Three years later we are back and brought family visiting from out of town. The captain was great…read moreand very informative without it being boring. We were a group of 11 ranging from age 11 through 94 and everyone liked it. You can either park on the street for free or at the Hyatt. If you park at the Hyatt, Capital Cruises will give you a coupon so the What a fun experience!

We rented a swan paddle boat for an hour. Since free parking can be tricky, we parked in the River…read moresouth parking garage for a flat fee for the day. It was a short walk after that. The paddle boats are first come first serve and since we were there on a school day mid afternoon, there was no wait. The staff took great care of us and got us on our way quickly. The boat worked well even in really windy conditions. It was fun to just relax on the lake while getting a little leg workout! This is a fun, quirky experience to do on the lake!

Captain Zach was an amazing driver/ host and made our trip memorable for me and the birthday crew.read more

We booked this boat ride for a birthday, so it was meant to be a special experience. Overall, the…read morescenery was beautiful and the ride itself was enjoyable, but there were several issues that took away from what should have been a smooth private charter experience. The communication beforehand was not great. The driver texted me the night before around 7:45 PM, and when I replied immediately with concerns about the weather and rain, I didn't receive a response until after 10 PM. The email also stated that the driver would contact us 15-30 minutes before the reservation time, but that never happened. Our reservation was from 9:00-11:00 AM. When we arrived at 9:00, no one was there, so I had to text the driver myself. He responded saying he was getting the boat ready and putting gas in it. In my opinion, those things should have been done ahead of time so guests are properly greeted and the ride can begin on time. When we boarded, the seats and boat were still wet from the rain. Since it was chilly outside, sitting in wet seats for a two-hour ride left our clothes damp and uncomfortable. To give credit where it's due, the driver was friendly and enjoyable to talk to during parts of the ride. However, he also took phone calls during the charter, which felt distracting during what was supposed to be a private birthday outing. The biggest disappointment came on the ride back. The driver stopped to assist another boat that had already said help was on the way. He tied their boat to ours and pulled them in, which significantly took away from the private experience we had paid for. While helping others is kind, it felt inappropriate during a paid private charter, especially one booked for a birthday celebration. Additionally, the trip ran later than scheduled, and there was never any communication about the delay. Our reservation was clearly scheduled for 9-11 AM, and it shouldn't be assumed guests are okay with going over time simply because the ride started late. People may have plans afterward, and communication would have gone a long way. Overall, the lake itself was beautiful and parts of the experience were enjoyable, but the lack of communication, late start, wet boat, interruptions, and detour during our private charter made the experience fall short of expectations.

I booked a Retro Boat ATX for my milestone birthday after riding one during a community event and…read moreknowing I wanted to share the experience with my family. It turned out to be one of the highlights of the celebration. Booking online was easy, the cancellation policy was clear, and the communication leading up to our reservation was excellent. We received reminders, waivers, and safety information ahead of time, so there were no surprises. The forecast called for a high chance of rain, but we decided to take the chance and hoped the weather would cooperate. It did! We arrived around 10:45 a.m., and our boat was ready to go after a quick orientation and safety briefing. We immediately connected our phone to the Bluetooth speaker, picked the perfect playlist, and spent the next 90 minutes cruising Town Lake. We made it all the way east to the dam and west to First Street, with plenty of stops for sightseeing, people watching, snacks, and soaking in the views. I even packed Bomb Pops in a Yeti, which were the perfect way to cool off on a hot July morning. The wildlife was incredible. We saw turtles, great blue herons, egrets, hawks, bats, and fish jumping all around us. As we headed back west, the skies grew dark and the clouds rolled in. We made it back to the dock and reached our car just as a torrential downpour started around 1:00 p.m. on July 11. Talk about perfect timing! The staff was friendly, welcoming, and patient from start to finish. They made the entire experience feel effortless and stress-free. Insider tip: Park at the Mexican American Cultural Center (600 River St.) for the closest access to the trailhead. Pay for parking using the ParkATX app. Whether you're visiting Austin or you're a local looking for something different, Retro Boat ATX is a fantastic experience. It's perfect for visitors, date nights, birthdays, proposals, anniversaries, family outings, or simply spending a relaxing day on the water. Core memories were definitely made, and this was one birthday celebration we'll never forget. I wouldn't hesitate to book again.

What a very unique, relaxing experience cruising around Lady Bird Lake in an electric retro boat…read more Our grandson loved seeing the Austin skyline from a different perspective, fish jumping, and a few snakes swimming by. We had a blast, and during our 90-minute cruise, we were able to travel to both the Longhorn dam and the 1st street bridge. The electric boats are quiet and very easy to drive. Each boat also has Bluetooth connectivity and speakers if you want to play the theme from Gilligan's Island. Google it. The staff is great! We had a self-inflicted scheduling snafu, and they were able to, thankfully, accommodate us. Before we shoved off, we were provided with a safety and operating briefing. Needs to know: Parking is limited. There is a covered garage by the entrance on Trinity St, and it's $25 for two hours. Only bathrooms are located by the side of the Austin Rowing Club; you can go inside to get the access code. The retro speed boats have no shade, but they will provide umbrellas. Bring beverages and snacks.

This is my favorite boat rental for canoe/kayak in Zilker Park. I have been here throughout the…read moreyears and service is always quick and great. *** You need your ID! & a card on file & need a waiver signed *** I always keep this in mind when going & it saves me time The rental prices is $21 per hour Usually 1 hour is enough and it is a great time

This is the most LIVELY, FUN filled happy people who come just to enjoy kayaking!!! This is my…read moreabsolute FAVORITE place in Austin! It's HUGE! You can bike, walk, and run along the path! There are people everywhere around the holidays! You can find parking under the bridge.and walk around nearby. Make sure you bring water shoes. Definitely, a stop to enjoy the outdoor life!

This was a great thing to do and learn about while in Austin! The tour was very educational about…read morethe bats and how they established residence under this bridge. With about 750,000 pregnant females in a few days they'll be over 1,000,000+ bats. That's soooo crazy, but and absolutely great experience. Shout out to the staff for a great tour! Mahalo from Hawaii

My family of 3 did the sunset bat tour. It was a fun experience, but be prepared for a lot of…read moresitting on a crowded boat in the heat and humidity. We got there about 45 minutes before 8pm to get a good seat. The chairs are plastic lawn chairs and there is no restroom onboard. You can leave the boat if you need one at a nearby Hyatt hotel. There is also a restroom near Auditorium Shores, but it's kinda gross. It's also a good opportunity to walk and stretch your legs instead of waiting on the boat but leave something in your chairs to save your seat. They let you bring snacks and drinks and they also sell cold beverages. The first part of the tour involves cruising around the lake with the tour guide cracking jokes and giving some history about the structures nearby and bat facts before heading to congress bridge to wait for the bats to fly out. Seeing THOUSANDS of bats was definitely the highlight of the tour. They also used a bat safe red light, which allowed us to see them better in the dark. It wasn't a perfect experience, but the fair price, knowledgeable tour guides, and seeing the bats made it worthwhile. Definitely a good option for something to do if you're looking for something to entertain the kids or friends /family visiting from out of town.

If I could give ten stars I would. From the moment I submitted the request to the last step off the…read morePub a month later, every interaction and step in the process was top notch. From Brandon, to Captain John, to staff and crew - everyone was amazing to work with. The day of the event was perfect and seamless. I could not have asked for anything to have been different. Everyone had a great time and raved about the day. We ordered food through them and it was delicious and high quality. We had a professional chef as a party attendant on the boat and he gave high marks. Some with dietary restrictions were impressed with options and accommodations - all that of that was coordinated through Lake Austin Riverboats - everything was perfect. The crew was amazing and so welcoming to the guests and truly contributed to the experience. Book your event - you will not be disappointed.

I was invited to an event at Quince, which included a boat ride with Austin Riverboat. The…read morerestaurant's staff was outstanding--welcoming, friendly, and highly professional. That level of service carried over to most of the staff on the boat, making the experience even more enjoyable. During the event, I was introduced to Paul, who was seated with a group of friends. He was introduced to me as the boat owner and came across as relaxed and not at all pushy--qualities I appreciate when considering a business, especially since part of my motivation for attending was to explore options for my birthday celebration. Unfortunately, Paul's friends left a negative impression. A couple of them outright refused to acknowledge me, turning away when a gentleman attempted to introduce me. Others made inappropriate jokes about my accent in a condescending and offensive manner. One individual even made vulgar comments, implying that Paul should get my phone number to discuss event planning details later, which was completely unprofessional and inappropriate. While the event itself was enjoyable, the boat ride interesting, the behavior of those around the boat owner and the fact that the boat owner never replied to my text message trying to discuss my event, was disappointing and detracted from my overall experience. This experience left me with a negative impression of the boat's management, and I strongly feel that they are not welcoming to immigrants. The group consisted of older white men whose behavior was filled with prejudice and hostility. And for that reason I felt compelled to post a review discouraging people like me- and those against this type of behavior - to stay away and make better choices. We can use our money to invest in a much better experience elsewhere I left the boat traumatized and truly disgusted by those old men behaviors. Do better!

We always have the best days out on the lake with ATX Wake Adventures! They are the best team for…read morewake surfing, by far! Always really professional, super friendly, and the best drivers. We've worked with them for several years, for work events and personal, and always have a great time. They're awesome with kids and make the whole day seamless. Could not recommend them more strongly!

Always the best time with Atx Wake Adventures! The drivers are so fun and accommodating,the boats…read moreare clean and they make loading/unloading a Breeze. Perfect for fun party time or a family outing they kill it every time!

We had an amazing experience with Big Tex Boat Rentals! From start to finish, everything was smooth…read moreand fun. Our captain, Dom, was absolutely the best. He was down-to-earth, easy to talk to, and by the end of the trip, it felt like he was part of our family and friend group. He took us to a great spot to swim, kept the music going, made sure everyone had a good time, and created such a fun, relaxed atmosphere. You can tell he genuinely enjoys what he does and wants everyone on board to have an unforgettable experience. If you're looking for a boat rental on Lake, I can't recommend Big Tex Boat Rentals and Captain Dom enough. We had an incredible time and will definitely be booking with them again.

Jake was an exceptional captain. Safe, fun, and always ready to toss us another drink out to the…read morelily pad!! I highly recommend requesting him and would rent through Big Tex again!!