What a blast! My friend came up to visit from downstate Michigan, and we were looking for something…read morefun and something outdoors to do. We decided to book an ATV adventure with Big Bear. It was money well spent. Big Bear provided sanitized helmets, goggles and bandanas to wear. We brought our own bandanas because we wanted to wear pink but I appreciated the extra effort on their behalf. They were very on top of COVID precautions. While we were waiting for our ride, the staff running the tubing adventures, were so efficient. They were unloading passengers and sanitizing the vans before loading another group, they were still moving quickly and intentionally. Our guide, Raph, was excellent, he explained everything very well, was kind and patient. It was very much appreciated because I had never driven a side by side before. Raph took us on some amazing trails, we stopped at Weber Lake and enjoyed the water and scenery. We made memories we'll never forget. I have a girls weekend planned in July and we have already reserved our spot for another adventure. Thanks Raph!

We had a group of 14 do a rafting trip this weekend, aged 8-74. We did the 2-hour rafting trip…read more Based on the website description, this seemed to be ok. It was the most chaotic, stressful, dangerous thing we've done as a group. Do not do a rafting trip if you think you're going to have any time to enjoy the scenery, talk, or enjoy a family activity. The river was extra fast due to high water levels and there are constant obstacles to avoid. We are all lucky to have made it with only minor injuries. Way too many close calls. It was not just us that were not enjoying our time on the river. Every kayaker and tuber we encountered felt exactly the same way. Several said they'd been crying at times, it was so chaotic.

They rent u-haul kayaks and tube but wont really clarify drop or pick up points. Bad communication…read morefor sure.

We took our family on a 2 hour rafting trip and it was beautiful! I great way to see nature! The…read moreriver is calm and pleasant, and Jamie was great with setting us up with all of the gear and boats! Would highly recommended!

The staffperson working yesterday (Sunday) was very nice, but the rental bikes were not in good…read morecondition. My wife and I each rented hybrids, and it took me several tries to find a bike that seemed functional. Multiple had loose front wheels that wouldn't tighten, but after a few attempts the attendant was able to get one tightened. Sizing and fitting aren't really part of the process -- this was more of a "just pick whatever bike you want" situation. Soon after we left, I realized that my tires were underinflated, so we had to go back for air. And midway through our ride, huffing and puffing to maintain speed, we realized that most of the brakes were rubbing -- both wheels on my bike, and the front wheel on my wife's. At $40 for a half day per bike, this was a disappointing experience. If you're looking for a rental bike to bum around for a few hours, this might be fine, but if you want to go for a real ride I'd recommend renting elsewhere, or making sure that River Outfitters improves their maintenance practices.

WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND! Short version of the story: We rented out bikes and stopped at Hotel Indigo…read morefor a drink and parked our bikes out front. Hotel Indigo rented out our bikes to some of their guests so they were gone when we came downstairs. It was the last night of our trip and so we couldn't get the bikes back from the hotel to return them. The hotel said they would drop them off and didn't. The River Outfitters actually went to the hotel and retrieved the bikes for us and didn't charge us anything for going over time or the inconvenience after hearing our story. They were super understanding! I wish more companies would treat their customers like this.

Crystal River is a great river for kayaking!!! Full of nature and family friendly!! Everyone ate…read morethe Outfitters were so friendly and welcoming, I highly recommend!! We will be back!!

I love how many people have had an epically great time- but I want to be honest about my experience…read morein case it helps someone. I am an experienced canoe/kayaker. I have been on rivers, lakes and the ocean before. I like a challenge. However, this was really hard for me to be in the back of the canoe for the whole trip. The obstacles are nearly constant for the first hour and if you go with a group like we did it was hard to stay close to them because of them. *That might be what you want! * Great! I have always loved canoe trips because they feel so chill however this was not chill. I couldn't look away. The current, wind, trees and other kayakers/canoes in the river made this stressful. Probably not great for those brand new to canoeing and kayaking- or those that don't feel like non-stop hard paddling for an hour. The second half was more what I was hoping for- Open river. Fewer trees down. Fewer people. If I had been in the front of the canoe it all would have been delightful. My son was in the canoe with me and enjoyed it (but he didn't have to navigate). The staff was friendly, helpful and kind. The space and gear were great. They were very family friendly and an experienced person can easily take their kids.

Renters BEWARE!!!! I would not recommend renting the Aspen cabin from Jeff with Crystal Adventures!…read moreWe had a horrible experience at this cabin. Upon arrival, we discovered a lady bug/beetle infestation. The dishes in the kitchen cabinets were dirty and also had beetles on them. The kitchen is also not a full kitchen as advertised. of the two bedrooms, one of them does not have heat, and the other one has a hidden baseboard heater which you are not made aware of. This resulted in us sleeping without heat before the first night. The bathrooms are absolutely filthy. Only 2 of us (out of 6 people) showered the entire weekend as the showers were very unclean. We had dog hair in the sheets of our bed. We realize mistakes can happen with cleaners so tried to work with the property owner, Jeff in hopes of working something out and issuing a partial refund for everything we encountered last weekend. He was very unprofessional and left us no choice but to contact AirBNB for help. After seeing our photos and videos, they agreed that we deserved a partial refund. I just wanted to help inform others to avoid renting from Crystal Adventures at all costs! It was a very unfortunate situation for our family.

The staff at Crystal Adventures were very friendly and helpful. They helped us get our canoes and…read morekayaks into the river and explained what to expect (portages/timing etc.). The river was just beautiful and less busy than others in the area. In hindsight I wish we had each gotten our own kayaks instead of doubling up in canoes as the river is tricky to navigate in the larger sized vessel at times. I'll definitely come back to Crystal Adventures.

Rented some individual kayaks for a trip down the Platte River which runs through the Sleeping Bear…read moreDunes National Park area. This was an amazing trip which ends close to where the river flows into lake Michigan. The water was super clear and I highly recommend this trip. Pack some lunch and drinks in a small waterproof cooler and add the extra time so as not to be rushed. Riverside canoes has a nice shop and good equipment. You do have to pay for parking though when you drop off your vehicle which stinks.

Had a great time on the Upper Platte River w/Canoes & Kayaks from Riverside Canoe Trips. This was…read moreour 42nd year on the river and much fun was had by all. Riverside was great! Provided us with great customer service, canoes & kayaks, and spotting to make sure we had no problems. Would highly recommend Riverside!! We are already looking forward to our 43rd annual trip next summer!

No nonsense, well priced, easy in and out. Kayaks were comfortable although the paddles were not…read morethe long, curved type.

If I could give Patrick 6 stars, I would. He runs a great local bike shop here in Bellaire - I've…read morepurchased two bikes from him so far. He knows bikes, is priced fairly and gives back to the community by way of his leadership of the Glacial Hills Pathway and Nature Area. This is a "must stop by and say hi" place that I highly recommend.

Honor Trading Post was our go-to for kayaking down the lower Platte River! Everyone was so nice &…read morehelpful, it really made the trip down the river a memorable experience. The livery had all the essentials for your trip; water shoes, sandwiches, cold drinks, ice, souvenirs, and so much more! They were stocked with whatever you needed. The team unloaded our kayaks & brought them down to the river with us, along with our paddles & life floats. For the record, they have plenty life jackets for whoever needs them. Any child under the age of 6 is required to wear one. The river flows gently & most of the trip is shallow enough to touch, I never felt in danger without a life vest. My favorite parts of the river were paddling through Loon Lake, the crystal clear water, and the end of the trip where the Platte meets Lake Michigan. The dunes were breathtaking & the kids absolutely loved it! We will definitely be back. Honor Trading Post was my livery of choice!

I booked a kayaking trip on the Platte River for my (almost) 10-year-old son and I. It was easy to…read morereserve everything on their website (we actually booked the morning of our trip.) The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. My son had only been kayaking one other time, and he loved being in his own kayak. The river was slow and calm, perfect for a child to learn how to kayak. Parts of the river did get quite busy (we went on a beautiful Saturday) - there was one area where we navigated around a group of about 50-60 "innertubers." We packed up a couple of sandwiches and purchased some drinks and a cooler at the Trading Post before parking our car at the end of the river (at Lake Michigan.) I loved how at the end of the trip, we could hop right out of the river and into our car. One of the staff members drove us back to the drop-in spot (they had already prepared our kayaks for us to hop right in!) Note: there is an extra $25 fee involved to park your car in the lot at the end of the river. Would highly recommend booking with The Trading Post for anyone looking to check out the Platte River! We were staying in Glen Arbor, and it was only a 30-minute drive away.