Had a great time apple picking on 10/4 with my friends, staff was so nice and friendly. Collin,…read moreSylvia & John kept us all Very informed. We arrived around 1040am and left around 3pm. Plenty of time to roam the grounds. It was empty and then got crowded later in the afternoon so i recommend getting as much as possible done early as it is popular. I would def recommend and do this experience again

Booked their tubing at Campgaw Mountain and beer event and had such an amazing time!…read more Food: Dinner was included and we had like buffet style dinner served to us at Pennings Farm Cidery. The food was warm and simple (pasta, meatballs, veggies and salad) along with some delicious apple crumble for dessert! The Cidery was also amazing because we were able to also shop around within the market to bring home - bought some local honey which I love! Cost: Great deal for a roundtrip bus + 2 hour tubing + dinner + a beer/cider! Everything is taken cared of and so it makes the experience much more enjoyable. Environment: Specifically Campgaw Mountain, although it was fun, the tubing here can be very busy. At certain times the waiting time was pretty long just to down down once. However, towards the end the line does get shorter/moves quicker. Service: Overall great package deal with everything included! Uniqueness: Sometimes its great to get out of the city and enjoy things like tubing - Sourced Adventures gives you that opportunity!

The Lehigh River is a gem…read more The staff at WhiteWater Adventures is very unprofessional. On the van trip to the put in the driver and the safety boater loudly disscussed payroll issues, lunch issues with the on site café and their co workers. These two were audiable to us sitting in the back of the van. Once we got to the Lehigh River, I had hoped the staff would be more professional. I was wrong. Their behavior got worse. The Trip Leader, a man named Jake, openly swore. The staff dissed the customers. I understand that their needs to be an evaluation before a river trip. This wasn't an evaluation of skills. The staff were making fun of the customers. The Lehigh River is a gem. Just find another company to explore it with.

This is a great way to introduce yourself and your family/friends to whitewater rafting. Be…read moreprepared for a full day from sign in to finish. Check in, safety briefing, bus ride, rafting, swimming, lunch, rafting, swimming and final bus ride. Once back you cab change to dry clothes and hit the snack bar for food and libations. Big barn fire to hang around and chat. We were a group of 7 adults and had no problem all being in one boat. The family ride was very easy and controllable with few places to get hungup ( rocks, trees or underpass) There are guides in front, back and throughout to keep everyone safe and moving along. Overall we had a really good time rafting, paddling and having water fights with other boaters and the pirates. Watershoes a must, bring water to drink and water guns or canons to defend yourself. The lunch was all you could eat- hot dogs, PBJ's, chips, salad and water or lemonade. Can't wait to try a more challenging adventure next time. Enjoy!

I joined one of the beginner paddle board classes with a friend on Sunday a week or two ago. I…read morethink the class had about 7 participants total, with two teachers. I came in from Manhattan, and took the PATH to get back home. The walk from the station to Pier 13 isn't short, so I can see why Google Maps suggests the bus to get to Pier 13. Personally I plan to snag a ride share from the station to Pier 13 in the future since I run late to most things and the walk took a while. Although I've been paddle boarding before, this class highlighted that I had never been taught some paddle boarding basics during my prior adventures. We hung out pretty close to the docks most of the time because the water was so choppy that day, but I believe the instructors said under better conditions the class sometimes ventured further out. For those of you wondering about how clean the water is - I personally did not mind falling in and was splashing my hair with the water to cool down as needed. The water felt fairly clean, and was "brackish," as the instructors liked to say. The instructors for this class were great, namely Ben (I believe that was his name anyway). He was fun, easy to talk to, and 100% willing to jump into the water to demonstrate re-mounting the board for people that had fallen. They cover how to get onto your board from the dock, how to hold your paddle, which parts of your body you should be engaging to paddle, paddling while kneeling, paddling while standing, tips on steadying yourself, and re-mounting the board. By the end of the hour I felt way more confident, and was interested in signing up for their other classes where you get a guided tour of the nearby areas. There was mention of paddling to an island nearby for one of those classes. Would highly recommend this as a weekend activity. There's plenty to eat and drink on the piers/walkways around there after you get done.

What an amazing time! A safe new and enjoyable adventure. We learned a new skill, the people in…read morecharge made sure we had an amazing experience.

I've never met a friendlier, kinder group. People of all ages. They share rides, gear, and mad…read moreskills. They knew so much about the Adirondacks and local rivers, but even more, they also travel to Southern rivers. It's great to see a group that really bonds with each other. I was tired of groups where people just wanted to paddle and go home. Here, day trips always have a Happy Hour tailgate party where folks share snacks and stories. I've heard the camping trips are fantastic. I was afraid to sign up when my skills were new, but the instructional weekend keeps giving...people keep coaching and helping. Or, you can also be in a tandem canoe with an expert. That's how I broke into moving and whitewater adventures. Best sport I ever did...and I"ve done a lot...because this group is so professional and warm.

AMC is great! I've been a member for about 8 years now and have been a student, taught students and…read morelead lots of paddling trips around the northeast region. I thought I went to learn to kayak, but I came out with so much more... Friends, community, and hundreds of memories and amazing experiences on and off the water. Trips are lead by volunteers so if it's not free, it's really inexpensive for you get involved.

This was one of the best kayak experiences I had. From the initial moment we pulled up in the…read moreparking lot the staff was great. We were directed to a parking spot. Which was great because the lot was very full. There are two walk up windows to check in. I walked up to the window and had to wait literally 1 min; the line was short and quick. The girl found my reservation went over paper work that needed to be filled out, was very friendly and helpful. I will say the other girl was not particularly friendly. They're talking to you threw a window and I am partially deaf, when I asked the girl to repeat the last thing she said she was so annoyed she spoke in short sentence like I was dumb. And just before she helped me there was another group of girls that seemed to be very annoyed with her because she refused to help them. Like I said there were two lines and they were in her line but she wanted to help the gentlemen infront of me in the other line. Idk why, he wasn't even paying attention and only needed to drop his car keys off. Whatever. We grabbed our life vests, got our overview of the river and quickly hopped on a very nice, 12 pax van. It was about a 10 min ride to the drop off area which wasn't bad. I really liked that the staff grabs your kayak and paddle and brings it to the water. All you have to do is sit down and paddle away. There is another company that shared the drop off area so just be aware that you don't get the wrong kayak lol The DR is beautiful. The water is so nice and clean. There are lots of places to stop off at to eat lunch or take a swim. There were a lot of people camping along the banks. So be mindful of that when pulling off to a beach. When we go to our pick up location it was just as smooth as our drop off spot. You just paddle to the beach and a staff grabs your kayak and pulls you in. You take your things and they take the kayak and paddle. At the top of the stairs you just walk to the right and the van is waiting to take you back. Overall, wonderful company to book a kayak or raft from to enjoy the beautiful river. In highly recommend and will rebook with them. I recommend wearing a hat and water shoes and bringing a cooler for drinks and snacks.

(This was a few months ago so the details could be a bit iffy.)…read more This was a very impromptu trip and everything at Edge of the Woods makes doing that easy. Head to the website, book the date & time you want and you're done. www.watergapadventure.com/river-trips A few things worth noting: They offer multiple trip lengths. The standard 4-, 6- and 10-mile trip (Smithfield to Portland) are all booked generically and then when you get there you tell them what you want to do. All pricing is the same which believe me compared to others companies, that's very different - in a good way. They do offer two other longer trips but those require calls to the main office I assume to assess river conditions; your own competency and shuttle availability. The main office in Delaware Water Gap is very easy to find and there was plenty of parking on a quiet post-Labor Day Monday. You check in, you're handed a laminated map, life jacket and given a brief route explanation and then you're off in the van. One problem arose and it was kind of a PIA but it was worked around. Most companies have different types/sizes/models of kayaks and quite often, will ask you what you prefer. Not here. When we left the office, the guy driving didn't say a word to me until we get to Smithfield Beach to unload. He had a few kayaks pre-loaded in the carrier but definitely did not look at them before we left. One of them had a broken foot pedal that he said couldn't be used, another was very much designed for a smaller individual (i.e. if you're taller and/or taller & larger it ain't happening safely) which only left two tandem models. Using a tandem as a single individual is not the end of the world but especially when the seats are still left in the two person configuration (i.e. one front and one back versus the rear one being placed more towards the middle), it's a PIA to maneuver the craft and you are paddling harder to get the job done compared to a single. The scenery along the route was decent. You could see a bit of the Shawnee Resort and Golf Course, an old stone bridge abutment in the middle of the river, under and along 80 and then when you get into the Water Gap itself with the high cliff sides. Very picturesque. Once you go under the old train viaduct in Portland, you give the office a call for the shuttle to meet you at the out point which is at the Portland Pedestrian Bridge. The whole experience was about four hours door to door to cover the ten miles on the water plus the shuttle to & from the pick up and drop off points. Lots of nice scenery, due to the low water level there wasn't much in the way of current except for the area around viaduqt in Portland and even that wasn't bad. I'm not a big fan of the equipment here but I wouldn't let that deter me from coming back in the future for one of their northern longer trips.

The setup: Mother's Day was coming up and I always try to find something unique and different for…read morethe momma of my kids as well as the mother-in-law. And I stumbled upon Urban Paddle and booked it for a 9am adventure. We lucked out that every variable and condition was ideal: weather, tide, calm water, almost no other boat-related traffic. We're a party of 7. The 'Urban Crew' numbered at 5. We were spoiled from start to finish with a group of really cool and helpful workers that were informative, fun, professional and made sure we were always safe and engaged the entire hour. (Make sure to watch their 6-minute YouTube video ahead of time so you know all about the proper paddling/rowing techniques when it comes time to hit the water.) The 'Urban Crew' were also invaluable because the owner was constantly taking pictures and videos and at the end airdropped them to us which was a nice 'cherry on top' since you can't really snap pictures for big chunks of the time when you're on the water. Is it expensive for an hour? No doubt. Did everyone absolutely love kayaking and getting to see everything from the Colgate clock to the back of the Statue of Liberty's head to the NYC skyline, not to mention all of the stunning yachts all docked and looking completely out of my price-range? Of course. Was it the funniest thing to see my mother-in-law somehow leaning back in her kayak like she was on a hammock while the father-in-law did all the hard work? Yup. (Did a cranky security guard try her best to be a stick in the mud regarding confusion over some parking-related issues when we were about to leave? Oh yeah.) I'd suggest clothing/footwear that you don't mind getting wet as well as sunglasses and sunblock (that sun is no joke bouncing off the water). Highly recommended. (The Mrs. is already plotting when to go back and I think she's even pricing kayaks to buy with that stimulus check that's burning a hole in her wallet.)

Overall this place is solid. My boyfriend and I went for the LED kayaking. The view was beautiful!…read moreThe difficulty was a 2/10 but honestly it does depend who you are and where your skill level is now. Our guide was perfect and he talked to us all night! Only bummed I never received the photos taken from that night. The entire trip takes a little over an hour. Parking is a little confusing but you have to find the parking authority and tell them you are there to kayak and pay $5 for a pass to put on your car. Overall great experience. I strongly advise not to put your hand into the water (who really knows what is in the Hudson River)

We stumbled upon Manhattan Community Boathouse free kayaking program while exploring the city and…read morewhat a glorious experience. The program is run by volunteers and funded by donations. Kayaking is offered on a first come, first served basis. They supply everything: life jacket, paddle, a single or two person kayak and a locker. You have 20 minutes and must say within the boundaries of the cove. Participants must be at least 18 years and know how to swim. Under 16 must share the kayak with an adult. Our experience felt like finding a treasure but in our case we want to share it with others

I first came here back in 2016 for the free kayaking. It was a blazing hot day and I just HAD to…read morefind a way to get out on the water, somewhere in the city. Manhattan Community Boathouse was just the place! I felt so welcomed and had so much fun during my first visit that I decided to become a volunteer. 5 years later, I still spend almost every summer weekend here, helping the organization offer the public the priceless (FREE!) experience of paddling on the Hudson river. Sharing this unique experience with the public is one of my favorite things to do in the city, and seeing the smiles on people's faces makes it all worth it. As a volunteer, I enjoy the extra training classes offered and volunteer-only kayaking trips we get to go on as well! A few things to know for the 2021 season, some of which is different from prior year reviews: MCBH is operating by reservation to prevent overcrowding. They are open Saturdays and Sundays from 12 PM - 6 PM through October 10. You can reserve your spot up to 2 weeks in advance on the website. Paddlers of all skill levels are invited to participate as long as you know how to swim. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. They offer changing rooms and lockers with locks provided, so you can bring a change of clothes if you want, because you will get wet. There's no public restroom here though, so be sure to stop in Clinton Dewitt park at 54th & 11th Ave before walking over if you need to use the facilities! Otherwise, a portapotty along the bike path near the boathouse is the only toilet option. Did I mention it's all free? The program is run entirely by volunteers, and funded solely by donations from the public, but there is absolutely no pressure to donate. Whether you come as a volunteer or as a member of the public, I think this is the best free activity in NYC!

Great way to get out of the city with no thought or planning on your part…read more Found this group through zozi. One 8 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail later, I'm very grateful. Yes, you're paying someone to pick you up, drive you to the trail head and lead the hike, but be honest.... you weren't gonna get in that hike you've been meaning to do between you and your measly zipcar subscription. I loved using this service and I would do it again. That they pick up three blocks from my house certainly didn't hurt... Our hike to Sunfish Pond in NE Pennsylvania was gorgeous, especially on the way back as it crossed a winter stream several times and my knees and hips started to ache, in the good way. But the best part was that I made some great friends. Really interesting New Yorkers tend to click on "Buy" under "8 mile winter hike". Who knew?? As much as I knew I'd like the hike, I ended up liking the company as well which was worth even more. We stopped for food at a great restaurant called (not kidding) "Beer from Here, Food from Near." Recommend the Session Stout though all four of my brand new friends got the Blonde Ale and loved it. There was traffic on the way back... and I wasn't driving! Yay.

I love Living Adventure Tours!…read more The first trip I went on was back in May--a friend had found an offer through a deal site and sent on the link. And--miracle of miracles, since I feel talking about things is one thing, but actually getting people to commit can sometimes feel impossible--three of us actually signed up. I'd been on a few trips through Discover Outdoors, so I imagined it'd be similar ... but it wasn't. It was way, way funner. The leader, Vaughn, is low-key and funny and makes it clear that he really WANTS to be out there, leading hikes. I always felt that the Discover Outdoor guides were kind of hiking snobs who were only leading a group of New Yorkers because they had to. And while Vaughn definitely knows his stuff, you can tell he really digs introducing newbies to hiking. The hike was fun, and the winery was RIDICULOUS. We had an awesome tasting, then everyone in the group bought bottles of wine, and pretty much got tanked. People were talking to each other, sharing snacks, and it was a really, really fun afternoon. And then Vaughn brought us to a cute farmstand AND dealt with everyone being loud and ridiculous in the van ride home. I went on another hike this fall, and it was just as good. Vaughn is flexible to the needs/wants of the group (we ended up doing two hikes, since the original itinerary was to a place affected by Sandy) then stopped at a cute NJ brewery for dinner. I've gone with friends both times, but it's not necessary. Vaughn is so friendly and good at facilitating conversation that you'd have a good time solo. But if you'd prefer to chill with your friends, as long as you're friendly to the rest of the group, that's fine, too. It's not like, mandatory hand holding and Kumbahya singing--just good people, good times, and a great way to get out of the city for the day. I will absolutely be going on more adventures!

This review will focus on the overall experience and the Intro to Whitewater experience. First off,…read moreANYONE can do this trip, do not bother with the beginner trip down the river. Unless you are medically unfit, you can do this. Exceptional customer service sums up the team at Jim Thorpe River Adventures (aka LOC). They are extremely well organized which makes for a great trip. Everyone from the moment you enter LOC until the very end was polite, professional and wanted to make sure you have a great time. Some tips to follow: you only need to arrive 15 minutes before your group time, this allows ample time to get situated. Buy their pre-made lunch, it is well worth the 10 bucks, bring extra water on the raft (especially in the summer). Use the bathroom before you get on the bus (and be quick). They give you a dry bucket for your lunch and items, yes you can bring your phone in a dry pouch. Wear a hat and a sun shirt, it is hot and sunny, without much shade. Jump in the water when you have the chance !! If you are a "full figured" person it will be difficult to re-enter the raft, be aware. The trip down river is very safe and well organized. The guides are VERY safety aware ! If you are nervous and listen to them, the team will get you down the river without a hitch ! A few suggestions: don't go on a busy holiday weekend, it can get crowded on the river, the safety briefing takes a long time and you a sitting in the sun (remove your vest and drink water), during July and August I would imagine the water is very low and slow (if it is a dry summer)...best only if you want to have a relaxing rafting trip. Overall, a bunch of fun. The entire family had a great time.

Went there this past Sunday. Was the 11:20 group. Monica, Penny, Justin aka Jesus, and two other…read morepeople were our guides. We all are in horrible shape. These guides were so sweet and so professional. At one point we accidentally ran over Monica with our raft. She just smiled and said to be more careful. Then, we can her over again. It was not intentional. That woman needs to be canonized as a saint after putting up with our group. The trip was awesome. Just about anyone could do it. There is this one part where someone comes and takes your picture as you're paddling. Made sure to get a copy of that. Can't wait until it arrives in the mail. Am extremely impressed with this place, in particular with Justin aka Jesus. That kid is so sweet and helped our little raft out so much. JustinSaves

Had a great day is past weekend on the water! It was my first time white water rafting instead of…read moreour usual white water tubing. Whitewater Challengers is very organized and they are constantly trying to maintain that organization, even on the water. From parking your vehicle; all the staff members directing you throughout the property, checking in with different color papers and boarding cards, and even on the bus ride back... it was very well organized. All guides are clearly knowledgable about the river and everyone had a great attitude; everyone really appreciated that. It's obvious the guides genuinely care about making this a great experience for their guests. Our group engaged with Jen and Rober. They had great personalities and clearly love what they do. If you are concerned about riding the river with children or with older family members then have no fear! The rapids were fun but I wish they were a little more rough/busy. Certainly not challenging for families with children; there was a younger Boy Scout group on our trip and they all handled it with ease. Go ahead and book that weekend river trip with the fam! My only complaints were the "hurry up and wait" of the whole journey. I understand we are traveling with a big group and we are trying to stay together but we stopped a total of 5-6 times including lunch. It felt like we only got about 15-20 mins of solid rafting then we had to wait 15-20mins for the rest of the group to catch up. Kind of annoying. And the claim that these are class 2-3 rapids may be factually true but I would consider these class 1 maybe class 2 on a great day. With the stopping and waiting and calm water for almost half the trip, I can see why some people may be disappointed. There were about 15-20 rafts in our group. Overall, this was a solid weekend activity and it deserves 5 stars. With all the organization and very friendly river guides it was a great day. The staff can clearly handle any group and they know the river like the back of their hand. Please take all the reviews into consideration and consider shortening the amount of stops on the river to corral the group; there's got to be another way that is also safe. Thanks, hope to return again soon!

What a disaster. I have gone twice with Girl Scouts and again with boy scouts. My first adventure…read morewith the girl scouts was generally enjoyable. Nothing notable to report but not overwhelmingly great either. The last time I went with the Boy Scouts was one of the worst weekends of my life. There was some river guide who named himself "zombie". He has the worst chip on this shoulder ever. First, he got nearly naked on the bus clearly wanting to show off all his tattoos. Inappropriate in front of a bunch of kids. If he was discreet then fine. He was showboating and it was gross. Then while on the river, I splashed with a paddle. It is indeed against the rules and I was wrong for that. However I knew I messed up the second I did it. A reminder would have been sufficient. Oh no. Zombie came over immediately and berated me loudly in front of everyone (including the kids). Yikes. I said "understood, I'm sorry". He then continued saying he was "gonna hike me out of 'his' trip" if he saw it again. What? He was going to evict me from the boat in the middle of nowhere and walk me home? Alone? What the hell is wrong with this guy? I don't care how capable or good of a river guide he is. If he's going to talk to customers who paid for the trip like garbage, then he doesn't belong there (especially around kids). Major jerk. Then we camped there overnight. Some camp site decided to have a rager party. Like thumping music turned up to full volume that could be heard for miles. No one came to quiet them down. At midnight I had to walk over myself and ask if they could please let us sleep. They said no and it kept going. I called the campsite phone # and got a voicemail. No one was there to help. Needless to say we didn't sleep at all. Just a generally unpleasant experience. You need to get rid of this zombie person. You can't call yourself "zombie" then demand to be taken seriously. Give me a break. You need someone who can patrol the campsite and keep order and the campers safe. Don't go here and waste your money.