After kayaking down Platte River, Riverside Canoe Trips was a great spot to pick up some souvenirs…read moreand sweet treats! The hard serve ice cream is incredible, especially after a hot day. We enjoyed the blackberry chocolate chunk and the brownie batter cookie dough. If you're camping near Honor, definitely worth checking out!

Rented some individual kayaks for a trip down the Platte River which runs through the Sleeping Bear…read moreDunes National Park area. This was an amazing trip which ends close to where the river flows into lake Michigan. The water was super clear and I highly recommend this trip. Pack some lunch and drinks in a small waterproof cooler and add the extra time so as not to be rushed. Riverside canoes has a nice shop and good equipment. You do have to pay for parking though when you drop off your vehicle which stinks.

We had a wonderful time! The weather was initially questionable and we were contacted to back up…read moreour initial kayak reservation. The weather cleared up early and Clear Water Kayaks made it work for us to go earlier so we could stay on our schedule. The staff was friendly and very helpful with our questions about kayaking on the lake. I would do this again and recommend it to those who want a unique experience on Torch Lake in MI.

We rented some clear bottom kayaks for 2-hours on Torch Lake last weekend and had a blast. They…read morebrought the kayaks out to us and met us for launch and retrieval. This was super fun. Kayaks are really see-through. Really fun way to explore Torch Lake - checked out the sand bar and kayaked the perimeter a bit as well. Comfortable, sturdy/stable, and a fun experience all around. Owner was super nice and helpful. Would definitely recommend - and would do again the next time we're up there!

Stayed here in July with my two kids. Friendly front desk, comfy beds, nice strong AC in Cabin 9…read more I've stayed in lots of cabin places like this, in this price range, and this was by FAR the cleanest. It was small and basic but had everything we needed. Towels were actually fluffy! The pool was an excellent bonus. Seriously though, the cabin was so spotless I think they must have done updates recently. And the location was convenient to a few places to eat and an easy drive to Sleeping Bear Dunes. I don't fish but they seemed to have a nice set up and it's right on the river.

I recently spent a week at Betsie Riverside Resort, a charming escape nestled alongside a tranquil…read moreriver. The cabins and facilities are undoubtedly the highlights of this place. Each cabin is well-maintained, offering cozy interiors that perfectly complement the serene natural surroundings. The resort's attention to detail is evident, with clean and comfortable accommodations that provide a genuine sense of relaxation. The communal areas, including the indoor pool/spa, playground, and fire pits make for a perfect family getaway. However, it's worth noting a few aspects that potential visitors might want to consider. The owners are quite vigilant, with surveillance cameras placed throughout the property. While this does contribute to a sense of security, it feels intrusive, particularly if you're looking for a more laid-back and private getaway. The owners make it no secret they actively watch the cameras and will provide real-time feedback of guest's activities. The owners also have extreme cleaning requirements for checkout. If you do not meet these requirements they will send you a followup email containing details and pictures of your transgressions. For example, there is an unwritten expectation to clean the toilet before leaving even though a toilet brush is not provided. I have never encountered such expectations at other resorts, vacation rentals, or hotels. Additionally, the owners have a clear preference for individual cabin rentals. Large groups and children are discouraged, which might be a consideration if you're planning a family vacation, reunion, or a group trip. This focus on maintaining a serene environment may not suit everyone's vacation plans. However, if you're a retiree looking to go fishing or kayaking this is your place. This was our second summer at the resort and will be our last. Our family group rented 6 cabins, some traveling from out of state. Our group ranged from grandparents to young kids. We are a fairly quiet group that doesn't "party", nor do we stay up late. We did our best to stay out of other guests way and share the communal areas. The owners made us feel like a bother and unwelcome during our stay. We cleaned up after ourselves and cleaned the cabins before we left. Even still, we received emails after our stay indicating toilets were not cleaned and a couple of crumbs were left on a counter. While I can appreciate the owners' high standards for cleaning and grounds maintenance, they do not have enough staff to maintain those standards and instead push the responsibility onto their guests. Overall, Betsie Riverside Resort is a lovely destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat in well-kept surroundings. Just be mindful of the owners' preferences, expectations, and the presence of active security camera monitoring if you're looking for a more relaxed and private experience.

Crystal River is a great river for kayaking!!! Full of nature and family friendly!! Everyone ate…read morethe Outfitters were so friendly and welcoming, I highly recommend!! We will be back!!

Went kayaking after the 4th of July weekend and the water was beautiful! We got there early but…read morethat was perfect because they were able to get us on the water faster. You park at the end and we got parking right in front of the store, the driver drove us to the beginning of the river and was very nice. The equipment was in good shape considering how at one point you have to drag the kayak out of the water over a dam. I would say it took about 2ish hours, you go under two bridges and that's how you know where you are on the river. As we finished the staff helped our kayaks on shore and we were all set. Overall, really good experience. There is a couple shops and food places around. We got ice cream. I have never kayaked before and I got the sit in kayak and I regret it because I flipped a few times and the thing filled with water. So I would recommend the sit on top kayak for new people. Also would not say it's a beginner course a lot of trees in the water and tight twist and turns

If I could give 6 stars I would. We stopped by without a reservation. Registration is DIY...you…read morecall and a lovely young lady named Amy will answer and talk you through making payment and filling out forms. Amy was great to work with...with a great sense of humor and was very adroit at suggesting places to get ice; a.bite to eat etc. She was like the magical hotel concierge you luck out and get when all.of your travel plans are falling apart. We loved the campground. It had direct access to the Betsie River, showers and bathrooms were very well.maintaimed a clean...hot water was never a problem. There's Frisbee golf and horseshoes available..firewood was a generous amount for the money. There's 400 acres of state land to the north directly abutting the property. Mostly trailer and tent camping ( we had hammocks and were allowed to choose the spot we liked with the best trees for setup). They do have a canoe and kayak livery that currently only operates on weekends. I rarely gush over a business that doesn't bring me hot delicious food and cocktails...this is an exception to the rule. Hands down one of the best camping experiences. I have been disperse camping the last few years in order to avoid people and some of the issues that come with group camping ( loud drunk ppl...fascist property managers etc) this was about as good as family camping will ever get and the location is incredible. There's a very clean Mobil gas w a pizza place about 2 miles from the campground...and plenty of activities in all direction. Thank you so much for helping make our fishing trip camping headache free and amazing.

it's got everything you need their website was a little confusing( booking wouldn't work) but when…read morewe got there amy figured it out with us. fire wood is a little expensive that's it.

The staffperson working yesterday (Sunday) was very nice, but the rental bikes were not in good…read morecondition. My wife and I each rented hybrids, and it took me several tries to find a bike that seemed functional. Multiple had loose front wheels that wouldn't tighten, but after a few attempts the attendant was able to get one tightened. Sizing and fitting aren't really part of the process -- this was more of a "just pick whatever bike you want" situation. Soon after we left, I realized that my tires were underinflated, so we had to go back for air. And midway through our ride, huffing and puffing to maintain speed, we realized that most of the brakes were rubbing -- both wheels on my bike, and the front wheel on my wife's. At $40 for a half day per bike, this was a disappointing experience. If you're looking for a rental bike to bum around for a few hours, this might be fine, but if you want to go for a real ride I'd recommend renting elsewhere, or making sure that River Outfitters improves their maintenance practices.

WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND! Short version of the story: We rented out bikes and stopped at Hotel Indigo…read morefor a drink and parked our bikes out front. Hotel Indigo rented out our bikes to some of their guests so they were gone when we came downstairs. It was the last night of our trip and so we couldn't get the bikes back from the hotel to return them. The hotel said they would drop them off and didn't. The River Outfitters actually went to the hotel and retrieved the bikes for us and didn't charge us anything for going over time or the inconvenience after hearing our story. They were super understanding! I wish more companies would treat their customers like this.

Sue is an absolute rockstar. We called the night before and she got us all set up for an early…read moremorning solo kayak rental. Checking in was easy. She fit the equipment and had us test everything out before going to the water. She set up a route for us on the map according to our skill and time. Even recommended a few sights to see and a small hike. Overall just awesome

From the first contact with Sue to arrange our tour to a perfect paddle with Tim on Lake Huron…read moreseeing the absolute best of Les Cheneaux Islands, to Tim's recommendation for a post-paddle hike, we had the perfect U.P. day! We were looking for an adventure with our new-ish kayaks. We fortuitously read a Michigan tourism magazine tucked into the Chicago Tribune; the magazine featured a story about kayaking in Les Cheneaux with Woods & Waters. It sounded great! Though we are comfortable on the water, we thought it would be good to have a guide in an area new to us -- and Tim was a perfect guide for our half-day paddle! We learned so much about this beautiful and interesting area, saw an eagle and its nest, did a quick mid-paddle hike to get an amazing view to go with our rock skipping and gained a few kayaking skill tips that will make us better kayakers. It certainly was a bonus that the water and weather cooperated -- water like glass and just enough sun. Tim - thanks for the advice to do the Narnia hike - that was our afternoon adventure! We ended our day at Les Cheneaux Distillers. The day couldn't have been better. We loved our paddle so much and felt comfortable with our newfound knowledge from Tim that we went back for a quick paddle the next morning. We wish we could have stayed on the water all day! Thank you Sue and Tim. We will see you next time!

Fun time! We had a great day with our kids tubing! I did take a star off because they need to…read moreautomate their system instead of pen and paper... but everything else was great!

Easy to book and had a really fun time. We went in August and the weather was perfect!read more