Day Trippin' — Paddle boarding in the South Siesta mangroves

Sarasota is littered with mangrove trails around its islands and keys, which means we're also surrounded by tons of nature and marine life. The mangroves make the perfect day trip — they're so quiet and peaceful, and most of the water is shallow and clear enough to see the fish and stingrays wandering through the marsh. There are many ways to navigate the mangroves, including boats, jet skis and kayaking, but lately, paddle boarding has been rising in popularity, and it's a great way to see things up close.

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The great thing about paddle boarding is that since you're standing up, there's not a whole lot obstructing your view of the water and you don’t have to worry about scaring fish and marine life off with a motor or having to look over the edge of a boat or kayak.

Recently, a friend who owns his own paddle boarding company, Fishplanx, took me and a friend out on the water and showed us around the mangroves in the South Siesta Key / Turtle Beach area.

Paddle boarding is tons of fun once you get your balance, which isn’t as difficult as it may seem, and you can burn a lot of calories in as little as an hour. Most good mangrove paddles take at least two to three hours, depending on your determination and skill.

You do need to stay protected and hydrated out on the water, though. I recommend sunscreen, bottled water and a camera, because you never know what you'll see!