Beautiful trip on the lake and we did the 3 hour tour. Shelby was our guide and was great. Busses were clean and check in was easy. Life jackets were clean, boats were heavily used but perfectly fine. Every employee was nice. No issues at all. read more

Paddling Michigan - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Munising, Michigan

I purchased a kayaking excursion voucher through Uncle Ducky's / Paddling Michigan during a holiday promotion and later traveled from out of town specifically for this experience, spending additional money on lodging, gas, food, and travel expenses in order to participate. Unfortunately, the experience was extremely disorganized and unprofessional from the moment I arrived. The building was locked, no guide or management staff were present, there was no organized check-in process, and there was absolutely no communication regarding what was happening. Multiple guests were left outside confused and attempting to determine whether the tour was even operating. Company-associated staff eventually arrived but provided no meaningful information until directly prompted. At that point, they stated they were only shuttle drivers and that they had to "figure out what was going on" after the scheduled rendezvous time had already passed. At no point within the first 20 minutes of our rendezvous was there was any clear communication, leadership, organization, or professionalism demonstrated by the company. Considering they're responsible for guiding customers onto Lake Superior, I no longer felt comfortable or safe participating in the excursion and chose not to proceed with 10 minutes remaining until the a scheduled launch time. I attempted to resolve this directly via email since management wasn't present during working hours and present staff couldn't provide a direct way to contact management; however, they refused to issue a refund. The owner instead responded publicly to a review in a defensive manner while claiming an emergency situation had occurred. He even blamed my inability to adapt over his employees vague and unprofessional verbal responses and despite three shuttle drivers being present and not shuttling us to our launch. The issue is the complete lack of communication, organization, professionalism, and reasonable resolution afterward. read more

Paddling Michigan - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Munising, Michigan

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AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! I am going to list a couple of pros and cons for this place but no matter what company you choose, go kayak pictured rocks. Incredible formations of land that you can't see anywhere else. I lived in Michigan for 20 years and had no idea the Upper Peninsula held the treasures we got to see! Pros: -The guides had a ton of energy and were very patient with the people in our group. We had a great group of good listeners and that helped but our guide was also very flexible and let us veer off into the waters without having to stick super close to us. -The time of day that we went really made a difference. We chose the "sunset" tour so we were able to see the pictures rocks around 4-6pm . Though this is not sunset, it was still pretty to see the sun reflecting off the different colors of the rocks and formations. -the ability to just hop on a bus and hop in a kayak without carrying them helped as well. It just made everything really easy and seamless. Cons: -the bus to the launch off site didn't have A/C which was fine, but we just sat there waiting for other buses to unload and I think that could have been done a little differently. It was too hot to have thirty people sweating in a bus. -tour time said 6 hours but we only kayaked for 3.5 which was fine but maybe make it clear on the site that the bus time would take a hour round trip -I also would have suggested just an hour for lunch, being able to get out and eat our lunch on the beach was great but I didn't need to be there for 1.5 hours, I would have rather done a shorter lunch and gotten back sooner Overall, amazing and an outstanding time we had! read more

Paddling Michigan - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Munising, Michigan

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Overall, this was a great experience. Our guide, Tanner, was knowledgeable and fun. He was able to talk to us about the rock formations and made sure to talk to everyone in the group and even learned our names. One of the bases we rode had no AC, which was tough on a hot day, but the ride to the beach was short, so this didn't taint the experience. The kayaking was fun and Pictured Rocks is beautiful. The company is well organized and timely. I recommend this experience. read more

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"We had to cancel our trip due to a serious medical emergency (my daughter sustained a concussion). I offered medical documentation, but management refused to speak with me and denied a refund. They offered a raincheck--which is useless since we don't live nearby. Poor compassion and customer service for a $500+ tour." read more

My husband and I kayaked Lake Superior with Paddling Michigan/Uncle Ducky Outdoors this past June. Overall, we had a splendid time. We were immensely lucky with the weather and had calm water and blue skies. It rained and was grey every other day of our trip. We opted for the 6 hour paddling trip. It was FAR pricier than we anticipated, but we went for it anyways in order to check off this once-in-a-lifetime bucket list adventure. No regrets about our decision. We did a lot of research and compared prices and for what we got on this trip, it seemed to be the best deal. We considered doing a lunch cruise with another company, but you don't get nearly as close to the rocks and don't get to go THROUGH some of the formations. Our tour guide, Wesley, was fantastic. He was chill and knowledgable and went at our pace. We ended up stopping for lunch before all of the other groups on the water that launched with us so we could have a quiet minute on a gorgeous beach. During the hour lunch, you get to hike and explore. It was super fun. After lunch, we paddled to some rock formations. Every group doesn't get to go see them, but our group was small and in good shape and made good time. The other groups were coming in for lunch as we were heading out. We felt safe the whole trip. Everything was super organized and transport was all done via bus/van. Only cons for me were that there were SOOO many people on the water with us, so for most of the trip, it was hard to get pics or just enjoy the sites without a ton of people in the way. Otherwise, HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I kept telling my husband "I think this is one of my favorite things I've ever done in my life!" read more

Guard your credit card transactions! After dining at the Duck Pond Eatery, I later discovered a large, unauthorized tip was added to my credit card transaction (I had left a cash tip). The company has not responded to my inquiries and is holding its ground with my credit card company in response to the dispute I filed. Dishonest! read more

I wanted to reach out after our recent trip to Munising on 7/23/24 when we had a booked 3pm kayak tour of Pictured Rocks. I want to share first that I understand that the weather that day, specifically the wind, deemed the original trip unsafe. Both my friend and I understood the reasoning for the trip cancellation. I want to share this upfront since this is not the problem we had with Uncle Ducky's. When we checked in, I was disappointed to learn that was when we found out the trip was canceled, but understood why. It would have been nice to have been called or emailed ahead of time to know this so we could have thought about our options. This again is not why I am writing. We were given the three options to cancel, voucher for 2 years, or do the trip around the west side of the island. The person who checked us in, Connor, said it was his favorite places to go on his day off, so we said yes. This seemed like a solid endorsement. We did ask if we could go the next morning when we would still be in the area, but the weather forecast for wind was worse. So, we decided to do the island trip. This was our choice of course. This is also not my complaint. We were the only two people to go on the trip who had scheduled. Everyone else canceled. A trip with just us sounded like it would have its perks. Here are the multiple things we truly had problems with from your kayak group. When we arrived at the beach, we were sent out with two guides who lived locally, one of which who had worked for Uncle Ducky's for two years, and NEITHER had never gone on the west side of the island tour. The kayak skirts we were given had ripped waterproof lining that meant water from the nonstop rain gushed in during the trip. The kayak we were first put in had broken foot rests. One of the guides said we could try another boat, but "Uncle Ducky's doesn't really take care of the equipment." This was evident when the only other boat that we were given out of a row of kayaks to use had a broken seat back, but had foot rests that could be adjusted. They gave us the "safety talk," but only remembered 3 points. One was to stay 6 boat lengths apart, no farther. We launched and waited for them. The 1st year guide was telling the o2nd year guide he was not going to paddle since he was "called in to work, but he shouldn't be there." As a result, we spent a lot of time just waiting for their boat. We were two 40 year old women. Two 20 year old guides should not have had a problem staying with us. They gave no directional guide to where we were headed, what we could look at, any information on the island we were paddling towards, and would often just hang back far behind. There was no indication of where we were headed. They didn't tell talk to us about the trip at all. Our tour guides told us they "had no idea where we were headed on the tour since they had never been on the tour." Never been on the tour. We agreed to go on a tour that ended up being led by guides who had no idea where we were going. They guessed back and forth where we would stop for lunch, which was only solved when they saw an earlier kayak tour returning and radioed to ask where the beach was. For hours, we stopped repeatedly trying to find out where the guides went when there were no other boats besides ours to lead. And for hours, we tried to engage them in conversation. The 2nd year guide was friendly and at least tried some conversation. We tried asking them questions about the lake and island and were told "We don't have any stories, but we would if we were on the good tour." or "We've never done been, so we don't know. We could tell you if we were on the good tour." Eventually, we ask them to tell us stories from the original tour, to which we were told "Oh, I don't remember." At one point, the 1st year guide said "We have nothing to talk about." By the time we reached the halfway point and stopped on the beach, we were cold, felt like we were put on a tour just to bring in money to Uncle Ducky's, and a complete inconvenience to the 1st year guide who wanted to be off. We were customers who were worth little effort who were paying to go on a kayak trip where we were placed in kayaks with skirts that were all broken. This later issue of the equipment being broken was exacerbated on the way back when the waves and wind picked up and the rudder was not engaged on the kayak. We spent the trip alone with the guides far away paddling only on the right hand side since we would spin otherwise. This added on to the 1st year's comment on the beach that Uncle Ducky's "doesn't take care of their boats." Eventually, they paddled close enough to us to ask them which beach we were aiming for. At this point, they paddled ahead to shore. Again, much farther than 6 boat lengths away. They got to shore and the 2nd year guide stayed, but the other one left us behind at the beach. read more

Absolutely THE BEST ride we've had at pictured rocks. McCoy (our guide) was kind, helpful, and energetic. If we lived closer we would come back weekly and request McCoy! (We live in CO). We did the 6 hour ride today, a little choppy and an amazing time. We cannot stop smiling. read more

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Stunning Great views, great staff, great experience all around for a full day tour. The biggest issue we had was that the website said it included lunch - luckily I checked in on vegan lunch options and were told there was no lunch provided or we'd have had a super long hangry day. read more

BUYER BEWARE Do not book with them. They will lie and steal your money if the weather causes any issues. Promised a 3 hour tour, only got 1.5 and didn't get to.do.any of.the activities we were promised. Total scam. read more

We did the Paddler's Choice trip. 9am-3pm. 6 hour trip but that's not 6 hours on the water. You get on the bus at 9 to be taken to pick out your gear and meet your guide. And at the end you drop off your gear and take the shuttle back to your car. I think the time on the water is more like 10am-2pm with a 1 hour lunch break. Also the trip is not a loop. You paddle past your lunch break spot, then turn around. Have lunch on a beach (provided) and then continue on back. The lunch provided was nice (each person is provided a lunch kit at the start of the trip). However there are no amenities on the beach -- no picnic tables or restrooms or anything. If you love kayaking or just being out on the water, then it won't matter to you that you pass the same formations on the way back. It's a treat to see them up close. For me, personally, my arms were DONE, and I was ready to be back on shore. Because of this, next time I would try the Paddle and Hike, and hike back rather than paddle since I wouldn't miss anything new. Trent was our guide and he was fantastic. Knowledgeable, friendly, chatty and full of personality! My group stayed in #1 Yurt Powers of the Air. Unbelievably gorgeous spot. There were 5 of us. The site claims that 8 people can sleep in this yurt. Uh...maybe if they are small or children, lol The site says there are two bunk beds -- single on top, double on the bottom. If these are full grown adults, only one person can sleep on the bottom. There is a futon that folds out. Maybe two adults could sleep on that, but I doubt it. There is space on the floor for someone to set up some cots or an air mattress so if you have a bigger group, it can work, but you'll want to prepare. The beds are more like gym mats than mattresses. But if you stay in this Yurt you are lulled to sleep by the sound of Mother Superior just beyond the wall. For our group, it was totally worth it. There is a small fridge and a space heater. There is also a Family Dollar in town where we purchased additional bedding when we realized what we brought wasn't enough. Only two Adirondack chairs so if you are in a larger group, bring camp chairs. There is a table and only 2 chairs in the Yurt. It's truly set up like a 'village' here. It reminded me of a Hippie Commune's dream! :) All the other Yurts and Safari tents are close together in a long row. The map on the website makes the other 'sites' look more spaced out than they are. Not much privacy or seclusion here, but the whole setup is clean and lovely, and charming. The Uncle Ducky cruise is not to be missed. Honestly my group had considered skipping it but we really underestimated how nice it was. You can bring food/drinks on board. The restaurant was the only thing that turned out to be disappointing. No problem with the food, in fact it was quite good, but the service that day was very slow. Seemed a little unorganized. That was just our experience, but all I will say is don't let it cause you to miss the boat cruise! read more

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Uncle Ducky's offers a great kayak tour to see the pictures rocks of the Upper Peninsula. I did the 6 hour kayak tour where we were able to see a shipwreck, the pictured rocks, as well as the lovers leap arch. Going into the trip, 6 hours of kayaking seemed daunting, but the pace was reasonable and the kayaks held their own in the Lake Superior waves. I would definitely recommend this kayak tour for anybody who wants and up close view of some of the most spectacular views in the Upper Midwest. read more

Paddling Michigan - Kayak view of the pictures rocks - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Munising, Michigan

Excellent experience! We did the 6 hr kayak tour and it was fun, informative, relaxing and great to see such a beautiful natural treasure. We had to make modifications to our reservation prior to the event and the Paddling Michigan staff was easy to work with, responsive and gave us confirmation right away. The bus driver to the beach was friendly and shared lots of good information tidbits that made the experience all the better. Our tour guide, Jimmy was a hoot; he was funny, relaxed, and shared lots of good information throughout the 6 hr tour. Now for what I would improve; the lunch thing on this tour is confusing and could use some better clarification. Some tours lunch is included, some (like the one I was in) there time allocated for lunch on the beach but you have to bring your own lunch and I heard it both ways until I checked in. It was fine, I just bought one of their packed lunches which was quite good but for the price, I'd say the packed lunch should be included. The other thing is the life jacket, it smelled a bit, so I recommend dipping it into the lake once you get to the beach. Once I did that at the lunch break, things were better. The gear they provide is excellent. read more

Paddling Michigan - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Munising, Michigan

We made reservations well in advance for a short kayak tour on Lake Superior to view Pictured Rocks. Our friends had made the reservations. We read the cancellation policy and noted that if we cancelled 7 days or more prior to the paddle we would receive 100% of our payment. Because my husband's back might not be ready for the excursion I notified our friends to go ahead and cancel our tickets. She replied that having checked the weather and conditions they decided to also cancel. Again, this was well in advance of the 7 days to receive our money back. When she cancelled they informed her that there would be a $25 charge for administration fee. She knew this. HOWEVER, it was $25.00 PER Ticket. $100.00 to push a button. Be forewarned. Plus read their pages and pages of disclaimers and conditions. My guess is they've had a number of issues that they hope to circumvent by having folks sign waivers and read the conditions. All to be expected except the over the top per ticket administrative fee. read more

Decent price point for what you get. I was happy we arrived early because I was unaware I had to go to their location then turn around and drive like 20 minutes outside of town to a parking area they have for you to be picked up by buses for another ride to where the kayaking occurs. I liked our guide but kayaking on the great lakes is no joke and he had limited guidance to us on safety at all other than "do not blow your whistle unless you need it." I have gone kayaking enough to know how to back paddle and how to approach waves but not everyone does and some basics would be helpful. The kayaks are okay a bit dated and my skirting was not water proof anymore and leaked badly. At least our rudder still worked properly. The paddle was nice at about 2 hours to Miners and back. If you are looking for a decent trip out not half bad. I now bought my own kayak so I no longer need their services. read more

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We weren't sure we would be able to go kayaking to Pictured Rocks because the weather went from sunny and 90 to cloudy, rainy and cold. Luckily the day we scheduled to kayak, the sun broke through and it warmed up enough to go. We got to go into a shallow, dripping cave and paddled Kissing Rock. It was pretty choppy and tougher padding back to the beach but enjoyed the experience. You can't beat a Great Lake. read more

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Rich was our guide. Killed it. Beautiful day on the water. Easy. Rode the whole time. Got out to the castle. Big moves.

This place almost has it all. We kayaked for 5 hours. The trip was suppose to last six hours. The staff was very friendly. In the beginning they could have have better directions on how to use the kayaks. We also wish they would have offered a hot lunch somewhere on the trip. We have white water rafted in the past and have had this option. The weather was great and scenery was breath taking. The price of the trip was worth it, we used a group on. The other downfall is that we had to wait about 50 minutes for the bus to pick us up and take us back to camp. There was also two check in points to start the trip. This easily could be done in 1. We camped here the night before we kayaked. I understand the campground can't control campers but you think they would tell everyone when quiet hours are. The price we paid for our yurt was expensive. There was no free ice or firewood. Glad we stayed one night it was a good experience. It could easily have been better but also could have been way worse. The yurt could have easily slept 5-6 people. read more

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The camp site was off Hwy 28, so it would be a bit noisy if your tent/yurt is by the road. But each room is spacious and clean. We had a package with kayaking, canoing, and dinner cruise included. Please note the dinner cruise is misleading as you actually eat the dinner at the adjacent restaurant prior to the cruise trip. Each site has a fire pit, grill and picnic table. 2-4 lawn chairs are available for each site. The check-in staff was friendly and the communication with the site host was timely. It's a great location for family with older kids and it's or girls weekend. read more

Paddling Michigan - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Munising, Michigan

Great views! We took the taste of the rocks trip and really enjoyed it. The water is so beautiful and the rocks are unlike anything I've seen!! Not challenging so good for a range of abilities read more

Paddling Michigan - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Munising, Michigan

We did the Cruise Package, that included a 3 night stay in one of the yurts at Au Train Beach Campground, the Pictured Rock cruise and the sunset Grand Island cruise with dinner at the Duck Pond. Our yurt was very clean and spacious. You are closer than I had thought to your neighbors, but everyone was very respectful noise wise, so we had no issues. The WiFi didn't work for us the entire time, but we were one of the furthest yurts out, so it was a good excuse to unplug. :) The showers and bathroom are VERY clean! You aren't on the water at this campground, but the beach is right across the street and there aren't many people there. Because of the extremely choppy waves, our Pictured Rock cruise had to be cut short, but we were given 50% money back. We still saw quite a bit of the Rocks, so we didn't feel like we completely missed out. The Grand Island sunset cruise was AMAZING and my favorite part of the stay!!! Our Captain was Tanner (his dad is also a Captain) and he was fantastic! He played great music, pointed out different historic markers, and really made the overall cruise fun! (He also told some funny "Dad jokes"!) The Duck Pond was a great stop for dinner. Our bartender, I don't remember her name, but she had an Oberon tattoo, was very friendly and knowledgeable! I highly recommend the breaded whitefish and sweet potato tots! Overall, I highly recommend this package! The city of Munising is a super friendly town with some great restaurants and shops. We weren't looking to kayak this year, but we will definitely check into Uncle Ducky's for that next year! Thank you for a wonderful vacation experience! read more

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We had a great time doing The Paddler's Choice tour today. Weather cooperated which, of course, made the day all that much better. We were a group of 12 plus the guide; although they take larger groups, this was a perfect size and I don't think I would have liked a larger group. Miles, our guide, was personable and knowledgeable about the area. I felt safe the entire time. Although the company says this tour is suitable for all skill levels, I believe you need to be reasonably fit - you are on the water for five hours (plus an hour for lunch) and this does require a bit of stamina. Kayaking the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is the best way to enjoy this beautiful area! read more

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Buyer Beware! We purchased a 3 hour paddle and planned a trip around this. The owner was aware at least 10 days before our arrival that a bridge was closed so the planned route had to be changed and would not include the well known Pictured Rocks features. We could easily been notified by email of that change in advance so that we could have altered our plans, but found out on arriving to check in where we were offered a full refund so we could try to book elsewhere or take the new route. We knew the other outfitter had no openings so opted to go since we came a long way for this. We put on the their equipment and boarded their bus which had no air or windows which could be opened. It was about a 15 minute ride and the temperature inside was quite uncomfortable. I assume they figured most came a long way as we had and would just opt to do the modified route as justification for not letting us know in advance of the route change. Extremely unprofessional! read more

We booked the Taste of the Rocks Tour through Uncle Duckie's Paddling Michigan out of Munising, MI. The guide Cee Cee was great. Very friendly and knowledgeable. No issue there. Paddling Michigan's website said that on this 3 hour kayak tour, you will see "7 Pictured Rocks Formations including 2 Waterfalls". We didn't see any formations. There was construction that closed a road, which is not under Paddling Michigan's control. This is why they couldn't take us to see the formations. They launched the kayaks miles before the normal launch spot so we couldn't get far enough to see the rock formations. I understand they can't control the road closure, but what I don't understand, is why they didn't tell us that we would not be seeing anything in Pictured Rocks National Park. They should have been up front so that we could decide if we wanted to still go on the kayak tour, or book through a different tour operator. There is a tour operator that brings you out on a boat and launches the kayaks right near all of the attractions that we could have gone through. They weren't affected by the closed road. We were really disappointed. We came a long long way to see this national park. Most of the rock formations can only be seen from the water which is why we booked this kayak tour. After the kayak tour to nowhere, we hiked 4 miles trying to see some of the sites but couldn't see much at all from land. After the kayak tour, we went to talk to someone in the office but they said they couldn't help and told us we would have to call the office. We called the office and were told by the woman that she only worked there for a couple of weeks and would pass along a message. No one called us back so we emailed the company and after several days they haven't called us back. We ended up spending $104 the next day to take a boat cruise through a different company to see Pictured Rocks which was breathtaking. read more

We booked the Hiawatha package but then decided to add an additional night. This package is one of the safari tents. We booked ours in one of the tents near the water. Some have commented that the tents and yurts are close to one another, which they are. Was that a problem? Not at all. During all 3 night of our stay, our "neighbors" were very respectful noise wise. As far a the scheduled activities, everything was very well organized. The provided lunch, as part of the kayak trip, was very good. The only disappointment, as part of our kayak trip, was that our guide opted not to take us through the "arch" at Pictured Rock. Our boat ride around Grand Island, as part of a dinner and a cruise, was fantastic! The Captain was very informative. The restaurant, at Paddlers Village called "The Duck Pond" had very good food and a very extensive beer selection. Overall, we had a great time! read more

what a gem of a business... we signed up for the 6 hour sunset paddle. as we checked in, we were informed that due to the weather/waves, the trip would change to a 3 hour trip, and, our start/stop point would change. we had the option to cancel, reschedule or go on the trip. we chose to go on the trip, and, were told we would get a refund for the difference between the 6 hour and the 3 hour trip. we drove our car to the parking lot off site. then, were bussed to the start/stop point. our group of about 20 people had 3-4 guides (I honestly don't recall). they were amazing. our guide was very chatty and friendly. hubby and I loved the paddle trip and if/when back in the area, we will do it again! read more

Paddling Michigan - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Munising, Michigan

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Amazing tour today with Ben/Bean. Great attitude, informative, and kept us entertained without being cheesy. We had an incredible experience and got a lot of great recommendations for the area. The tour was great and we were able to book late notice. We only did a half day tour, so we didn't get to see Arch Rock, but still had a great time! read more

Grand Island Cruise - 5 stars! Dock Pond Restaurant - 2 stars or less. This is a review of the Grand Island Lunch Cruise and Duck Pond. Five stars for the cruise, captain and experience. Even though the wave conditions were such that we could not go around Grand Island we had a wonderful experience and the historical and natural information talk the captain gave was great. I have been on multiple other boat tours here and this one was my favorite. Take into consideration however, elderly or limited mobility individuals will have a very difficult time getting to the dock and boarding the boat. There are no rails on the dock and getting to it requires a walk through sand and/or uneven ground through the yurt camping area to get to the dock. The captain is gracious however, and offers a side by side for those that need more assistance to and from the restaurant and dock. The boat is comfortable and has a restroom. Now, the Duck Pond Restaurant. Unfortunately, the service is terrible and the setup and planning for a package deal like this non-existent. I wish the cruise could be booked without the lunch or dinner and you could just do the cruise. It is very difficult for companies to find staff here in this small, rural area, which we understand because we live here. But...When you book you are told to arrive at 11:00am for the 12:00 lunch cruise which is not enough time for the amount of people that all descend at the exact same time as soon as the restaurant opens. Upon arrival you are greeted (?) by a grouchy individual who asks if you are doing the cruise and takes your name and told to "sit anywhere". Unfortunately, on our visit, there were only two servers for the entire inside and outside of the restaurant. I feel badly for them because there is no way they are being set up for success. The servers are also tasked with trying to explain the process (or lack there of) on what happens next and how to get to the dock. The restaurant is also open to non-cruise guests too who all start arriving at the same time. Your food order is taken first before you even put a drink order in because they know they are going to run out of time. You are told there is a beer menu but it's on a chalk board that you have to get up and walk over to in order to know what it says. You wait and wait for everything and then have to scarf your lunch down because there is not enough time for them to serve everyone before noon which is when you are supposed to arrive at the dock. Folks are looking around concerned because they are fearful they are going to miss the boat which ended up being delayed because no one could finish in time. There is no bartender even though there is a bar, the servers have to do that too, so you can't get any drinks on time. You do have the option of taking a to-go lunch but that is not a good plan either because it's coming from the same kitchen as eat-in service. We read there was also an option to get the meal after the cruise, which might be a better plan so at least you are not late for the boat, but the service probably won't be any better. The food (once we finally got it) was hot and okay but nothing great. If the process could be improved such that they did picnic or bag lunches, or staggered arrival times of guests it would be much better. Or even just pasties to go. There is no ability for more staffing in this area so there has to be some other solution. That, or just get rid of the food piece of it and only run the boat cruise. Maybe a meal ticket for an area restaurant or just include a couple beers or soft drinks with the boat cruise. The whole restaurant process just leaves people annoyed and frustrated and probably hungry. Thank goodness the cruise is so amazing. I will 100% take visitors on the boat again, I just wish the price could be adjusted to get rid of the restaurant part all together. read more

We called to rent a kayak for a noon tour. The lady who answered gave us all the information, including pricing, time, etc. We told her we were interested and she gave us the address and said to be there at 11:30 to sign the paperwork and pay. We go out of our way to get ready in time and get there before the deadline. When we got there ready for our kayak trip, the guy told it's sold out! They didn't apologize or anything and even though she was standing right there she didn't even acknowledge our presence. Horrible customer service! read more

Highly recommend this company for tours! We did the 8 hour kayak/lunch/hike tour. We had rain for the beginning, but that did not ruin the fun. Molly and Clark were our awesome tour guides. They were super funny and knowledgeable of Pictured Rocks. They gave us recommendations for dinner and drinks in the área our hotel was at- did not disappoint!! Thanks again read more

The views were spectacular, as expected, and you'll never get as close in a tour boat. Our guide was super nice, but unfortunately for us, it was his first summer. He really didn't offer any interesting facts or history. We got hit by a wake, flipped over, and literally NO ONE even noticed! Thank God my husband was strong enough to get the kayak near the rocky shore, dump the water out, and get us back in. We could have been seriously injured and our guide, along with the whole group, just kept on paddling away. They need to get little flags or something so the guides know which boats they are responsible for. It was a busy time and there were tons of guides and kayaks. Also, it would be nice if the guide had something recognizable, b/c we were always trying to figure out which one was ours. In addition, I think the description is misleading. We are an average height/weight/fit family of 4 and the Paddler's Choice was super HARD and exhausting, even without the flip that pretty much put me into shock from the cold water and fear. I was shivering and crying after WE finally got ourselves righted and to the beach for lunch. At that point I was told I could either get back in the kayak or hike the 3 miles back (in my flip flops.) You can bet that's my last kayaking trip! read more

There was no mention of Covid masking and most of the 34 people on the boat were not masked. The ride was sold out with every seat taken. The cruise started after 5:30 pm and we were back at the dock before 7 pm. You're basically riding on a big pontoon. Many people on the ride said they felt we'd been had. $64 is a total rip off. The only reason I booked this was because the Pictured Rock evening cruise was full. The crew members were nice but apparently were completely unaware of the governor's orders which were referenced on the Pictured Rock cruise line (which is only filling boats at half capacity). read more

My wife and I took the half day paddle (4 hours, which turned out to about 2 on the actual water). It was fun and it was beautiful and inarguably a great way to see the Rocks. But for $99 a head, and with little care given to training/instruction, the whole operation seemed sort of like a big cash grab. There were probably 100+ tandem kayaks out on Miners Beach, constantly rotating out into the water and then back in. It seemed like we spent about half our time paddling and the other half waiting for the people in front of us to finish what they were doing (all the while rushing through the various "attractions", when it was our turn, as we were mindful that there were many others waiting their turn behind us as well). If you're serious about getting out in a manual-operated boat at Pictured Rocks, I would recommend looking for a more personal/private outing. Perhaps even take some lessons and rent (or even buy) your own boat... secure your own guide if you're more comfortable that way... would surely be more enjoyable than being crammed into a herd like this. There are some other smaller local businesses that do kayak trips/rentals. You might want to look around for them. If you don't have any luck in that department, I'm sure Uncle Ducky would set up a private experience for you (for a price). Nothing against Uncle Ducky. They're running a business and they're doing a fine job of it. Maximizing exposure and maximizing profits. If you go out with them you'll surely enjoy yourself. But next time I decide to do something like this I'll definitely be seeking out The Little Guy. read more

Paddling Michigan - The seemingly endless stream of boats, beginning to trickle back in. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Munising, Michigan

Such a bummer! Went a cpl years ago and had a fun trip. Today, was the exact opposite. First thing they did was put us on a bus with 30 other ppl, no open windows, no seat spacing and no mask enforcement for a 15 min ride to the beach. On the way back we requested that the tour operator or the bus driver ask everyone to keep masks throughout the ride. They first said, "No, everyone knows that. " When I insisted that they did not, the operators did not want to bother the bus driver to make the announcement, but one finally did climb on the bus & saw people without masks and asked them to put them on. They did. The bus took off and within 30 seconds 50% of the bus riders had taken them off. By the end of the ride 75% of people had their masks off. The bus driver did not say a word. So chances are, being stuck in that bus with people all around & no windows made it very highly possible that I was in an environment where COVID was being passed around. Once, we got to the beach& in the kayak, the guide informed us the rudder of our kayak was broken. We loaded out & into a kayak on the other end of the beach. In this boat, the rudder pedals were jammed. One was all the way out to where my foot barely reached. The other was jammed right up close to where my knee was sticking out of the top of the kayak. They had one more boat available ... Also broken. Their suggestion was to go rudderless; not a refund, not a voucher for another day due to a broken boat, but just try steering through the waters on a super windy day without help. I chose to go with the crap pedals. (ALL the equipment looked like it had seen better days- cheap worn- down models) An hour in, I had a major leg cramp on the short side & a strain in the left. The operator decided to make our kayak rudderless after all, so we spent the rest of the tour zig zagging across the lake with little control & tons of effort. We were the last to the beach--- by far. Even the single parents paddling for their kids made it back before us. They guides made no effort to put our boat out of service when we returned, as it was lined up with the rest for the next tour. The life jackets& paddles were not sterilized when we returned them. No Effs given here. Understandably, as I overhead them say they were booked out for months at 400 ppl/ day. The tour itself was lackluster- none of the really striking caves I've seen on 2 previous tours were included on the 4 hr ordeal. Choose another operator. read more

Uncle Ducky puts on a great tour. A bit expensive, but when you consider all the costs and time, it makes sense. Well worth the price. We did the Sunset Tour and were super glad we did. Will be one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The views are unbelievable and the course provides just the right amount of exercise. Be aware that if you have never sat in a kayak before, your tush may get uncomfortable after about 1 hour. Just adjust a bit in your seat and it will be fine. Our guides were outstanding. Very good with people and very accommodating. I read some reviews complaining about lack of organization, but that wasn't our experience. I found the safety and operation instructions to be clear and concise - it's a damn kayak after all so it's pretty easy to figure out! Five stars for these guys - loved every second of our 6 hour tour. read more

Paddling Michigan - Fog rolled out at the beginning of the trip. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Munising, Michigan

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They were somewhat disorganized and unprofessional. The equipment is not maintained at all. My boat had missing and broken foot pegs. It is difficult and tiring to do a 6 hour trip with no foot pegs. Your back starts to hurt. I told the guide but he would not give me a different boat. This is the "McDonald's" of kayak companies. Low quality, high volume, indifferent to customer satisfaction. Do not recommend at all. read more

We chose the 6 hour kyack your of pictured rocks. My 27 year old son and I (a 59 year old lady) had one of the best days of our lives. The weather was great. Our guides, Soup and Chris were very kind and helpful. Seeing Pictured Rocks by kyack was far better than seeing it any other way. Water was super clear. We brought our own food and drinks in a small cooler which we carried on the top of our kyack. We loved this trip! We stayed at the beach House Inn which was quite expensive and not fancy. You can not access the actual beach from the hotel. It was blocked off. You could sit on the grass next to the beach. The lady there was very pleasent. read more

Great trip (sunset) and awesome guides. Would be 5 stars but the kayaks were garbage. I took on about 2 gallons of water over the course. And I wasn't the only one. Others had broken components, skirts with tears, and back rests that were junk. Time for the owners to put some money into their product read more

Pretty good experience! The waters were to rough to go along the main route so we had to go to the island but it was still cool. My paddle broke on one side 5 minutes into the trip and the guide offered to go back and get me a new but I just made do. I'd recommend it to a friend but like others have posted they probably ought to invest in some new gear. read more

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