Tampa Bay Area Experience Takes Top U.S. Spot on TripAdvisor Rankings

Get Up And Go Kayaking claimed the top U.S. ranking for Nature & Outdoors experiences in 2026 from TripAdvisor. Their Shell Key Preserve tour also secured the No. 2 position worldwide.

These rankings stem from TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Things To Do awards. The awards pull from reviews and ratings gathered across 12 months. Less than 1% of the platform's 8 million listings receive this distinction, according to I Love the Burg.com

Transparent kayaks let paddlers watch underwater sea life while gliding over grass flats and sandy shallows near Shell Key Preserve. Guides lead groups through mangrove islands, then along beaches and sandbars in gulf waters off Pinellas County.

The clear boats work like windows into the water. Rays glide below. Fish dart past. Paddlers watch it all happen beneath them in real time.

Small groups launch from 1 Collany Road in Tierra Verde, just minutes from the preserve. Guides help spot wildlife during each trip.

Only one other attraction ranked higher worldwide in the Nature & Outdoors category for 2026. This local operator outperformed thousands of other outdoor experiences across the country to claim the top U.S. position.

TripAdvisor's awards system draws from user reviews and opinions submitted to the site. Which attractions make the annual list are determined by review volume and rating quality.

Visit Get Up And Go Kayaking for more information and updates.