Sunshine State Spring Break with the Feelfree Airship
April 11, 2025
Clay Lucas
What better way to kick off the beginning of spring than a trip to the sunshine state! While thousands of spring-breakers headed to the white sugar-sand beaches of Florida, I took a couple of Feelfree’s newest kayak/SUP hybrid pedal-board, the Airship, and put them through the paces on an array of Florida’s unique waterways. From springs to saltwater to bass fishing, the Airship proved a capable, confidence inspiring, and super fun craft for a wide variety of conditions. Enjoy the photos below for some inspiration! Where will you adventure with your Airship?
Weeki Wachee Springs
Weeki Wachee Springs is a total gem. While popular and crowded in the busy season, getting there early in the morning and being the first one on the water guarantees a peaceful relaxing paddle. The state park does a wonderful job keeping the river pristine, and it has a remote feeling despite being in close proximity to urban areas. It may have the absolute clearest water of any spring I have been to in Florida, looking straight through that aqua blue water never gets old.
Itchetucknee Springs
The Itchetucknee Spring run is one of my favorite places in Florida. It is situated smack in the middle of miles and miles of farms and pine forests and has a true "old Florida" feel to it. Teeming with wildlife, you are all but guaranteed to see alligators, turtles, schools of mullet, alligator gar, and a plethora of different birds. Not to mention the lush ferns and flowers nestled below the cypress trees lining the banks. The Itchetucknee is also situated in a state park that allows relatively few paddlers per day, adding to the wilderness and pristine feel.
Lakeland Area Lakes
Florida is famous as a bass fishing destination for good reason - there is not a shortage of fantastic lakes to fish in every corner of Florida. Just take a look at the aptly named town of Lakeland on google maps and you'll see what I mean! The Airship's add-on fishing package has plenty of room for tackle storage, a rod holder, unitrack bar for accessories, and a cup holder so you can extend your time on the water chasing fish.
Honeymoon Island
The Airship isn't only for freshwater, it also proved more than capable for exploring the coast in the Tampa/Clearwater area. The inflatable baffle helps it glide effortlessly through the water, and provides utmost stability whether sitting or standing.
Florida truly has so many opportunities for getting on the water, and such a wide variety of options. Lakes, rivers, springs, swamps, inshore, offshore, the whole state is just covered in water. I have hardly scratched the surface of what it has to offer, and every time I go I seemingly just add more places to my to-do list. Not a bad problem to have! Until next time...
Clay Lucas