Our group paid for 3 hours of kayaking. The man in the booth was great in providing us wet pants, wet jackets, wet shoes, otter information, etc. He was so kind and approachable. They also had pouches to store our phones in. If you kayak around the wharf, you can hear the sea lions. We unfortunately capsized but it was a memorable experience. read more

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For 3 people we did an open 2 person kayak and a SUP on a calm day and spotted otters and sea lions, and amazing dive-bombing pelicans. The staff were super helpful and the price was very affordable for 3 hours of magical time in the water! Loved it read more

Service: spectacular! Dude was kind and informative. Kayaks: sturdy and safe! Love how close you can get to the sea lions and sea otters. Keep in mind if you bother them you get fined $25K!!! Don't harass or chase them! read more

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Great experience kayaking in Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough with Dave! We saw porpoises, seals, and sea otters, often quite close up, as well as many types of birds and other sea creatures. Dave is clearly extremely experienced and knowledgable and was able to track any animal in our vicinity so we could get the best view. He provided all of the equipment we needed to stay warm and dry during our morning trip, and he was a very helpful and patient coach to this relatively inexperienced kayaker. I recommend the full tour, as kayaking on the open ocean offers a unique experience and was not as challenging as I expected. read more

We LOVED our experience kayaking with Dave. We did the whale tour and got to follow a whale around the bay for almost the full duration of our tour. At one point it breached just about 10 yards in front of us and then swam right under our kayak. It was a fun intro to ocean kayaking using a rudder that we'd never used before. Dave was a great instructor and allowed us to guide our own trip much more than trips I've taken in the past. Dave also took our photos with the whale and sent them to us as amazing mementos. Overall a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone. We'll worth every penny. read more

Venture Quest Kayaking - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Found Venture Quest on Yelp & decided on a Sunday afternoon to go kayaking in the ocean. I was pretty nervous since I have only ever kayaked in a lake, but I decided to take the plunge and so glad I did. The location was easy to find and there was no wait to rent a kayak. They provide dry bags in case you want to bring a few personal items with you. I was provided instructions on how to paddle and where to go to see otters and other sea creature before being set out into the water. The rental is for 3 hours, I was out in the ocean for about 1.5 hours before I got fatigued. Overall it was a great & I will be back. read more

Venture Quest Kayaking - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Dave was great- He was always available to answer any questions before the trip regarding which tour would suit us best. We chose the ELKHORN Slough tour which turned out amazing. We saw lots of seals, otters, and birds. While paddling around , he educated us on the different types of birds in the area. The pace was good for any age group. Would definitely book again with him. read more

I have visited this location three times over about five years. Each time they have been helpful, efficient, and reasonable in price. We saw 12 otters, more than a dozen sea lions and some beautiful views of the lighthouse. The kayaks were high quality, and they provide jackets and pants to keep you dry, as well as a dry bag for your phone. I'd definitely do it again. A fun way to see Santa Cruz. read more

dave and remy were amazing guides for kayaking! i had the pleasure of going on my first kayak experience with venture quest kayaking. it was offered through my university for an affordable price and it was just what i needed to wrap up my final year. dave was my partner for this day and he instructed me how to properly row and use the ores. he also pointed out the different animals, specimens, and behaviors of the animals. we saw sea lions up close, touched bell shaped jellyfish, and floated over large schools of fish. it was definitely a wonderful experience and i would have happily do it again when i return to santa cruz!! venture quest is awesome and you shouldn't hesitate to book your experience with them (: read more

Venture Quest Kayaking - Wharf - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I've been renting kayaks from these guys for several years now and I can tell you they are the best AND most affordable in town. You can't beat the convenience and location on the wharf in Santa Cruz. The kayaks are all there and they launch you from the dock right below the shop. Dave and all his employees are knowledgeable about the area and are very helpful in giving me tips on fishing spots and where to go. They have tandems, sit on tops, sit in, and even angler's kayaks with rod holders! Anthony even attached a milk crate on the back of mine so I could put my fishing gear back there. Highly recommended! read more

Yesterday a small group of us did the "Humpback Whales at Moss Landing and Sea Otters of Elkhorn Slough" private tour with Dave. We didn't see any whales, but still had a great time. Dave is incredibly knowledgeable and is so kind. He's also very attentive to everyones needs. It was great having him as our guide. It was fun being out in the ocean on the kayaks. read more

This was by far the beat money I have spent!!!! Well worth every penny. Waters were calm when I went out in my solo kayak. Great views of the sea otters and sea lions. read more

Venture Quest Kayaking - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The main little hut where you check in is located towards the front of the pier. You can kind of tell where it is by all the colorful kayaks outside. We were there to try out the tandem kayaks. The process was pretty simple. We filled out a liability waiver, paid (they do accept credit card) and was provided with life jackets. They actually offered waterproof pants for some of us that weren't in shorts for no extra cost. Some of the life jackets have little pockets that you can slip things into but you can store your valuables with them inside of the shop. Their gear seemed a little bit newer to me than other places I've been to which was nice. After you're geared up, you walk down a few sets of stairs under the pier and onto a floating dock where you can get in your kayak. All of the staff were really helpful getting us set up and ready to go. They let us know which parts were windy and what route would make it easier for us to get to and from where we were taking off. We followed their directions out to the kelp forest and I'm happy to report that we caught a glimpse of a sea otter! read more

Th equipment was fully varied for all aves of my family, the briefings very helpful and appropriate for our group. Efficient and mist professional. We had a fun, exciting day on the water and enjoyed all the animal life and birds. Very well managed experience for all skill levels . read more

SO MUCH FUN!!! This place is so cool. I showed up right at 10 when they opened. $35 for three hours and they accommodate anything you need; wetsuit, life jacket, water jacket, hats, wet bags, lockers to stash your keys, wallet, etc. all included in the $35. Rick was really cool and pointed out some good spots to check out- no limits. You could take the kayak as far away as you'd like. This morning was still a bit foggy out past the point, so I set out and just went for it. It's so cool. I saw so many birds and had pelicans fly right over my head in formation. Saw sea otters in the kelp forest just inside from steamer lane. Go over there and hang out- watch everyone surf and let waves roll underneath you. It's such an amazing, mind calming experience. If you're into water sports and love the ocean, I HIGHLY recommend going to this kayak rental on the pier. You can park on the pier for $3/hour during the summer, $1/hr during off season. Or, you can park at any of the parking lots near the circle drive at the beginning of the pier (I think it's called Cowells Beach parking lot on google maps). It cost $6 to park in the lot by the bridge for 3 hours. Get out there! Have fun! read more

Super fun and for such a great deal! I used to kayak a lot when I lived down in SoCal. Kayaking back in San Diego was definitely cheaper than it is up here. I was looking for a location that was 1) somewhat scenic 2) was a fair price Most of the kayaking places near where I live seemed very overpriced. After a bit of researching I found venture quest. Honestly $60 for two people and 3 hours is not bad at all! I don't remember the name of the guy who helped us out but he was awesome! There's no wait and they seem very organized here as well. If you want to store your stuff in their office you can! They also give you a water-proof bag for your belongings if you want to take it out onto the kayak and they also offer windbreakers (it gets cold out there!) Be prepared to get super wet though, I was splashed multiple times! Today was definitely windy though, which didn't make the experience as enjoyable. We were having trouble rowing and it was honestly difficult coordinating for two people today. We ended up getting rescued by someone on a jet ski. They pulled us in a bit and we paddled over to the other side of the pier and it was honestly a lot nicer. Would not recommend coming here on a windy day if you're looking forward to kayaking and "chilling". We could barely even take a break today. Overall the experience was pretty fun :) a little frustrating at first, and a little scary when the waves and winds started pushing us towards the sea lions. Good thing we had somebody reel us in. The awesome thing about this was that you can spot a ton of animals here. We saw a bunch of sea lions, some seals swam around our kayak, and we got to see sea otters too! read more

Three whales weren't cooperating, but we had a wonderful time. One of us got sea sick, and Dave was very accommodating and attentive. We used a sail to come back into Moss Landing. Dave is a wealth of knowledge about the ocean. read more

Great first time kayak experience! The guy that was working (didn't catch his name) was extremely helpful/friendly especially since my boyfriend & I were new to kayaking & I was very nervous. He offered us waterproof pants & jackets, life vests, a waterproof bag (for valuables we wanted to bring with us on the kayak), shelf space for where we could leave our bags, etc. He gave us very helpful tips, a brief lesson on how to paddle, showed us good areas to go, helped us get onto our kayaks safely, & he kept an eye out for when we would return so he could help us get off safely. He made sure we wouldn't fall which was a huge plus! We got the tandem kayak for $55 for up to 3 hours but you'll get tired way before those 3 hours are up! We were able to kayak among sea lions & spotted lots of dolphins swimming around. Once we got out to sea, it was very relaxing & we had a great view of the Boardwalk. Overall, great experience & I would go again. My only regrets were not being able to take pictures of the dolphins & not going farther out to sea! read more

Venture Quest Kayaking - Great view of the boardwalk. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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We arrived at Elkhorn Slough a few minutes early and Dave was already there waiting for us and ready to go kayaking. He gave us instructions on how to sit, paddle, adjust the rudder pedals, steer, how to be safe, and so on. He even had water resistant jackets for us to stay dry. With the spray skirt to keep the water out of the boat and our lifejackets donned, we looked like over-weight Martians. I am thankful that he helped us climb into our kayaks so that we wouldn't fall into the chilly water and look like we were harbor seals without flippers. Dave explained the strong tide currents and wind. He guided us where to be so that the effort to paddle was minimized. He knew exactly where to go and when. His equipment was excellent. Being a champion in international surf kayaking competition, Dave he really knows how to read the conditions and how to efficiently get from one place to another. And he has a remarkable depth of knowledge about the marine and bird life in the area. Dave pointed out numerous creatures that I didn't know existed. He demonstrated how to get close to a blue heron without spooking it so that we could see fantastic details of its beauty and get great photos. He showed us where sea otters hang out, where they give birth, and about the regulations that protect them. He had stories about specific otters that he had seen living in the Slough. A couple of highlights for me were the abundant white egrets posing for photo ops as they stood in the shallows because January is a great time to find them in the Slough. In addition to learning about cormorants, ducks, grebes, and many other birds, we saw terns hover and dive for small fish. The few hours we spent with Dave were a bundle of fun and a fantastic adventure that my wife and I will never forget. Thank you, Dave! read more

Absolutely loved the convenience and the customer service of venture quest--super easy to access right off the Santa Cruz pier and so much fun to share the experience with a friend from out of town! Great value. read more

From start to finish, this is a great company. A group of 11 of us went out using the travelzoo/groupon deal for $29 a person... only 5 of the 11 actually had the deal but they were willing to match the rate for the remaining 6. Starting from the reservation process, it was quick, painless, and easy. Spoke to Dave over the phone and through e-mail, he answered all of our questions and sent us an introductory e-mail with what to bring, what to expect, and directions/parking. The day of, we arrived at 9:40 AM even though we were scheduled for 9:00 AM... the 3 people working in the office weren't fazed a bit by our tardiness. Parking is easiest on the wharf, although a bit more expensive. Before 10 AM is free, after 10 AM it's $1 per 20 minutes, with a maximum charge of $24. Some of us parked on the meters, some on the wharf, although more expensive, the convenience of parking right next to the kayaking office and then being able to walk to the restaurants on the wharf and to the boardwalk without worrying about feeding the meters was definitely a bonus. Once the entire group was there, they gave us a quick safety talk and quick guide on what to expect and where would be going, then we got fitted for the dry-suits and kayaks. Three different options for Kayaks... closed top single's or double's, or open top doubles. The open top double is definitely the widest and slowest... more paddling involved... but also is the most stable, least likely to tip over, and offers the most room. I took the open-top double as I had our French Bulldog with us... he had a blast. There was plenty of room for him to maneuver around and try to bully the seals that we saw later on. Note though that they have no life jackets for dogs, you have to bring your own. Another couple had a bigger dog that wouldn't fit in the kayak, the people at the sales office offered to watch her for us. 2-tour guides came along with us, one towards the front and the other towards the back. They were both kind, friendly, courteous, and both of them had a great sense of humor. They really added to our experience, showed us the different wildlife around, and even offered to help pull us along when the wind picked up or when some of us got stuck in the kelp forests. Overall the tour lasted about 2.5 hours for us. We saw lots of sea lions, birds, etc. We lucked out and had an absolute gorgeous day, it was around 70-75 degrees the entire day... most of us were able to kayak in our swim trunks/ swim suits. That being said, you will get wet like others said, even if you manage not to tip over. On a double, you're likely to splash each other, and when you head further out you start to hit some waves that splash up on you as well. I would definitely recommend Dave and his team at venture kayaks if you're in the area. It's best to go in the morning so you have the rest of the day to play. The views from the kayak are absolutely amazing. Give it a try! read more

Venture Quest Kayaking - Kayaking with the Boardwalk as a backdrop - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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We had a great time on the kayaks. My kids (12 and 17) were on a double and I had a single kayak. Paddled out to the kelp forest and saw seals and otters chilling in the kelp. Beautiful weather and conditions. Very polite and helpful staff. Great experience. read more

Venture Quest Kayaking - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I found this place while walking the wharf on a visit to Santa Cruz. The pricing is posted on the window, and includes everything you would need for a paddle. I took my kayak out for the allowed three hours to explore the kelp forest, otters, seals, ocean birds and was not disappointed. This is a fun activity to do solo, with friends or with your family. The staff was kind, respectful, and very informative. Worth your time and money (that you might otherwise spend on arcade games). read more

First time ever on a kayak and it did not disappoint. Dave was the best! He cares a lot about your adventure and the ocean and sea life as well. I would definitely go again and recommend him for your kayaking adventure. read more

We had a great time. Fun times, good price and Dave was great. When in Santa Cruz you really should do this...we saw sea otters and that in itself made it all worth it...Also, Monica was much better behind the oars than was I... read more

This was my first open sea kayaking experience and I absolutely loved it! The service: The staff is really friendly and laidback, he was informative without giving us a lecture or being boring. We couldn't have picked a better day to go kayaking, the weather was perfect and the sight seeing was relaxing. The price: We did see a few sea otters near us and a lot of birds. Definitely worth what we paid for; double kayak $55/3hrs. If you're a beginner like us, you'll be more than pleased at the two hours. Kudos to you if you can do it all day, it is quite an arm workout! I can't wait to go kayaking in Santa Cruz again! read more

Great experiencing getting a kayak w/ my wife and spending some quality time out in the bay. What a great adventure, highly recommend it. Good prices. Most convenient dock, which is on the pier so you can just park on the pier hop in a kayak and start your very own adventure in the bay. read more

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3 hours for a $ 35 kayak rental is a good deal! Unfortunately, I got seasick after 30 mins and barfed my lunch into the ocean. I ended up only kayaking for an hour and got to see some sea lions on my paddle back. Too bad I was too dehydrated to care. ;( read more

Wow! We were new to kayaking and were a little skeptical to try it but I'm SO glad we did. What a rush! It really is a fun and relaxing experience and to be so close to sea life is amazing. The staff was super friendly, helpful and attentive. Also the fees are very reasonable and they provide what you need in terms of wet suits, life vests etc. What a great experience! Cheers! read more

Dave was great. I've been late in reviewing but he took us for a wonderful excursion and explained everything to us. It was such an amazing trip. We saw sea otters, sea lions and so many beautiful birds. I'd do it again. read more

Highly recommend doing this! It was my first time so I was a little scared, but its beautiful and it is so worth it. And honestly not as scary as i thought it would be. Will definitely be back! read more

Being married 2+ years already, we have to keep it fresh by going on little mini-adventures together. However, wanting to retire by 50 means saving as much $$ as we can along the way. Groupon had Venture Quest Kayaking's Sunset/Moonlight 2 hour tour for only $25/person. Great deal! Tips: DO wear the waterproof jacket AND pants they provide. You will be getting wet. Bring sunglasses, water, and easy to eat snacks, in case you get hungry out there. Bring your camera and binocular with wrist straps. Bring gloves, your hands get blisters from rowing. We saw a school fo dolphins, sea otters and sea otter pups, sea lions, and seals, all within 50 feet of us, if not closer. The sunset was spectacular, and the rowing wasn't very difficult...though I did turn whiney bitchy Viet chick about 30 minutes in and hubby basically just said he'll row if I keep my mouth shut. :) If we do it again, we need a kayak with a motor..... read more

We had perfect fall weather last weekend, so my 6 year old son and I took out a tandem sit-on-top kayak. He was a little unsure beforehand -- and climbing down the ladder into the kayak -- but within about 10 minutes on the water, said "I love sea kayaking!" We were probably out for a bit under 2 hours, during which time we saw a bunch of swimming seals and dozens of sea lions bathing on "sea lion rock." Venture Quest had jackets and pants to fit my little guy, so he stayed plenty warm and dry. I had no problem paddling us around from the back seat, though did get a decent workout from accordingly. read more

All the lovely things everyone else has said about these guys are true but I'll add the following: * Take them up on their offer of waterproof pants and jackets. I wasn't concerned about a little bit of splashing so I didn't bother but once I was in my kayak it took me about three seconds to realize that it wasn't just a *bit* of splashing...my pants were significantly wet. Live and learn though, right? SOLDIER ON! * I was, however, smart enough to put all my valuables in the waterproof bag they provided. Next time though? I'll SECURE the bag to the kayak because as I've since learned, sometimes these moflickas FLIP. What? Surely you're lying to us Elizabeth! You didn't actually fall into the water, did you? Oh yes, Internet, I surely did. It all happened so quickly and I'm not really sure what happened but one minute I was hanging out, waiting for my turn to dock and get off the kayak, and the next minute I was GASPING from the shock of the cold water and thinking that CRAP, my phone and camera and contents of my waterproof bag were lost forever! (They weren't though...the bag was just floating a few yards away.) But here's the thing that makes the Venture Quest guys awesome: I was busy gasping and laughing and paddling around looking for my stupid bag but they LAUNCHED into SAVE THE LADY mode. One of them hopped into a an empty kayak to come and drag me back to the dock and the other one pulled my fat ass out of the water (Attn cute curly-haired gentleman: I was wearing layers and layers of wet clothing, OKAY?) while I dealt with a severe case of the giggles. I was wearing a life jacket and I know how to swim so nothing really bad would have happened but kudos to the gentlemen of Venture Quest for taking the whole capsizing-the-kayak thing so seriously and then laughing with me about it later. The only thing that sucked about the experience was that my family neglected to get mid-fiasco pictures. Now I'll never know what I look like bobbing around in the water like a life-jacketed cupcake. read more

I had a horrible time on the Kayak, because I got seasick. Really really seasick, and I threw up. BUT, 5 stars. I will ignore my personal mishap and think of the experience for others that I was with! Reservations made, and showed up early. Everything was ready for us. Instructor was very patient with teaching us everything we needed to know, and we were able to ask anything at anytime. Instructions were clear and concise. I felt very prepared, almost like I did it before, thats how well they prepared us. We went on a 2 hour tour, but I lasted an hour. Had to head back because I was so sick, but they gave me instructions on how to get back, and had someone waiting for me once I got back. Took care of me. The tour is around the waters, you see otters, seals, and the kelp forest. Very cool. Just wish I didn't get seasick so easily! Poop. read more

*Note - I didn't actually get to use this company's services because of some of their business practices (that's what this review will be about), so the quality of their kayaks and their service may be great. My experience with them, however, was not. My husband and I took the day off on my birthday to come spend the day in Santa Cruz. The option to book a spot in advance on the website was not available, so the site said to come down during business hours. We arrived right when the office was supposed to open so we could still fit in the other activities my husband had booked (lunch, hot tubs, and massage later in the day)...and there was no one there. There was a hand-written sign showing a phone number to call if no one was in the office. We called, left a message, and waited for a call back or for someone to arrive. And waited. And waited. After 45 minutes, we left a note on the door and went for a hike to try to salvage the morning. 45 minutes later, i.e. an hour-and-a-half after they were supposed to be open, we got a call. At that point, we didn't have time to go back, get suited up, and get a decent excursion in. It really sucked. We asked the guy who called what had happened, and he said that they have different hours "in the off season." Different hours not posted on the website or on the door, the same door that has an on-call number that won't be checked until 90 minutes after you were supposed to be open. Awesome. It wasn't the end of the world or anything, but they really wasted a lot of our time and screwed up our day a little by not following some pretty basic customer service guidelines (i.e. be open when you say you are). I'd love to write a more informed review about their actual services, but I can't say I'm eager to go back. read more

Thank you Groupon for the 3 hour, $30 deal for 2 single or one double kayak. Regular prices: $30 for single kayak and $55 double kayak. A bunch of my friends bought the groupon and we had such a good time kayaking around the Santa Cruz pier. The staff here is super friendly, nice and had great senses of humor. You see a TON of wildlife while kayaking around Santa Cruz. We saw hella sea otters, sea lions, and jelly fish. Some tips you should know before you go: 1. You WILL get wet, but they'll let you borrow splash jackets/pants and/or wet suits for no additional charge. 2. Early morning (around 10ish) is the best time to go coz the water is usually calmer and parking isn't too difficult to find yet 3. Metered parking spaces or parking on the wharf is available (about $6 for 4 hours) read more

Groupon mania: If you never experienced kayaking hopefully you got this deal. $30 for 2 people either a single or double kayak. Thankfully I have an amazing girlfriend that is a Groupon Craze and got me out in the water in Santa Cruz. A bunch of her friends, name dropping Jennifer C, Rosaline C, Michael Paul (yelpers) were amongst this special group of thrill seekers. In two words, Fun Times! The marine life here in California is unique and should be explored. If you an animal lover, kayak out and get close with the cute sea otters, the manly sea lions, and kelp beds of Santa Cruz. For those non-swimmers. The shoreline of Santa Cruz is very calm and Venture Quest offers splash pants and jackets along with a customary life jacket. We didn't have any incidents and the experience was pretty cool. Drivers: A block or two away from the main strip is a parking lot that charges $5 all day parking, but get here early as spots fill up fast!!!! Meters run about $6 for 4 hours and takes only silver, so stop by the bank and load up on quarters. Enjoy the waters! read more

Located on the Santa Cruz wharf, this is a great place to rent a Kayak. Very friendly and supportive and knowledgeable staff. Prices start at about $30 for three hours and it is based on the type of Kayak you rent, not the number of people. So, for example, if you rent a double Kayak for three hours, you pay only about $45. And believe me, three hours is plenty! All equipment is included such as lifejackets, splash tops, dry bag, etc. They rent sea kayaks where you sit inside with a spray skirt and the type where you sit on top (I don't know the correct terminology!). They offer guides which if you've never Kayaked, I recommend for the first several times. There are two main places to go. The first is up the coast (about a 20 minute paddle) and out to the rock in front of the lighthouse where you always see a bunch of seals as well kelp beds where otters like to hang out. Plenty of sea lions as well. And above your head, lots of cool birds including Pelicans (in summer). The other place to go is south to the santa cruz harbor where you can paddle up the channel and look at all the boats - fun but it will take a little longer (at least 30 mins to paddle to the channel entrance). For those who have done Kayaking at Elkhorn Slough, this is totally different. One, while you see a lot of marine life you do not see as much or the variety here. Two, you are in open ocean water in Santa Cruz so it is not as calm as the Slough and you will have swells. But both places are great!!!!! read more

I called to reserve 10 kayaks 2 days ahead of time for my birthday party 10am-1pm for this past weekend. Oliver answered all my questions about what to bring and good spots to have my group park and was friendly to boot! I was a little worried early on the day-of because it was a little windy, but we lucked out tremendously and the weather was uh-maze-balls. True story! $30 for a single kayak or $55 for a double for three hours unguided on the water (and while they seem laid back about the time limits, after 3 hours we were ready to come in for lunch, happily). That fee includes a wetsuit or windsuit (your choice), life jacket (mandatory), paddle, waterproof bag for valuables, and advice on the best spots to paddle to. My friends brought their Camelbaks for easy hydration and assorted snacks and surprises that made the trip super memorable :) Bottom Line: Fantastic location, convenient booking and launching process, organized and friendly staff, and an unpredictable cornucopia of wildlife that may appear during your time on the water makes Venture Quest Kayaking my go-to beach-venture getaway! Do it!! And bring your freakin' camera!! read more