Kirsten (the instructor) was FANTASTIC to work with! Communicative, patient, friendly, flexible…read more(with scheduling, skill level, etc.) - inspiring. We are so grateful we got to meet and learn from her!

Just got back from Chicago stand up paddle boarding and honestly had a really fun time. I went to…read morethe diversity harbor location as most of the beaches continue to be closed due to COVID. The view and paddle boarding towards the city is quite scenic and it is cool to be able to merge the thundering city with being on the water. It is right next to a public park so there are many people walking, biking, and having picnics which is also a nice sight, however, on the other side of the park is a highway so that takes away from some of the scenery. There are not great parking instructions on the website but we managed to find a spot hero nearby which was pretty easy. Booking a same-day reservation was not a hassle and you simply fill out a liability waiver on the phone once you get there. I was not super sure about how clean the rented equipment was which could be a concern for some people right now, otherwise the rental process was easy. Some other concerns I had were that they give you a box to store your belongings in, but the box is just sitting out in the back of a trailer and I am not sure how well guarded they were. There is also a very low bridge that I had to lay down to go under, and while I thought it was a fun little challenge others may think of it as a nuisance. Overall, good way to paddle board near the city.

Amazing location! Gorgeous view of Chicago! Right on the…read morebeach..Get there early for parking if it matters.

Great Jet Skis, But Watch Your Credit Card Statement! The…read morerental experience was actually perfect--the jet skis were fast, comfortable, and 30 minutes was plenty of time. However, I'm rating this 3 stars because of highly questionable deposit practices. They held a $500 incidental deposit for both me and my friend and never refunded it. Luckily, my buddy caught the missing refunds on his statement. While they fixed the issue quickly once confronted, it's alarming that they just kept the money until we said something. $500 would have slipped through the cracks if we hadn't been vigilant.

EXCELLENT experience at Next Wave!!!…read more Amazing company with employees who truly care about their customers. Thanks Next Wave! Keep up the amazing work!

Don't go here unless you want to have a $500 charge on your credit card just to ride a jet skiread more

Highly recommend to celebrate a birthday with tailgate the lake for an evening firework cruise!…read more The dock is easy to find, definitely recommend to Uber to the recommended location shown on their website, it's a short walk to the boat after the drop off. There is a bathroom on board which is great! There is a Bluetooth speaker, so you can jam to whatever you like. There is also a cooler for drinks, table for food and games. You can also swim before sundown. The crew was great, shout out to Steve and Captain Jerry! They were a lot of fun, took us super close to the firework show and out to the lighthouse. It was a blast!! We will definitely be back!

I can't speak to the experience on the boat but the captain intentionally drove by my canoe and…read morepartner on a SUP causing a huge wake in the harbor. When I later confronted the captain he said he was "running late," perhaps a sign he doesn't have safety as a top priority.

I was in town and rented a Jetski with these guys. They are very cool and super flexible. They'll…read moregive you a rundown of how to ride the jetski and send you out. I'd definitely recommend them to someone looking to rent a jetski in Chicago!

I had a rather disappointing experience with Captain Larry's boating service. From the start, there…read morewas a noticeable lack of warmth or welcoming vibes. The staff seemed disinterested in providing a pleasant customer experience. When we had questions about the safety procedures and tour details, their responses were curt and lacked empathy. The boat itself was fine, but the overall experience was dampened by the staff's indifferent attitude. Even when we expressed some concerns about the route due to weather conditions, our worries were dismissed without proper consideration. It's unfortunate because the potential for a great boating experience in Chicago is there, but the customer service left a lot to be desired It's interesting that I see a review mentioning discrimination because I couldn't help wondering if the treatment we experienced was related to fact that my partner was with me. We are not ones to display affection in public but our body language is obvious Not recommending this service if you care about equality and not supporting a biased business

I would not return. We were recommended by someone we trust so we had our hearts open. My…read moregirlfriend (who is a strong woman of color) felt patronized and, dare I say, discriminated. We will not recommend Captain Larry services to anyone who values respect

I would highly recommend Urban Kayaks to anyone that wants a scenic kayaking experience along the…read moreChicago lake front. Frank and LJ helped us out and their customer service is truthfully top. They make the experience super fun and chill and take the time to give you a brief but effective/informative kayaking tutorial before you start. I've kayaked many times before but I am far from a pro or an expert, so the tutorial was very welcomed and it was thorough and one that helped make the kayaking experience better! I HIGHLY recommend Urban Kayaks Lakefront and will definitely be kayaking with them again the next time that I kayak in Chicago!

Last summer, I was strolling along the riverwalk and saw the sign for Urban Kayaks. They mentioned…read moreanother location, next to the lake, so I went to check it out and fell in love. I vowed to return this summer and was so stoked I bought a $200 summer pass (good from June to October) even before Mayor Lightfoot opened up the lakefront. I have already visited Monroe Harbor three times in the last 30 days and absolutely love the Urban Kayak operation. Everyone is friendly and so professional. First, the kayaks are new and in excellent shape; makes you realize how pathetic the selection can be with other kayak rentals. Second, the staff are an enthusiastic and knowledgeable bunch who make sure everything is in working order before letting anyone head out on their own. Third, the Chicago views are spectacular and even when it's a hot day, it just feels great to be on the water. Fourth, they are less than a quarter mile from the Millennium Park Garage (check out ParkWhiz for super cheap parking). This summer pass has been one of the best investments I've ever made for my mental and physical health and I'm going to kayak all summer!

In short, Captain Kevin is the real deal. If you're lucky enough to find an open slot - TAKE IT…read more We fish A LOT and this was one of our best experiences to date. Beyond the little things ie: being punctual, giving a helpful safety run down and making you immediately feel comfortable on the boat.... Kevin is an exceptional guide who's extremely skilled/knowledgeable in his trade. You'll catch fish and impressive ones at that. I also have to mention, he was the hardest working guide we've ever experienced. There was never a "now we wait" scenario. Kevin was constantly checking the gear, tide, wind, bait etc... he didn't sit down. We were the second leg of his day but you would NEVER know it. The guy is truly impressive and fishing is his calling. We caught 7 fish - 5 of which were MONSTER lake trout. Each and every reel was a thrill!.. Much to our dismay we don't live in Chicago but every time we're in town for a visit, a day out with Captain Kevin will be on the agenda. Kevin, if you happen to read this - huge THANKS again for an AWESOME time!! We hope to be back soon.

My friends and I went out on the boat on July 15. It was our second time going out with Captain…read moreJeff and his shipmate Jessika. Just like the first time we really enjoyed ourselves. We drank a few brews, listened to music, and caught lots of fish. More than anything, it's nice to experience good times with good people. You almost don't even care if you catch any fish. Jeff and Jessika are great. Beautiful down to earth folks and we really love going out there with them. Heading out, we played music and watched the Chicago skyscrapers sink into the ground. No cellphone service way out there, so we're just out there enjoying uninterrupted time together. We all draw numbers to determine the rotation and for the second time we went through the rotation twice. Everyone got to haul in fish. I almost didn't want us to write this review right now because we want to book another outing in September and I selfishly want to go out with Jeff and Jessika again. By writing this review now, they may get booked by more people. But I decided to write it now anyway, because they deserve it. Thank you, Captain Jeff and Jessika! Hopefully we'll see you in September. Tight lines! Miguel DT Sr