Couldn’t rate these guys highly enough: from the cheery welcome, free drinks (hot chocolate was oddly good) and manatee souvenir shop, to the smooth running of the experience all the way to the water. Then, with captain Gavin and Liz, our guide, we set about looking for manatees… even that part was fun as we spotted the various other wildlife in and on the water! When we did locate a mother and her calf, Liz was really supportive and patient as she helped us all get an incredible view while respecting the manatees - she was really good with the kids all day, and kept us all well informed with her knowledge of the flora and fauna of the reserve. Liz also snapped away while we were all in the water and the photos arrived by email later in the day - but no hard sell to buy at any point, which nicely sums up the vibe from the whole team. The entire day was just an unforgettable experience and we’re really glad we chose River Ventures… fingers crossed we’ll be back some day!