We have been to white water rafting and kayaking before, but this is nothing like it! We took a self guided 3 hrs canoe trip downstream of the Hillsborough River. The scenery was beautiful. We saw wild animals right in front of us. We saw roseatte spoonbill, black crowned heron, great blue heron, great white heron, anhinga, and black vultures eating a dead wild hog. We went by a field of water lilies and Wesley saw a 15 inches catfish. Nice place to go fishing.
We had to learn to canoe between the tree logs and to communicate the steer movement between the front and the back of the boat. It was adventurous. Pay attention and know where is the pick up point so you won't get lost. This was way better than the water ride at the theme parks.
Paddler Wesley and the great blue heron on the tree trunk
white ibis looking for food 
This was our canoe. Arrived safely and sat comfortably in the seat rest
The month of May is the peak of alligator mating season. We could hear their calling, but we didn't see any alligator on this trip. It sounds like this - Alligators2 and Alligators3. In the fall/winter, there are even more birds as they migrate south, and in the spring as they migrate back north. It's just like the National Geographic Channel live in front of you.
