Exciting Land and Sea Tours of Sandbridge Beach

To really get to know a place, you need a local guide. Land and sea tours of Sandbridge Beach help you learn more about the history, culture, and ecology of the area than you ever would on your own. Whether you love the water, the land, or both, Sandbridge Beach has an abundance of private and small-group tour options to match your sense of adventure.Kayak Fishing ToursHenry David Thoreau said, "Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." Fishing from a kayak takes you back to the quiet and simplicity of the good old days. It allows you to get to places you can't reach by motorboats; you'll have access to protected coves and other secluded spots where fish hide from noisy motors.Even if you've never kayaked, you can enjoy a guided fishing tour on the freshwater tributaries of Back Bay or on the salt waters of Rudee Inlet, where you can catch striped bass, speckled trout, drum, skate, spot, croaker, and flounder. Guides know the fishing hot spots and are happy to share their knowledge with anglers of all levels of experience. (Ask your guide about what licenses are available.)Kayak ToursEven if you don't want to fish, a kayak tour of Back Bay Wildlife Refuge is a gratifying way to spend a tranquil morning or afternoon. The freshwater creeks of Back Bay are flat and calm, making for an easy paddle. You'll move through private waterways with a prime view of birds, deer, turtles, and fish. Bring your binoculars; guides are knowledgeable about local plants and wildlife.One of the most popular kayak trips is Surf and Adventure's Paddle to Blue Pete's. This tour is an easy 2.5-mile, one-way trip to Blue Pete's restaurant, a favorite hangout for locals and visitors. For an extra dose of awesome, sign up for the sunset tour.Birders will appreciate Kayak Nature Tours half-day eco kayak tours from First Landing State Park. Tour highlights include abundant osprey, a pair of bald eagles, and a profusion of other birds and animals. This trip is a 3-mile paddle that stops for a beach snack at the midpoint.If you'd like to get beyond the flat water and into the ocean, an ocean kayak tour is the trip of a lifetime. Your guide will teach you how to paddle through the surf. Once beyond the breakers, you'll spot dolphins, turtles, diving birds, and schools of fish.Standup Paddleboard (SUP) ToursIf you've never been paddleboarding, prepare to fall in love. Paddleboarding feels like walking on water, and it's a wonderfully peaceful way to spend a few hours. Because paddleboards move so slowly, they don't startle birds and other wildlife. You'll get closer than ever before to great blue heron, pelicans, cormorants, and more. Dolphins are very curious about SUPs and often swim right alongside paddlers.Paddleboarding is good exercise, but it's easy to learn and easy to adapt to your fitness level. You can stand up to paddle, but with a little practice you can switch back and forth between paddling from a kneeling or sitting position, too.Surf and Adventure also welcomes paddleboarders on their crowd-pleasing Paddle to Blue Pete's. No experience is necessary.Dolphin-Watching ToursIf there's one thing that makes people smile universally, it's dolphins. A dolphin-watching tour is not only a sure way to spot these fascinating, intelligent creatures, it's the best way to learn about their habits and habitats. Rudee Tours offers dolphin cruises aboard their comfortable 65-foot catamaran. This tour is perfect for the whole family because there are restrooms, snacks, an air-conditioned cabin, and handicapped accessibility. Plus, if you don't see a dolphin on your trip, they'll take you out again for free.Bike ToursBiking Sandbridge Beach is the best mix of adventure, exercise, and wonder. Roads and trails are relatively flat, so biking is as easy or as challenging as you want it to be. Choose to bike the interior of False Cape and you'll also get to charge over dunes and through shallow valleys. You'll likely glimpse deer, wild pigs, and migratory birds that you won't spot anywhere else. Deserted beaches are hard to find these days, but if you bike the beach on a fat-tire sand bike and you'll find you have the scenery and wildlife all to yourself.If you're looking for a short tour, sign up for a sunrise or sunset tour into the Back Bay Wildlife Refuge. These are the most active times for wildlife, so this is an exciting trip for kids and nature lovers.Taking a guided land or sea tour of the unique Sandbridge Beach ecosystem gives you local knowledge about the history, wildlife, and ecology of this extremely diverse geography. When you don't have to plan all the details yourself, you'll reach a deeper level of relaxation on your vacation.