a strong reputation for dolphin sightings and sunset tours that deliver. A natural first paddle for Kings Bay families who want guided water time without a long drive. 

Southeast Adventure Outfitters on St. Simons Island is one of the Golden Isles' most established paddle shops — kayak and paddleboard rentals, guided tours through the coastal Georgia marshes, and a well-stocked gear outpost about an hour north of Kings Bay near Brunswick. The marsh system around St. Simons is genuinely spectacular from the water, and this is the crew that knows it best.

Aqua East Surf Shop has been the anchor of Jacksonville Beach surf culture for decades — board rentals, lessons for first-timers, and gear for everyone from beginners to regulars who know the local breaks by name. If you're moving to the Beaches area or just adding a surf day to a Jacksonville trip, this is the first stop before you hit the water.

Surf Station is one of St. Augustine's longest-running surf and watersports shops, stocked with boards, wetsuits, kite gear, and everything else you'd need to make the most of the Anastasia Island coastline. It sits near the heart of the St. Augustine Beach community and doubles as a local knowledge hub for conditions, breaks, and where to go depending on the swell.

Mayport Village at the mouth of the St. Johns River is one of Northeast Florida's oldest fishing communities and home to a cluster of inshore and offshore charter fishing operations running trips along the Atlantic coast and into the inlet. It's also right next to NS Mayport, which makes it a natural landing spot for military families who arrived with a fishing habit and need someone local who knows where the fish are.

Explore kayaking in the Golden Isles of Georgia. Paddle scenic marshes, tidal creeks, and coastal waterways on St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, and Little St. Simons Island.