Family Insider

You know the rhyme, "In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue." And since Columbus Day is the 2nd Monday in October (that's this coming Monday), I was thinking it would be a great day to get on the water and go for a sail (or at least a boat ride).

With that in mind (and hopefully you have the day off) here's a few places around Florida where you can celebrate Columbus Day and explore new worlds of your own:

J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel: rent a pontoon boat, a kayak or canoe and explore the mangroves of this refuge- - it's magnificent! Watch for dolphins along the way.

Robbie of Islamorada has fishing, boat rentals, eco-tours and more. And you can hand-feed tarpon!

Fury Water Adventures in Key West offers you the chance to go snorkeling on glorious reefs, take a sunset sail, ride a WaveRunner, take a glass bottom boat ride and more.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park has an excellent glass-bottom boat ride and a snorkel trip to Molasses Reef -- it's awesome!

Salty Sam's Marina on Fort Myers Beach has a super fun pirate ship that goes out once or twice a day (even more in season) and it's a blast! There's pirate shows, face painting and frolicking dolphins, too.

Captain Nemo's Original Pirate Cruise on Clearwater Beach offers fun for all ages, no kidding! Normally cruises depart at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 4:30, and 7 p.m. My favorite is the sunset sail.

Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami has tour boats that depart regularly. It's a lovely ride on Biscayne Bay.

HarborWalk Marina in Destin has lots of charter boats that would welcome your business! Go fishing in the 'luckiest fishing village in the world' and you won't be disappointed!

Oleta River State Park in Sunny Isles has kayak and canoe rentals -- or if you don't have any sea legs, rent a mountain bike. Just be sure and eat at their restaurant, the Blue Marlin, and try the smoked fish.

St. Augustine Eco-Tours are a great way to enjoy the sights and sounds of the waters surrounding this historic city. Captain Zach will treat you right.

For more ideas near Clearwater and St, Petersburg, check out this article on different ways to get on the water in these areas.

Charter Boat Chulamar in Pensacola is a good for those who like the water but also like a little air conditioning! It's a big boat, ideal for private charter.

Adventures Unlimited in Milton (near Pensacola) can put you on the water in a number of ways from tubing to kayaks and of course, canoes, as this is the premier spot in Florida for canoeing!

Sundial Sailing and Charters in Daytona Beach offers sailing by the hour, and it's quite spectacular! Check out this vessel and you'll be a sailor for life.

Want to learn to sail or take a sailing vacation? Then you need to call Steve and Doris Colgate's Offshore Sailing School. They offer classes on the east and west coast for private lessons or groups. They also offer learn-to-sail vacations.

I hope you enjoy your Columbus Day and in the spirit of Columbus himself, get out there and expand your horizons!

Jill Martin, Family Insider, VISIT FLORIDA