Explore Cedar Key

Experience the jewel of Florida’s Nature’s Coast known as the Cedar Keys and the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuges.  

We offer Cedar Key Island  Tours, Suwannee River Tours, Coastal Estuary Tours, and Special Birding Tours.

History, Environmental Education, Numerous Birds, and Bottle Nose Dolphin are a part of almost every trip. 

Our Story

How We Got Started

Tidewater Tours was founded in 2007 by Captain Doug Maple. After retiring from the Atlanta Police Department, he worked for another tour company in Cedar Key for a few years and decided to branch out on his own. In typical Captain Doug fashion, he took Tidewater Tours to the next level. He purchased two larger boats and, after complying with all the Coast Guard rules and regulations, had them inspected to carry more than six passengers making Tidewater Tours the only such tour company in Cedar Key. The two boats he purchased were the Megan June, which can carry up to 10 passengers and the Princes Annie inspected to carry up to 35 passengers.

Captain Doug did such a great job of building Tidewater Tours and giving great customer service that when Mike and Connie O’Dell bought the company in 2010, they asked if they could keep his name associated with it. Not only is his name still associated with the business, he occasionally comes back and takes our Birding Tours. Mike and Connie took Tidewater Tours another step further by adding Airboat Rides and continued in the high standards that were set by Captain Doug.

In January 2021, partnering with Captain Doug, it was purchased by Philip and Misti Collins. We are excited to be working with and learning from CAPTAIN DOUG - the one who brought Tidewater Tours into existence and built it into the gem it is today!

On behalf of all of us here at Tidewater Tours, we look forward to meeting and serving you soon!

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