I wanted to try Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) for about forever…read more The concierge at the Abbey gave me a coupon for a discount rental at nearby Fontana Paddle so I decided to finally give it a go. It was an excellent decision. Rates are reasonable. They fit you with a flotation vest, changing rooms are available and they have small lockers. You do not want to have your smartphone on you in the event you fall in the water on the lake. It is better to lock it up, IMO. The training overview was pretty detailed and there is a lot to remember and coordinate all at once. I liken it to riding a bike or driving a car. Once you learn it, you'll always have it and it becomes normal/natural, until then, you have to remember to switch hands, stay balanced, etc. I did go out too far from where they told me to stay, but that was unplanned. A little wind and then a boat sent me even further out which resulted in my instructor dude coming out on board to see if I was okay and if I could get back in on my own. Embarrassing, but also super cool because he gave me some on water tips that I somehow already had forgotten. Also, the further out you go, the more the wind affects you and there are more boats, so you can expend more energy on balancing rather than paddling enjoyably along. Once my guy knew I was okay and headed more in the right direction he went back and I went on to a very enjoyable experience. Prices are good. Staff is helpful. Get out early on summer weekends, too many boats on the lake will not make for a good SUP experience.

Perfectly located on the shore of Geneva Lake in Fontana. You can walk 20 feet to the lake to…read morelaunch. I have been in the store/shop countless times over the years. They have a huge selection of standup paddle boards, kayaks and accessories. I am actually wearing one of their shirts right now. Cool thing is, I just found out they sell ans rent snow shoes also. Being right on the lake, a hike on the lake path is something to behold anytime of year. A lot of my Rockford, IL friends kayak and have either friended them on facebook, visited the website or store itself. If you have any questions while you are there, which I always have plenty which I think some are kind of dumb, they are right there to answer them. I plan to take my family for lessons this Spring.

if I could give this place negative stars I would. The slapped a used "cleanliness" liner and new…read moretag on a clearly VERY worn and stretched out pool guards suit to sell my daughter as a "brand new" item. There is debris between the liner and the crotch of the suit-so gross. See the pics for yourself-their tag is still attached.

I rented a wetsuit from them that was in led than perfect condition. Upon return they told me I…read morecaused all the damage they had already repaired and offered a "bargain" rate to pay for repairs for damages I had not caused.

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.

I took advantage of the awesome weather this past weekend to try paddle boarding out on Lake…read moreMichigan. Gotta love that view of city while you're out on the lake! The Good: We scored a Groupon for two hours for two people for $60 bucks. Plus the 20% off Groupon special and that put us right at $48 for two! Not bad and comparable to rates that I'm use to paying back in California. AND.. spectacular view of the city! The Bad: If it's your first time paddle boarding the conditions will have you loving it or hating it. Lake Michigan is comparable to trying to paddle around in an open ocean. Currents can pull you easily one way or another, and you can get some gnarly wakes coming off passing by boats/jet skis. If it's your first time, I'd recommend staying closer to shore until you feel comfortable maneuvering around before adventuring out. Other than that, aside from the choppy conditions, we had an excellent time. The shop is located on North Ave Beach. Look for the Jet Ski and boat rental signs. 'Til next time, cheers!

I went to replace my 12 year old Patagonia jacket that delaminated and had other signs of wear. It…read morewas a great coat, but it was time. To my pleasant surprise, the manager said that the delaminating was considered a material defect. Even though the coat was more than a decade old, they replaced it with a brand new $500 jacket. I felt like I was stealing and asked them three times if they were sure about their decision, which they confirmed. I felt so guilty, I bought a $50 hat. I've always loved their products because of their practicality, fit, and style. Now I have one more reason to return.

Great products for rugged outdoor use…read more Even better service as I had a piece of wind/rain resistant jacket whose inner liner ripped and the store replaced it, no questions asked, no receipt. Life long convert here.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS, VISIT THIRD COAST PADDLING!!!! We visited on 6/3. It's a beautiful area to…read moreexplore while being active as well! The equipment was in excellent condition and the staff are WONDERFUL. The young gentleman working on Wednesday June 3 around 2pm was very kind! He offered us some points of interest to look out for along the way and encouraged us to come back over the summer, which we plan to! We had a hiccup with the parking situation but the staff went above and beyond to help us remedy that quickly and efficiently, so THANK YOU to the Oliver for reaching out to us. Please share our gratitude with your entire team-- customer service like this keeps people coming back!!!!! Excellent excellent excellent!

Friendly staff and luckily there were walk up singles available. Lovely journey down and back on…read morethe river, great break from the hustle and bustle of New Buffalo's main drag.

I am an everyday walker. I had purchased a pair of shoes, which were not cheap, at a big box…read moreathletic store. There was a hole in them by six months. I thought I would try Runners High. Mark was very friendly and very knowledgeable. He found the perfect pair of shoes for me. I felt like I was walking on air today. We should all try to support independent vendors.

Mark is a wonderful person to buy shoes/inserts from. He was very knowledgeable and guided…read moreappropriately without being pushy in any way