SARASOTA, Fla. — Paddling out into the calm waters off Lido Key, it's easy to see how people fall in love with the Gulf Coast and how it can help take their minds off other concerns. 

Visitors never know what they might see or what adventure lies ahead, according to longtime nature guide Chris Points of SURFit USA.

“I've always had a love for nature, but in particular the water,” Points says. 

He spent his formative years in Cape Cod, spearfishing and diving for lobster, so when he and his wife moved to Sarasota nearly a decade ago, it was an easy transition.

Now he's a local through and through and spends his days showing visitors the beauty of Lido Key, taking them in search of stingrays, manatees, dolphins and a host of other wildlife that can be spotted in the area. 

Lucky visitors might even get to dock their kayaks at one of the many sandbars in the area, explore the crystal-clear waters and search for shells. 

However, the most intriguing part of the excursion might be the man-made mangrove tunnels that weave around Lido Key. Made decades back as a way to increase water flow and decrease the mosquito population, it's now a premier way to see Sarasota. 

With talented guides like Points, there really is no better way to experience the area than through the Lido Key mangrove tunnels. 

SURFit is located in sunny Sarasota and Siesta Key. It is open seven days a week, but kayak tours and other experiences must be booked ahead of time. For more information, head to the SURFit USA website.