This was so much fun! Hands down all the gold stars will go back!! My 11 year old son loved it too!read more

Overall, we had a great experience. Scott checked us in quickly and was pleasant to talk with. We…read morewere lucky enough to have the mountaintop camping site to ourselves since no one else booked for this week( likely due to the extreme heat and 4th of July holiday). The bathhouse was clean and had hot water. Most campsites only have lukewarm or cold water. There were also an abundance of toilet facilities and they were well maintained/cleaned. The view of the Potomac was breathtaking and the only downfall was that the camping sites are relatively close to each other both on the mountain and at the river's edge. I do recommend this center, however, and we will likely return when back in the area!

We spent a full day at River Riders, splitting our time between the Harpers Ferry Waterpark in the…read moremorning and the Aerial Adventure Park in the afternoon. It was a great combination for both the kids and adults. The inflatable waterpark kept the kids busy for the entire session. El Jefe, the large slide, and Thor, the climbing tower and slide, were our favorites. I strongly recommend booking one of the first sessions during the summer. We went early when it was less crowded, and it became noticeably busier later. In the afternoon, we completed the green and blue aerial trails. Both were a lot of fun, and the progression from one to the next worked well. Overall, River Riders is an excellent choice for families or groups looking for an active full day near Harpers Ferry.

I am posting this review to urge prospective guests to exercise extreme caution and to call on…read moremanagement to address severe safety oversights. Despite having prior rafting experience and maintaining strong physical fitness, this individual tubing trip presented hazardous conditions with virtually no on-water safety support. ​Key Issues Observed: ​No Helmets Suggested or Required: Helmets were not recommended, suggested, or provided for navigating rocky rapids. I capsized and hit my head on submerged rocks--a dangerous hazard that warrants clear guidance and mandatory head protection. ​Zero Rescue Personnel: No river guides or safety kayakers were stationed along technical sections. When participants were pinned against rocks or stranded in strong currents, there was no staff to assist. ​Inadequate Instruction & Extreme Strain: Relying solely on arm paddling through boulder gardens offers minimal control and quickly causes physical exhaustion, even for fit individuals. ​Equipment Failures: Some tubes were punctured by sharp rocks, leaving guests stranded in turbulent water with no emergency extraction protocol. Commercial river outfitters have a basic duty of care to provide essential protective gear, clear instruction, and active supervision. I strongly advise making sure these safety practices are in place before booking unless you have experience and are comfortable without the precautions.

Adventure Links does a fantastic job running day-long team building events. You start out having…read moreno clue what to expect and really spend the time getting to know everyone and bonding. We took our students out and were amazed at who emerged as leaders, problem solvers, and procrastinators. The guides were knowledgeable, funny, and made everyone feel safe. Safety was never an issue, given the extensive equipment checks, guided excursions, and well-kept trails. I don't want to give too much away, but if you're considering AL for a school or corporate event, go for it!

My daughter had an amazing time at one of Adventure Links' summer day camp weeks. She would get…read morepicked up at a spot in Vienna early in the morning then get outdoors-ed all day long. Sometimes they'd go to the park in Clifton (for a lot of the same team building exercises my wife's company had done there); on another day, the kids went caving; and on another day, they went canoeing and swimming. Every evening, she would come back exhausted and happy. What more can you ask for?

Tubing Review: We had an amazing time. Was is exhausting,…read moreyes. Worth it, yes! Owen was great. He was a great driving the stick shift bus back to the outfitters. It was nice being dropped off and picked up. We did have issues with our card online, but when I called in to book, Nancy was helpful. She got us all situated and sent an email to confirm. We filled out waivers online which was a breeze. We watched a quick safety video, picked up our lifevest and were on our way. The water was the perfect temp, and it was clear. Tips: bring snacks and water. You are out there 4-5 or longer hours. Especially if the water is low, which ours was. We used a waterproof bag and had no issues. We used a tube with a cup holder which was nice. I wore my life vest out of precaution even though I can swim, plus it made it comfortable for my to use it as a neck rest. I've noticed people mention in previous reviews that the bus was dirty ect. Um, you're in the woods. If you get picked up after many other groups the bus will be dirty as everyone is wet coming out of the water no matter what activity you choose. I would not own a brand spanking new vehicle for this type of environment and job. Used is best and saves money I'm sure. Wear a hat and sunglasses, put in that sunscreen. Bring a waterproof phone case/bag. You will have no service out there so put it on airplane mode and use it as a camera.

Fun experience for floating down the river! Great service, chill vibes, great staff... I'd go back!read more

Awesome guys! Super helpful and great launch site. Enjoyed a 2-hr Kayak rental…read more The location is perfect and the equipment is really in great shape. I will certainly be returning, thanks!

Booked the wrong date for paddle boarding a week and a half ago and immediately looked into the…read morecancelation policy. It says if you contact them within 24 hrs they will reschedule or refund your money. I called half a dozen times, left voice-mails, emailed them, FB message and they just never responded. Today they sent me an automated email thanking me for paddling with them and to leave a review. Not hopeful I will get my 67 bucks back but can maybe warn others out there.

LAKs is an AWESOME kayaking school. They took my whitewater kayaking skills to the next level and I…read morecontinue to work with them to get my skills to where I would like them to be. I have participated (and still do) in group lessons, private lessons, and went to Mexico for a week; and loved doing all of it with them. The whole LAKs team are great! They are honestly great hearted people with a true desire to watch you excel in the sport. And they go the extra mile to help you out with something. I could say more about each person I have worked with, but I don't want to bore someone with a long review.

I just finished the Cheat Lite program and could not recommend this program more to new…read moreintermediate boaters. I feel like a confident class 3 boater after this course. We had water levels all over the place this spring and they did such a great job of picking rivers with good water levels and making every trip and practice as fun and safe as possible. The program is extremely popular so make sure you sign up the first day it is offered.

I completely adore Nathan and his methods of instruction. I originally started my fledgling…read morekayaking career with another kayaking school in the DC area and their methods just really do not work for me. Nathan is great at keeping his classes small so he can work one on one with each student to discover how they learn the sport best, and then work with them at that level. Over one summer my paddling has advanced more than I could possibly hope (which is all I have ever paddled) so that is a huge testament to Nathan and his approach to teaching. Additionally, Nathan and his team of instructors are great at pushing you to stretch to the next level when you are comfortable and knowing when that should happen while not holding you back. I am not kidding, I went from knowing how to sit in a whitewater kayak on flatwater to rolling, to advanced strokes, to running Class III rapids in one summer thanks to their instruction. Not only is the instruction good, Nathan will also go above and beyond helping you with getting the right gear and answering questions when you need it, because you know you are learning a new sport. If you are interested in learning whitewater kayaking and are in the DC area, this is the school to go with. Do not mess with the other schools and their hyped up promises. Plus Nathan has a series of fun boats you can demo too. :)

great experience! they were so accommodating and really friendly. the area was also nice and clean.read more

To be honest, this is not my favorite spot to be kayaking in the DC area, because you can only stay…read morebetween the two bridges, which doesn't give you a lot of real estate to work with. My boyfriend and I ended up circling and doing laps between the bridges. It is cool that we saw a bird that caught a fish and flew right above us. You can even kayak right past Theodore Roosevelt Island.

Highly recommend Penguin Paddling. We spoke to Dan and got a one hour 1:1 session…read more.. This was perfect for an adult and an 8yr old- both new to kayaking. Mr. Carlos took us out and he was so nice and engaging. My daughter said he was the best!! We'll be back!!

The whole process was very easy and enjoyable. I filled out the waiver online. Parking was easy,…read morelittle difficult to find penguin paddles from the road, but just walk towards the water behind the restaurant on the main strip. Easy rental, chill experience. Everyone, even the Boston Terrier, had a blast!