For the sixth year in a row my family has rented skis from the Bahnhoff ski shop. Our experience…read moreis always excellent. The quality of equipment, the correct fitting and the wonderful service keeps bringing us back. This year we had a problem when on our second day of skiing. Our granddaughter hurt her arm late in the day to the extent that the ski patrol snowmobiled her down the hill and we ran her to Spectrum hospital. In the chaos of getting her down the hill and to the hospital we left some rental equipment at Nubs. Bahnhoffs only concern was with the health of my granddaughter, not with the rentals. They showed complete understanding and compassion for the situation. End result, we lost a helmet and set of poles. Their equipment was the least of Bahnhoff's concern. The manager said to not worry that they will work with Nubs in retrieving the equipment. What a great staff Bahnhoff Sports employs, I thank them all. Bill Van Cleve Ann Arbor MI

Enter at your own risk…read more "Guys, come on! It's a holiday. We're closed. You gotta go!", said no business owner angrily to guests that just spent $600 a mere FOUR MINUTES after closing. Just kidding. Don, the new owner of Bahnhof said that to us. CONTEXT: We showed up 75 minutes before closing on New Year's Eve. We immediately asked for support with our selections. An incredibly bright, pleasant, and patient young man did an AMAZING job explaining all the ins and outs of the items we were considering. Item by item, we added to our pile and proceeded to checkout. We loved our experience up to that point and sincerely looked forward to bringing in our four adult children for complete outfitting at the end of January-likely totaling thousands of dollars. THEN it happened! At precisely 7:04 pm, our transaction was finished. We grabbed our bags ready to walk out, and I asked a question about socks. As the young man was answering, the angry old man others complained about in their Google reviews very snottily says, "Guys, come on! It's a holiday. We're closed. You gotta go!" We were dumbfounded. Who speaks to any customer like that? In my experience, someone who lacks gratitude, respect for others, and basic human decency. Supporting this store was a grave error on our part, which is why we promptly returned every item the next day. We then proceeded right next door to Boyne Country Sports, where we received INCREDIBLE service from a staff who clearly RESPECTS and APPRECIATES their clients. As a local resident and life-long entrepreneur that consults with small businesses, I *passionately* support small-local whenever possible. Frankly, that makes writing a negative review more difficult. However, I feel it is a duty to share our experience, so you can choose to spend your hard-earned dollars where they are appreciated. After sharing our experience with many other locals from Boyne City to Petoskey over the last few days, it seems that most who know this character have one common point of knowledge - he does not like out-of-town visitors. This is evidenced by other 1-star Google reviews, Don, shows up as an angry, rude, and spiteful old man. I would go as far as saying he is an utter embarrassment to the local small business community. I feel for his staff (the young man others have mentioned) who are left working for a tyrant, who seemingly likes to bark orders at his employees. And, it may only be a matter of time before the right local business owner comes along and sees the value of this young man and others, and how fortunate they would be to have them represent their store instead. For locals that have been supporting this place for years (most prior to Don's purchase in 2017), perhaps your experience is different. For those of you traveling to the area, I invite you to spend your money anywhere else. From direct experience, I can say that you will receive better service and better selection, at a more competitive price. In my 25 years of helping businesses grow through their challenges, I have learned that some owners know their strengths and weaknesses, and where their talents are best utilized. And then there are some who are clueless. In my experience, Mr. Marszalec is clearly the latter. Otherwise, he would know not to step foot in the retail, customer-facing space. I can't help but wonder what the Smith's think about this type of reputation being created after spending 40 years building such a wonderful business. Unfortunately, having knowledge, experience, or even a passion for an industry does not equate to being a good operator, much less a good leader. As such, despite feedback being a gift and an opportunity to learn and grow, I have little hope of my review creating any actual change in future customer experiences considering he chose to not even offer a heartfelt apology. So enter this store at your own risk - or simply support a different local business instead.

Our whole experience was exceptional from the time we arrived where employees arrive at your car to…read morehelp with belongings. Thorough explanation of do's and dont's including recommendations for visits while on the water. Boat was beautiful and very clean. All of staff were beyond friendly and helpful, specifically a shout out to our main "coordinator" of the day Brendan, thank you for making such an amazing boating experience for me and my family. We will absolutely be renting and recommending in the future.

Do NOT rent here. We are experienced boaters and had a terrifying experience with their pontoon…read morerental. The boat's engine failed on the water, leaving us drifting into a rocky shoreline in dangerous, choppy conditions. Neighbors ran down to help, children were crying, and several people were injured. The company told us not to call the Coast Guard (others did anyway) and promised help--but instead sent two men in a truck who could only take three people, stranding the rest of us with small children and no keys or phones. When we finally got back, the owner was rude, blamed us, insisted his boats never fail, and tried to charge us the full rental plus $2,000 for damages--on the boat that had broken down. Check the Google reviews before booking--this isn't the first time this has happened. Spend your money elsewhere.

Staff was amazing and super helpful!! , water was so clean and clear 10/10 recommend to anyone…read morelooking for a good and relaxing time on the water.

Best boat rental in town! Friendliest crew took care of us! Jet skies were fast and highly…read morerecommended by our crew.

Winter rafting with Jordan Valley Outfitters was an incredibly wonderful experience. It was by far…read moreone of the coolest experiences I've ever done! Reserving my party's spot online was easy. I received an email with all of the information and directions I needed beforehand. The bus ride to the river's start point was comfortable. On the way, we were briefed on what to expect and safety information. The winter rafting ride was magical. We were lucky enough to have just gotten a fresh snowfall. The views truly looked like a scene out of a movie. The Jordan River was a stable flow therefore little paddling was required. The snow's heaviness weighed some branches down over the river so some ducking was in order! Our guide, Sam, was outstanding. He was knowledgeable about the river, area, and provided great local recommendations! Partway on our journey, our guide led us off the river. Where we were treated to homemade cookies and hot drinks. Run don't walk to Jordan Valley Outfitters!

I took my 8 year old son winter river rafting in February. We were in town for a wedding, but…read morewanted to use our free time to do something different/ unique. It was the perfect activity. The guides were great and luckily we were paired with another family we had small kids, making the experience even more fun for my son. We usually go to MI in the summers, so we'll be back to JVO for some summer fun too.

BrassWind Landing is THE BOMB!…read more Lincoln took me and my friend on three different adventures over the course of three days--a sunset paddle on Burt Lake, a sunrise paddle on Mullet Lake, and an eco-tour of Indian River. My friend is an experienced kayaker, but I had never been before. Lincoln patiently (and expertly) instructed me in the basics, then let me enjoy my sunset paddle. The next day, at the sunrise paddle, he added in a few more pointers here and there (not too intrusively--just little bits to help improve my technique, my control and my experience of the lake). Then he added a few more pointers on my eco-tour (I discovered that river kayaking is different than lake kayaking, and requires mastery of a few distinct techniques). Two zen-like floats, and an engaging and informative eco-paddle. And here I was, a rank beginner! If you know that you love getting out on the water, or if you're a nervous beginner and want to give it a try, call Brasswind Landing. Lincoln and Sherrie will hook you up. They accommodated our schedule, our transportation issues, and our different skill levels. Super friendly service. "They's just good folks", as my mamaw used to say. You won't find a better water buddy than Lincoln. All the waters in Indian River are exceptional, and you will want an outfitter that's no less exceptional. Brasswind Landing is the way to go!

Lincoln and his brother set our group of four up for a great trip. The Liquid Logic kayaks they…read moreprovided were a step up from most other rentals. We took the trip from Wolverine to Burt Lake (approx. 5 1/2 hours). The river was flowing fast, but the obstacles/hazards were far less than some other reviews make them out to be (although this river is not for beginners) . Plenty of tubers/rafts to steer around for the last hour. We will be back.

Great experience. Knowledgable, flexible, and has great equipment…read more I was traveling to Michigan to meet up with a range of family. I wanted to rent some equipment that would allow me to have fun as an experienced windsurfer and to be able to teach a range of people weighing from 145 to 225 lbs, and ranging in age from 19 to 60+. Dave provided everything we needed and offered to swap things out as wind conditions changed. He knows his stuff and is fair and honest and a nice person.

Torch Lake is Michigan's longest inland lake at 19 miles, deepest at 285' and 2nd largest. What…read morethose facts don't convey, is the beauty of the lake. Drive NE Torch Lake from M88 for a couple of miles and look to your right take in the beauty of the lake from the hills NE Torch lake winds through. Locals say that 6 shades of blue can be found in Torch's crystal clear water and I believe it to be true. I've had the pleasure of getting to know the owners Dave and Lisa over the last couple of years. They are seasoned sailors and and can provide lessons if you are new to sailing/windsurfing or just rusty. In the case of windsurfing they have a simulator on land that allows them to give instructions while you practice, without getting your feet wet. They will also take you out into the lake and provide instruction based on your skill level. Their business is located in a small subdivison on the NE side of the lake. Wak-Wing can be challenging to find with a GPS, keep in mind the city is Central Lake. Look for the white sign with a sailboat on it. While it's possible to catch them at the beach, it's highly recommended that you call and make an appointment. Enjoy!