While Lake Beresford is a great place to train, the St. Johns River is the real gem for self-sufficient scullers. If you yearn to row in solitude, this is the place—a reasonably wide, protected waterway where alligators, egrets and other wildlife thrive amid the bustle of central Florida.

“If so inclined, one could row 100 miles north to Jacksonville or 100 miles south to Melbourne,” says former Stetson University coach

Stetson University Boathouse on Lake Beresford, DeLand, FL; Kerry Kerlin

Chris Deatrick. “The river connects to several large lakes which could become difficult to navigate in a single if the wind were kicking, but from DeLand, you can row about 14 miles south before you hit Lake Monroe, and you can row about 30 miles north before you hit Lake George.

The river is only about three or four lanes wide and very protected—miles and miles of gorgeous rowable water.” With an almost imperceptible gradient of one inch per mile, the river has no discernable current.

Stetson University is the center of rowing life in DeLand. Rowing achieved varsity status at Stetson in 1993 and has become a highly regarded program with both men’s and women’s squads. The university hosts two regattas in DeLand, as well as a number of intercollegiate scrimmages.

When it’s time to give the calluses a break, DeLand offers a plethora of dining options with more than 50 restaurants within walking distance of the downtown area. Try Bill and Frank’s Brick House for authentic southern barbecue and libations.

Six public golf courses mean swingable fun, the Athens Theatre features films, concerts and stage performance, the 210-acre Lake Beresford Park boasts hiking and biking trails while Disney World and Atlantic beaches are just a short drive away.

#6b Tempe,
Arizona

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