Today was such a great experience out on the water. Riley & Alex were so helpful and made my friend…read more(first timer) feel supported!

Are you the adventurous type? I am...within limits. If you want to test your limits, go on a…read morekayak run. The Rowing Dock is a kayaking rental business located along Lady Bird Lake. If you are like me, you probably have this record playing in your head, "What it the kayak cap side, what it flips over and I swallow moss or something else?" Probably just me...the over thinker! Just face your fear and do it! The worst thing that could happen is that you get wet. No big deal! Of course, you should not do any water sports unless you know how to swim. Once you are in the kayak, you can enjoy the beauty and majesty of Lady Bird lake, Austin's skyline and the nearby green space. You can kayak towards downtown or go in the direction of the multi-million homes on Lake Austin. Pro tips: Ensure all valuables in your car have been removed from plain sight. City of Austin highlights an increase in thefts. Also, take a Ziploc bag for keys and other things you do not want to get wet. Renting the equipment was easy and straightforward. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, providing clear instructions and a welcoming atmosphere. The Rowing Dock focuses on all experience levels and offers a range of offerings, from solo kayaks to two-person boats and group activities. The process was smooth and everything went according to plan. The operation was well organized, prices are reasonable, and the experience amazing!

Buyer beware. Booked this because it said "good weather…read morerequired." It was raining steadily and they still ran the tour. When I asked about it, they said they only cancel for lightning... which is not what the listing says. That's misleading, plain and simple. Even worse, they wouldn't work with us at all after the fact. No flexibility, no effort to make it right. Plenty of other kayak options in Austin... I'd go with one that's actually upfront about their policies.

Idk what the fuck the deal with Austin Rowing Club is, but are all Austin people assholes?…read more I arrived with my dog, knowing their sign literally says they are dog friendly. My friend even did her due diligence by calling ahead. When we arrived, the desk people were so nice. In fact Lauren, who we had a lovely conversation with, assisted us. Since I had my dog with me and his life vest on, we weren't sure if we needed a single or a double. I paid $25 for a double per the suggestion of the desk people. Get to the dock, one girl helps my friend out in the single. Now me? You best believe I was sober enough to not let someone speak to me the way it went down. Scene or no scene, people around or not. As soon one of the staff members assists a customer with a double, I walk over and get asked if I need a paddle board. I said "no, I'm getting a double". All of a sudden, what I thought was going be a smooth assistance on the kayak, I get confusion from the staff member, which leads to an argument on the dock. Apparently a double kayak for a single person and a dog would be soooo difficult. (It's manageable. I better be fucking JACKED for the amount of paddling I had to do) If I'm put in a single, then I'm tight squeezing it with my dog and paddling. At the time, it was just me on the dock with my dog and the girl. She starts giving me an attitude and has a tantrum. That's when I realize something ain't right. I told her to turn around, asked for her name. I had to call out her problem with me because ain't nobody, young or old should be this rude. She starts getting heated and yells at me. So I said, "you know what, what's your name? I need to speak to someone." Lo and behold her name is Rachel. "If you're looking for the manager, you're talking to her" - Rachel And I said "ok, then who's you're manager" If Rachel is the so-called the manager, all she had to do was give me her expertise. Don't get promoted to manager if you can't even be kind enough to tell me that I need an alternative. I asked if it would be better to be in a single than a double and get the difference. She said, "WHATEVER YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH."' A $5 difference doesn't even cover a fucking latte, so please be kind and just suggest what best suits me and my dog. She keeps calling me "ma'am", and so I just politely tell her, "you can call me Nancy. I'm not that much older than you." And she starts yelling about how she was born and raise in Austin and was taught to say "ma'am or sir". Well Rachel, your parents taught you to say "ma'am or sir", but they didn't teach you kindness. I talked to my friend about it and we weren't sure if that was some type of racist comment, but hold up. Girl, I'm born and raised in Texas too. But I can also read the room and know that how to address people. I'm guessing she don't know Houston. From the corner of my eye, I see Lauren walking on the dock and I yell "HEY. PLSSSSS Help me" And thank god Lauren was there to witness Rachel being an ASSHOLE. So you know what? I got all day and I'll wait for a supervisor to talk about Rachel any day. Cause how is Rachel a manager and yelling at me with a tantrum. She's lucky other patrons didn't take out their phone to record, because in this day and age, she would've gotten cancelled. I met Aubrea, the manager and gave her the whole spiel. Yes, I can buy my own equipment, but I'm not going to use it all the time since I don't live here. Supporting local clubs helps significantly. While everything did get settled (full refund of $25), everyone BUT Rachel was kind to me, Austin continues to disappoint me with snobby people that I've encountered.

I have never done kayaking up until this summer…read more We rented a two-seater, renting process was fast, the instructions given were clear, and an instructor helped my clumsy self into a kayak. I was terrified it would flip, but it was fine. ‍ The return was just as quick!

Always pretty easy to find parking and the workers get you out on the water pretty quickly. They…read morehold on to your stuff so you don't have to bring everything with you, and are really helpful in getting you in and out of the vehicle. Views are also always so pretty, you have the skyline on one side and lots of nature on the other.

Amazing trip, guides were helpful. Special thanks to Chris, Ross, and John. must try.read more

This was an amazing experience from start to finish. Staff was professional and friendly. Highly…read morerecommend!

I was reluctant to do this today as i have limited resources with me. Like a change of clothes!…read moreDanny was awesome and said your shirts will dry in This Austin Heat! He was right. I needed time to reset and this was perfect. Friendly staff, especially Daniel! Ample parking all around the lake and it's free! Do this. It will rejuvenate the heart, mind and spirit.

A nice, simple spot right on Lady Bird to rent paddleboards and kayaks…read more It's a lot more chill than Zilker. Easy check in and rental process, and they launch you straight on the water. There are lockers to put your stuff in, and they take your ID to make sure you don't run off with the board lol. It's nice that they let you launch there if you own your own kayak / paddleboard - I saw people there doing that. They have a small parking lot too. $18 per person an hour for kayaks, $22 per person an hour for paddleboards.

Awesome time! I strongly recommend it. Tour guide sam provided a lot of interesting history of the…read morelake and fun facts on the bats. I give it 10/10 for sure!! It was beautiful to be on the water at sunset too. Great way to see Austin! Payton was great too.

Paddle board Austin skyline tour? Sign me up! Did this tour…read moreover the summer and had a blast. You can choose from guided or self-guided and we opted for self-guided. We've done a few tours on Ladybird Lake with different companies and never tire of it. Austin Paddle Shack is definitely one of the better outfits around. Safety is extremely important to them. The staff want to ensure you're having a good time without any issues. My coordination is often lacking so that wasn't really anything they could help me with. Other than that, definitely recommend.

Super welcoming staff! It was helpful that they let us know about a two for one deal before 12pm…read morewhich made for an easy and affordable family group activity. Easy to sign waiver via QR code and lockers were a bit pricy at $5. I would recommend leaving most of your belongings in the trunk if possible. Lovely way to get some fresh air on a spring day.

Weekdays are great time to come to get a great deal. Currently they had a rent one boat and get 2nd…read moreboat free promotion during the weekdays (check website). You can rent a variety of items here. They give you life jackets. I went with my elderly parents and the staff was incredibly accommodating getting them in and out of the canoes.

Sup Dog is the best paddleboarding experience I have ever done! They delivered the boards to a…read moregroup of us on Lady Bird Lake on time. Their prices are even cheaper than rental places you have to wait in line. Fun group of guys and gals for sure! I recommend them to all my friends. They even allow dogs on the boards, and encourage it!

Completely recommend! Friendly, helpful staff. Location with good parking and super convenient to…read morethe lake. Changing areas and bathrooms on site. Awesome experience- definitely plan to return.

Dechlan was an awesome tour guide, this was our second time going and it's always very enjoyable…read moreand fun because it's such a unique experience. You can see everything below you and change the light color, and you paddle all the way to Ivars which is a beautiful atmosphere. It's very relaxed and calm if you're looking for a fun date night or just something new to try with friends!

Came for the evening glow kayak and had a mostly disappointing experience. The paddle was pretty…read moreshort, we reached the turn around point in about 20 minutes, and you trudge through some thick greenery for a significant part of it. In total the experience was around 50 minutes, well short of the advertised 75-90m. Given we had a few older folks who required very involved help getting in and out of the kayaks, I'd imagine we weren't on the shorter end of rides Given the introduction, I expected a lot of interesting information related to the plants and wildlife in the area, but our guides were mostly just along for the ride. Overall, id strongly recommend looking elsewhere for interpretive paddle experiences in the area, especially given the price point

Thank you Ben for the memories. I'm looking forward to paddle and float with everyone all Summer…read morelong at your location. I appreciate you and your company you created.

I guess this is the only kayaking shop opens during winter in San Marcos. Kayaking is fun for a…read morebeginner. The water is clear and there are many turtles along the river. Ben is very nice and welcoming, his dog is cute too:) Definitely a good place to go if you are seeking something interesting:)