We rented a swan. The renting process was organized and straightforward. Paid $44 for an hour. It was a warm day and I liked that they had cold soft drinks and ice cream at the stand. I am only 5' and I felt like short people like me were not taken into account when this swan was designed :( I sat in the front to pedal, but i felt like I was too short for it. Had to kinda lean back to stretch my legs more to be able to pedal, which wasn't very comfortable to keep doing for an hour. If you are much taller than me, you'd have more fun comfortably for sure. So I probably won't do it again unless I am with someone who's willing to pedal. They do however have kayaks as well, which I am interested in trying. Overall, good customer service and fun downtown experience. read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

So they only have a 60 minute option available but they give you 2 choices. One is 15 mins there and back and the other is more like 20 ton25 mins there and back... so why dont they offer a 30 minute option? Anyway had a nice paddle boat ride but it started pouring down rain out of nowhere. Bring an umbrella. There is a pullover cover on the paddleboat that works well but hey better to have an umbrella rain or shine. NOTE: There is NO bathroom available!! Maybe they should try to make a deal with a restaurant along the canal that you can bring your receipt and be able to use the bathroom The staff was nice. Price is OK $44 for an hour if you have someone to split it with. Having a 30 minute option would be a plus. read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - Paddleboat - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I always wanted to take a ride in the swan shaped paddle boats on the canal in downtown Indy. They looked like great fun. We decided to take our granddaughters as a special treat. We arrived early - they open at 10:00. A standard boat is $42 for and hour of riding, plus tip. Check in was easy, after signing release. The kids were required to wear life vests, which was good. However, the vests that are provided were filthy looking, despite being wiped down after each use. The clerk wiped water that had acclimated overnight in the boat, but there was still dirty water in the wheel well. She gave us instructions, guidance on tight bridges and options to tour. The canal is a lovely ride filled with large gold fish, ducks and lined with flowers and historical buildings. We had a hard time steering the boat. It would turn fine left but it was hard to turn right. When we had to maneuver around gondolas parked in the canal, we got stuck. We were pretty frustrated with the steering. After 30 minutes we decided to give up and return the boat. We were able to get the boat back ok. We did not complain, but probably should have. There was something wrong with the boat. The clerk did not ask us if we had a problem. My advice would be to run a short test with the boat before going down the canal to make sure steering works. Our experience was not worth the $45 that we paid. read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Rented a Swan Boat on the canal with a friend and it was so cute. It was so easy to maneuver the boat and you can make the paddling relaxing or a little fast. I didn't know what to expect with the price but I think we paid $42. It was only 2 of us but if there was a bigger group (you can for 5 people on the boat) the price divided among everyone would have been better. read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We walked in 10 mins before closing (was told last boat goes out at 9 and we arrived at 8:50) and we were told we wouldn't be able to get on. They handled this very poorly and were rude to us to "come earlier" when last ride goes out at 9. When we arrived the next night, they accommodated our large group well and were friendly. read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - Canal - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Have done this a ton of time with me kids. Brought a friend and his nephew from Kansas City, MO down here today. We had a great time. They were blown away by the scenery, so many great views, photos ops and places to stop and explore many of us Hoosiers take for granted. Many different bikes to rent from 3 wheelers, quads and surveys (Is that the right word??) that 4 people can pedal at the same time. I have a great time every visit and highly recommend this fun and healthy way to explore the sites around our Indy Canal. read more

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Easy to check in and pay. Easy to use (although 1hr will be plenty of pedaling for most people!). Easy to find from the canal, not so easy from surface streets (& the website doesn't really help). Friendly staff and pretty fairly priced. read more

We tried kayaking at first, didn't go so well, they refunded us the money & allowed us to pick the swan paddle boat. Amazing service & helpful tips ! read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - Swan rental - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Three cheers for a fun, social-distanced activity. Whether you rent one of their family-sized, covered bikes or a paddle boat to enjoy down the canal, you'll have a good time. My sister and I used to come paddle boat once a year for fun and always had a great time. You'll go under a few bridges, see some cool murals and get to go around a fountain (that can help cool you off if it's a hot day). Come rent a bike in White River State Park or a paddleboat by walking along the canal. It's a staple Indy activity, so if you're a local and haven't done it, add it to that bucket list! read more

Paddling up and down the canal in kayaks is a different social distancing way to get out and DO something that is fun AND good exercise for you. I know we can't be the only ones who have been itching to get out of the house, but hindered by the question, "what can we do that's fun and not overly expensive, and we can still social distance?" I love walks, but whew! We have been walking the beat. We've been starving for something different. Wheelf of Fun seem to have a similar going hourly rental rate for kayaks in central Indiana at $21/hour for a single seat kayak. You can also rent a two-seater kayak (no...I need some personal space during this pandemic!) for $27/hour. The staff took the time to spray and wipe down the two kayaks, oars, and lifejackets for us prior to us boarding them. That made us feel very comfortable about our choice to do this on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. You can bring your own water bottle on the boat with you, because you WILL get thirsty as you make your way up and down the canal. There is even a spot in the kayak to hold your container. If you forget your water bottle in the car, you can purchase a cold one there at the rental desk. There are snacks for purchase too. This company rents out other items to use along the canal such as pedal boats, surreys, and all sorts of specialty bikes. All rentals are hourly. read more

Great way to do social distancing on the canal... easy was to guarantee 6' The staff was friendly and helpful, boat was clean, and lots of fun was had by all... $38/hour which gets you down the long loop at a lazy pace or you can book it for the whole thing. read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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This was fun to do with my daughter, I wish I had a pillow for my low back. A light July rain started then grew to heavy rain and we got caught under a bridge with kayakers and other water movers. We saw an albino duck. Check-in and out were simple even with a busy line. They keep your ID while you rent and there is a time limit to maintain. I believe an hour. read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

On July 26th we planned to surprise our twin daughters with a swan boat ride. I reviewed the Wheel Fun Rentals website prior to our arrival. They do not take reservations! The website stated their hours of operation were 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. We wanted to surprise them with a ride in the evening. We showed up at 8:03 p.m. and we're told we could not ride. All rides stop an hour before close. Very disappointed! I do not recommend! read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - Hours of operation - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This is such awesome spot to rent bicycles etc the staff here were all very friendly! What I loved the most was when one brought us a small bowel of water for our dog. How thoughtful of them. This was my first time here to rent. We were a large group and rented quite a few bikes etc and the staff was very patient and helpful with us. read more

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This wasn't the easiest location to find. When we finally arrived, there wasn't much of a wait and we were able to get through quickly. We rented the swan boat to take down the canal. They explained how long it takes, depending on which way you decide to go. I think I was most surprised by how much work it takes to peddle that thing! You can see fish, ducks, some water plants while going along the water. It's very sturdy and can seat up to 5 (depending on size). The kids have to wear life jackets, which are provided (can't remember if there was a fee). Would recommend. read more

I must admit I was a little embarrassed to be riding down the canal in a giant swan but they didn't have other paddle boat options. That's my only reason for a 4 star and not 5. Friendly staff, fun and beautiful way to see part of the city. My kids said it was their favorite thing we did while in Indy. read more

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It was nice to have the option to rent a paddle boat as a family than to have to pay for a gondola tour that was super pricey be prepared though, make sure you have two people up front who can paddle for the full hour or you will be upset at yourself. We were able to break under the shaded bridges - still a lot of fun! read more

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Rudder fell of. we were lucky to have someone pull us back. When i told them, they nearly shrugged their shoulders.

We schedule a group ride while in town for a conference. This was easy to set up, inexpensive, came with a great map, and friendly staff. I fully recommend this for a fun, leisurely way to explore around downtown. read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

They lie about the hours they will ignore you in line until the clock passes 8 then say "sorry we are closed" their advertising needs to be honest and say we close at 7:30pm so annoying. Be honest about your hours and train your employees to have better customer service. read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - closes at 7:55 not 8! Waited closer to 8 to avoid heat. Arrived in line 7:58 ignored until passed 8pm then told we are closed. - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

When family came to visit me from out of town, we rented a couple of paddle boats on the Indianapolis canal from Wheel Fun Rentals, and had a blast! You can rent kayaks or paddle boats (which seemed to be more popular.) They also rent a variety of different kinds of bikes, which I didn't try. An hour rental is the perfect amount of time to paddle the entirety of the canal. A two-person boat rental is about $30 an hour. There's also a little bench area in the back where non-paddlers can sit. (I saw one woman chilling on the back while her kids paddled--she's got the right idea!) They also don't appear to be sticklers about the rental timing: my husband and I got our boat back with about five minutes to spare, but my dad and sister returned theirs a couple of minutes late, and weren't charged extra. TIP: Wednesdays were buy one get one free rental days, making it a great deal! You should go with friends, though: the deal is a 2-hour rental for $30 or rent two boats, and I think a two hour rental would be one hour more than you'd want to spend on the canal. FYI, the boats have a capacity of 550 lbs. read more

My aunt was in town visiting and I have always wanted to paddle not down the canal so it was the perfect time! It was a blast!! So much fun and a good price! The employees at Wheel Fun Rentals were very kind and easy going. They taught us how to use the paddle boat, pointed us in the right direction and off we went!! Not going to lie, it is a little harder than expected There isn't really a current so you have to do all the work. Don't feel feel like you have to go down the entire canal. We went slowly and made it about 3/4 down the canal before turning around to make sure we were back in time. It was a fun, relaxing way to see the canal and provided a LOT of laughs and memories as we (more than once) found ourselves perpendicular to the canal. I'd highly recommend the experience for anyone with friends/family/date nights (but not first dates cause there's no way out of a paddle boat on the canal ) read more

My boyfriend and I rented a paddle boat and had a great time! $35 an hour for this boat and we were able to go up and down the whole canal. The views you see of the city are beautiful and it's a different experience than walking. They also rent out kayaks and a variety of bikes. I would definitely recommend this next time you are in Indy! read more

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I can't believe I didn't review Wheel Fun sooner, because our outing in a paddleboat on the canal was honestly a highlight of our summer! I've heard that paddle boats don't really get you anywhere too quickly, and while that's not wrong, if you really put your full effort into it, you can get that thing cruising. My husband and I looked at it as a combo of sightseeing and exercise, so we were leaving quite the wake behind us (seriously, no wake, that would be impossible). We arrived just after lunch (around 1/1:30 or so) and while there was a line and a lot of paddle boats were out on the water, we didn't have to wait more than 10 minutes. We paddled for an hour, which was quite enough to see the whole canal and also quite long enough to pedal. When we arrived back at the dock, the line had grown significantly, so earlier may be better. Only the two people in the front get to paddle, but there are two additional spaces for passengers in the back. It was a bit challenging to get coordinated initially, but getting a hang of it is quick. Though, my husband *swore* I wasn't really pedaling at times and just resting my feet on the pedals. I just *don't know* what he was talking about because I was *totally pedaling the whole time.* Anyway, a great activity for a date or some time to chat with a friend in a less conventional setting. Bring your sunscreen for the particularly bright days! read more

We really love this entertainment that allows the canal to be so fun. 1. The staff is fantastic! 2. We really like that we can order drinks and snacks with the paddle boat. 3. The equipment is always functional 4. The rental fees are clear and fair 5. The kids love the afternoons and insist on the boats and the bikes. read more

While the line up was long to rent paddle boats it was well worth it for the experience and the price. All we had to do was provide ID and fill out a form before our boat was rented. Payment was upon return with the paddle boat. This little kiosk is located near the water and so we were able to find it by following the canal. An hour rental is all one needs to get around the whole canal on a paddle boat. They also offer kayaks and other boats as options but paddle boats are the most popular. read more

Called the day before to find out their hours. They said they open at 10am. Showed up at 11am- not open. Sat there on the bench for another 30 minutes trying to decide what else we could do that would be fun. Then a lady shows up and I explain the situation and she is SOOO rude and tells me the they changed it because of the weather and won't be open til 12pm. They weather had been PERFECT! Moreover, the weather forecast (the day before) said the weather was going to be great! We'd been walking on the canal since 9am and it was lovely. Based on her attitude, it seemed like she was just lazy and didn't wanna open up at the earlier scheduled time. No excuses- the weather forecast had said it would be great, it was in fact lovely weather, and this girl straight up lied to me while being rude and then whole thing has made me not want to return. read more

Wheel Fun Rentals - Canal Walk - They were supposed to be open... called yesterday to verify hours. The weather is great- no excuses! - Boating Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Super way to see the canal and homes/businesses on it. They take your ID to ride and then you pay when you get back. You can rent paddle boats, one person and two person canoes. It's $35/hr for the paddle boat. The people working were kind and helpful. They made suggestions on where to go and it was a fun trip. Not to many boats in the canal so it's easy to get around. One way was about an hour round trip and the other was about 30 minutes the guy working told us. It would be nice if you could have the option to drop off at another location on the canal. The water was clean and super blue. The boats were clean as well. Today we went around 1:00 and it wasn't crowded but most boats were out. When we got back at 2:00 the lines were very long. read more

Very nice people. Fair prices considering a ticket at the children's museum costs the same per person. If the day is not busy they usually will let you stay on the waters without paying additional money. Boats are comfortable although the seats on the pedal boats are not adjustable. It has a nice shade over the boat. Highly recommend to anyone with children who are old enough to pedal their own weight. Views of the apartments surrounding the canal is nice. read more