My friend rented kayaks before with this company. It was her idea to go kayaking and I am so glad…read morewe did! I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet and peaceful the area was where we kayaked. When my friend mentioned Back Bay I was thinking, oh snap. What did I commit myself to?? Kayaking where there might be cottonmouths??!! But I was thinking Back Bay Wildlife Refuge where I've seen lots of them. There were no cottonmouths. I promise you. Just lots of duck blinds and marsh areas that open into the bay. It was so serene. You get 2 hours, and rental includes the pfd and they loan you a waterproof phone case if needed which was nice. Because I was pretty dry until I got out of the kayak from our 2 hours. I landed in waist deep water, my feet sunk into the sand. I couldn't recover from the fall and face planted into the water - baseball hat, sunglasses and waterproof phone case and all. THAT waterproof phone case saved my phone and my key fob!! Don't do what I did Launch it parallel to the land so you don't end up in the water like I did. The young man that worked there was kind and genuinely concerned. When he arrived to pull the kayaks further up on land, he asked if I got hot. Because he saw I was soaking wet. I think he thought I took a dip in the water. But I told him, I actually fell in getting out of the kayak. (The older couple with their beach chairs outside Baja got quite a show of me splashing around. Haha. ) He made sure I was okay and asked if my phone was okay and to make sure since the waterproof phone cases aren't 100% waterproof. Thankfully, it was fine and so was my key fob. You can rent single or tandem kayaks and are free to roam the area. It's $35 plus tax but they offer military discounts 10% with ID so it came out to $33.39 for me. Staff was very nice the young man was the same person who checked us in and took our payments and the young ladies were friendly and kind as well. Kudos to the staff with their patience, because there was a large group (family) that was blocking the entrance to the shack. When it was time for them to gear up for their pfds, they ransacked the racks of life vests and staff had to politely inform them that they have it in order and will fit each of them individually properly. Therefore there's no need to take them off the rack. I looked it up on their website and if you have your own kayak you can pay a $15 launch fee so that's cool.

As Virginia Beach locals, we went to a secret spot called Virginia Beach Water Sports to try a…read morebanana boat ride. Some of the best-kept secrets are in our backyard. Today was my wife's birthday; she is very adventurous. The staff was amazing. They explained what to expect and provided the necessary safety equipment. The ride was fantastic. I am 50+, and I was holding on, with my eyes closed and a smile, to my two kids. The driver helped me adjust to changes in speed and water turbulence resulting from the boat ride. My kids and my wife were laughing. They helped us create a lasting family legacy moment we can cherish. I will come again and use them in the future. I highly recommend them for locals and out-of-town guests. Thank you, John, Cheyenne, Emily, and the rest of the staff.

Rented one of the big wheel bikes for a solo trip into Back Bay. A very knowledgeable staff member…read moremade the experience easy and recommended more things to do for the future. I'll definitely be back. Thanks.

5 star location where you can rent stand up paddle boards, bikes and kayaks. We rented paddle…read moreboards and kayaks yesterday. There is only one guy there so we carried our boards across the lawn to put in on a sandy beach that was right in the bay. Excellent spot and fantastic scenery. Today we went back and rented mountain bikes and rode up into false cape state park. The bikes weren't in great condition and we had to make adjustments ourselves. This could easily be a 5 star spot with more attention to maintaining equipment and getting staff to spend a little time offering advice and adjusting equipment to fit the client. If you know what you're doing, it's great. If you are a novice, you might be disappointed or a bit freaked out (in the middle of the bay struggling to get your paddle board back in or stuck in the park with a bike that keeps falling out of gear). Luckily we had experienced people in our group who kept the above from happening...

First time taking a wild horse tour in Corolla it was awesome. I would definitely recommend this…read moretour company, even though once in awhile it was a little bumpy for the majority ride was comfy, from any seat you can see the horses and our guide Cheryl aka shorty was awesome. I would definitely do tour again with this company.

Our Wild Horse Adventure Tour was so fun and educational! Our guide, Richard, was very…read moreknowledgeable and taught us the three rules regarding the wild horses. -Don't engage the wild horses or try to get their attention. -Stay at least 50 feet away from the wild horses. -Don't feed the wild horses. We learned so much and even got to see a new baby!

These guys are great for what they are. You're gonna catch 100 fish one right after another. They…read moremay not be super big, it you're gonna stay busy. Great for kids.

Our group went on a private charter to see the offshore wind turbines. Really neat experience! The…read moreturbines are 27 miles off the coast, so it took a few hours to even get out there. Really fun half day boat ride!

Been to the Back Bay Refuge on and off for 10+ years. We travel to Sandbridge each summer and love…read morethis stop. It's quiet and peaceful. Nice boardwalks to walk and push a stroller on. We usually see fish, snakes and turtles. Sometimes there are a lot of bugs so bring bug repellant. Great stop!

This refuge is huge and very well maintained. It's surrounded by beautiful scenery, with the…read morebackwaters on one side and the ocean on the other, so there are some really amazing views throughout. There are plenty of great trails to explore, and we even spotted some wildlife along the way. They have good amount of parking it's $5 for entry in summer months. The restrooms are clean and well kept, and there are benches along the trails where you can sit and enjoy the views. Overall, it's a wonderful place to spend some time outdoors, walk the trails, and enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings. Definitely worth visiting if you love nature and scenic views.

We enjoyed our wild horse tour, although the horses seemed to not want to be found on the night we…read morewent (only saw 2 the whole tour). However, the tour was still very interesting to see the homes and 4x4 beach. Our guide had a great personality and tried very hard to find the horses.

This tour was awesome, and I think we had a better tour than some of the other guidesread more

Our family of 4 had so much fun on this adventure. We learned about the theories of how the Spanish…read moremustangs ended up in the OBX and why they are in Corolla now. Kent, our guide, was great about making it fun, educational, and keeping it safe. We saw a few of the 11 colts born this year as well as the mares and stallions. It was nice to also drive along the ocean and see many porpoises swimming through the water. The tour was great and I would definitely recommend.

The lady at the front desk was rude and honestly disrespectful to all of us, she called us before…read morewe got here didn't say where she was calling from. She had horrible customer service and a bad attitude. Very disappointed

We saw so many horses it was amazing! Our guide Edna knew all the best spots to visit. This tour…read morewas the highlight of our visit to the Outer Bank. I highly recommend going. And don't forget to dress for the windy beach at 30 mph...it gets cold!

The Outer Banks Wild Horse Tour was an unforgettable experience. First of all, you're in a 4WD…read moretruck riding along this beautiful, pristine beach with a gorgeous view. In the earlier hours, the beach was still empty & quiet. Then we saw them - we saw these wild horses in small packs of 3 or 4, foraging along the grassy hills & walking through the sand. Our truck became quiet immediately. It amazed me that they weren't afraid of humans, or these trucks. They kept their distance, but they continued doing their own thing. Nature at its best. At one point, beyond the public beach, our truck got stuck in some mud. While waiting for a tow, we were treated to such a sight... initially we saw a small family of 3 horses. Then around the bend, came about 7 more, including a foal! They kind of trapsed about, hung around, & munched on nearby grass. When we got out of the mud, the horses still hung around, almost as if they enjoyed the attention & the company. As we finally headed back across the beach, the day grew warmer, and we saw more & more trucks lining the shore & setting up camp. Who knew?! Where I'm from, you can't drive onto the beach & setup camp right along the shore. Hmm... something for our next trip out here - note to self: rent a Jeep to hang on the beach. We were SO lucky to be in the right place at the right time! We didn't care that we were stuck there for an hour, because that just MADE our trip! It was quite the adventure. Corolla is a beautiful, scenic place & has an entirely different feel than other parts of the OBX.

We had so much fun on our tour with Rick. Not only did he have so much knowledge about the area and…read morethe horses, he was also just a fun AF tour guide! We laughed so much, saw the most beautiful horses, learned about the horses and Corolla in general, and even saw some bald eagles!! If you're looking for a fun way to tour the beach, definitely book a tour! Plus, this group is actually working on protecting the horses!!! Some of the money from these tours go towards preserving land and caring for the horses (but only if absolutely needed, as we learned! For the most part, the horses are left completely alone unless it's life or death). A couple things for parents with young kids: The car seats fit perfectly, no issues at all. And they are able to see everything from their car seat!

When the guide said this is usually a bucket list item for some people I didn't know what he meant…read more I just had wanted to see this to see the wild horses running on the beach. Never did I imagine that I'd get to see the horses living/roaming amongst the houses of Corolla Beach. I had no clue a community could exist like this and without going on the tour I never would have believed it. Geoff, our guide, was great and informative. He took us all around to make sure we could see horses. He told us all about how they're cared for and tracked (but not really tracked). It's amazing that there's so much involved to make sure the wild horses are treated well. There's a mutual respect between the horses and people. I fell in love with the community on Corolla beach and will be back to stay and watch the horses roam free. Definitely take a tour- it's so well worth it!

When I saw on Taste Tidewater's Facebook post that there were only 3 spots left for their Oyster &…read moreWine tour, I reserved the same day! It is also my birthday month and have had my eye on this tour for awhile. It was fate! Not knowing what to expect, I jumped the gun and paid immediately. When Rex, the owner, sent the itinerary, I saw 3 local restaurants, Catch 31, Rockefeller's, & Tautogs. My first thoughts were, "I hope this isn't lame...", "I could go to these places myself..." The group met at Virginia Aquarium for an optional tour inside for the first 30mins. I arrived late. Now, I wish I made it on time to hear more about oysters. Rex tried finding the group for me & we walked all around the museum. It was way too crowded, I was late, & didn't mind waiting. Perhaps walkie talkies as a communication tool for the husband & wife team. Not just for late arrivals. :) Could be distracting too but, just a suggestion. The aquarium attendants had no idea who or where the group was. I did appreciate the effort. Not many would help me catch up with group especially, since I was late. Our first stop was Catch 31. Table was set and ready to go. We had three chefs(one including one of our guides, Chef Patrick Evans-Hylton) and the sommelier at our table. They educated us about the oysters & wine. They walked us through the various types of oysters & wine, regions, how to eat, & how to taste. We were served 4 oysters each from one of the 7 regions & two wine tastings. There were condiments and crackers on the table. I thought this was definitely the most informative restaurant out of the three. Next stop was Rockefeller's. Again, tables were set & wine was poured! No menu w/ descriptions. We had 2 raw oysters and 2 oysters rockefeller. Then, we were served hush puppies w/ pimento cheese which were amazing. Last, was coconut cake! This restaurant had more food offerings which was good because after several glasses of wine, I was hungry & others were too!! Last stop was Tautog's. They sat us outside & setup was more buffet style. Glasses of wine were on a table for us to pick up as we walked in. The presentation was beautifully prepared. They had 3 of their house sauces which were delicious! I thought the sauces were needed with these oysters. Others agreed. Didn't taste as fresh as the previous restaurants. I believe they were Lynnhaven and I've had Lynnhaven oysters before. So, not a reflection on the tour. There was also fresh cut fruit on the oyster platters. Only because TT asked, my recommendations would be: * Posting sample itineraries on social media * Clearer description of what to expect with regards to food so people know whether or not they should eat prior to the tour or pack a snack/sandwich. * Website shows they would be "happy to provide water and light snacks." None were offered. * Market/advertise the 10% off Yelp Check-in offer * Advise up front the 10% off Yelp Check-in is NOT valid for the Oyster & Wine tour. A portion of proceeds go towards non-profit which I totally understand & appreciate, just set the expectation. Overall, this was a lovely experience that one can comfortably do solo! I did and I truly enjoyed! Hands down. I am so happy to see a company like this on the East Coast and executing with such class. Please don't think this is a drunken wild party bus. It is a tasteful informative experience with subject matter experts who also enjoy partaking in libations while sharing their knowledge! :) I hope to see more food tours added to their current list. Rex, Lisa, & Chef Patrick were cordial, knowledgable, fun, and professional. Thank you so much for a memorable experience!

I went on the vineyard tour for a bachelorette party!! It was a fabulous time! Lisa, our tour…read moreguide, was knowledgeable, informative, and very hospitable!! Looking forward to the opportunity the either do a brewery tour or a different vineyard tour in the near future!!