Super fun summer activity. Called the number on their website in the morning to check hours of…read moreoperation. It was an automated message with clear instructions. Arrival, parking, paying, and the waiver process was easy. For $30, I had a lot of fun and thought it was worth it. Sort of want to buy my own tube and life vest for the future

When I wake up early in the morning Lift my head, I'm still…read moreyawning When I'm in the middle of a dream Stay in bed, float up stream (Lennon / McCartney) I wonder how many cars cruising up Route 44 have screeched to a halt when they see a bizarre sign proclaiming they have entered Satan's Kingdom! So what exactly is Satan's Kingdom?  Well, it's  a one acre state operated public recreation area on the Farmington River used for hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and tubing down the river's three sets of rapids courtesy of Farmington River Tubing. Where did that devilish name come from? I read that construction of a nearby railroad in the 1870's proved so difficult the railroad workers named it "Satan's Kingdom" In 2012 the recreation area gained Connecticut State Park status. We walked along the deserted grounds (tubing is closed for the season) and saw some very nice scenery and river views, Not one devil in sight.

I did not rent anything, so keep that in mind. It was rather impressive though, you could never…read moretell driving by how much stuff there is to buy and rent. There store has three sectionsnfor different sales, and very professional. Parking lot is a good size, and you can enter the river (I believe) by the store or further down the street at the boat launch. The side by the garden center is closed. The other side by the town buildings is open, and fairly picturesque to see everyone go by on the river.

After renting kayaks and having so much fun, we decided to buy our own and come back! $5 to launch…read moretour own boat/paddle pad..BUT We came with family who RENTED kayak, but we were treated disrespectfully by a staff/kids working the ramp. Since this was our first time using our own boats at this location we attempted to use the self launch dock, however we were uneasy with it and were unsure as our first time (walking down stairs and a free floating dock you put your boat next to) We went to the other launch dock where there were others who rented boats waiting their turn to get out. We were waiting our turns as well as family going with us, to launch but one of the kids who was working was snobby saying "you can't be over here during busy times like this" and rolled his eyes when we explained we we uneasy at the other dock. As paying customers, I was appalled at how we were treated by some young man as we told him we didn't feel safe using the other dock as OUR FIRST TIME We were fully aware there was a free boat launch down the road however we were with family and wanted to all stay together since they had to rent theirs. Next time I will save myself the hassle and disrespect from some child staff who can't properly communicate

Great company! Always a fun time! We have a blast as a family. Fun for tubing and hanging out!read more

Took a 1.5 hour pontoon ride to see fall foliage for my moms 80th birthday. It was awesome!…read more We all enjoyed ourselves, even got to see a bald Eagle! Our captain was fantastic and very knowledgeable about the history and so much many more tidbits of info regarding Bantam Lake and the houses surrounding it. The captain had a last minute issue and called to let us know he will be a little bit late. For that reason the owner took money off the price of the tour. This was unexpected and extremely nice of this small business owner. I will be telling everyone about this tour and encouraging them to go. I will definitely be back in the summer! 10 stars if I could ! Thank you for making my moms 80th a fun and memorable day!!!!

Lovely calm stretch of the Farmington River. Great area to launch, plenty of space, nice even ramp…read more Small parking lot, a real bathroom (unisex) and water fountain There is a rope swing on the river that families were using. Saw two bald eagles! Will definitely be returning to paddle here again.

Very pretty area, it's in the back of what I think are municipal buildings. The water seems calm…read morebut I'm sure it has its days of chaos. There is also an entrance further down next to a garden center but it is closed - the road is roped off.

I'm ashamed, today (2019-06-02) was my first paddle on the West Branch (Hogsback) Reservoir in the…read morebeautiful Colebrook / Hartland area. Situated at the lower end (aka downstream) of the Colebrook River Reservoir and Dam. The West Branch serves as second stage storage for flood control. Over time, this has turned to a Quiet Water for fishing, paddling, and nature observers. Speaking of nature, I had multiple encounters with a couple of Heron that would say Hi and hop upstream to another water side rock, then repeat the process. Better yet! My up-close, but not too close, interview with a young Porcupine. This fella was suspended over the water on a downed birch tree. Likely looking for bugs. Shy though the quills kept me at bay. The West Branch is approximately 200 acres of water surface, which can vary with the seasonal waters. I didn't observe any boats with motors larger than 6-10 HP. A good thing, as there are shallow rocks, but the water can be as deep at 90 feet. I recommend canoeing, kayaking, or a shallow draft boat with minimal horse power & electric trolling motors.

My husband and I had planned a two hour cruise in Mystic on the Argia on the day we were…read morecelebrating with our family visiting from California. We were looking for an activity that would be fun for a multigenerational group of 23 people with toddlers, seniors, and everyone in between. We had been in communication with Oliver for months in advance. About two weeks before the big day, we saw that the forecast called for showers throughout Memorial Day weekend, particularly the Sunday of our planned cruise. We monitored the weather and decided to make a decision closer to the day. Throughout the entire process of planning, Oliver was responsive, reliable, accommodating, and kind. On the morning of the trip, Oliver gave us multiple options and worked with us to make sure that we could cancel and get a full refund due to the inclement weather. He provided us with agency up to the last hour of decision making. On a day that could have been really stressful, Oliver alleviated some of that stress. That is exceptional customer service, and that is the reason we will be coming back to the Argia for another special occasion. Highly recommend working with Oliver and his team if you get the chance!

My husband and I did the Sunset Cruise. It was an extremely wonderful experience. The boat Crew…read morewere very friendly, funny, and gave some fun facts during the journey. Added bonus, you see Mother Nature's beautiful sunset. Highly recommend.

Who in their right mind pays a fee to use public land. Parking is one thing, but to seriously…read morecharge people to use a boat launch is beyond disappointing and I will not spend any money to do so. Your swimming/beach area isn't even open (and hasn't been in several years), so what are you doing with this money? You offer absolutely nothing and a boat launch should be free. Honestly pathetic.

This review is for the fishing aspect of Lake McDonough. The water in this lake is extremely clear…read moreand there are steep drop-offs, so naturally, the fishing can be very difficult. Also, the place seems to have a lot of bass in the 1# to 1.5# range. They can be fun to catch, but it would be nice to get some larger ones once in a while. Never caught a trout here, or seen one follow my lure, for that matter. On the positive side, the launch is great, your boat will come off easy. $6 to launch and another $6 to park. Lake is never crowded with boat traffic, no water skiers or jet skiers, which is also good. Very scenic too, just wish the fishing was better, because I only live 4 miles from here. FYI, alcohol is not allowed, they will search your cooler. Gate opens at 8am on weekends, 10am on weekdays (which I find a tad late being a fisherman, but it is what it is).

I HAD to go back to this because it's such an amazing experience. I'm sure they do more than "Fall…read moreFoliage" trips but that's when I visited in the past. Despite my best efforts in the past to do Fall train rides, which turned out to be disappointing only because there was never any good colors on trees, this by far is the very best fall foliage experience I've ever had in my life. You get great views of the tree color transitions and just great photo opportunities. It does get cold on the water so bring a jacket. Experience is as excellent as last time with beverages and snacks for purchase. If you enjoy fall colors, great scenery and boats then you have to do this at least once.

A peaceful Hudson River cruise from Peekskill to Bear Mountain. Beautiful views and a truly…read morerelaxing experience! Such a wonderful way to spend the day. Very pleased with this cruise!

I had heard of pedal taverns but never a pedal cruise. What a fun concept. Although most of us were…read moretoo lazy to pedal, we still had a wonderful time. They have 10 seats set up at a bar top style long table where you can pedal away and reach into the coolers in front of you to grab your drinks, which are BYOB. We brought lots of snacks and sandwiches also. Although there are only 10 seats, there are plenty of extra seating areas on the cozy boat. We had 19 guests with us. Captain Dave and first Mate Michelle were great hosts. We hooked up our phone to their Bluetooth speaker to play all our favorite songs. We went on the Sunday afternoon Cruise, which took us out along the shoreline out to the Island area and back. It was a lot of fun, laughs, and an overall enjoyable afternoon.

Bring ear plugs to save your hearing. Bring motion sickness pills to save your stomach. Don't sit…read morein front, cause you will get wet. Really an annoying boat right.