We (two adults and two young kids) rented a canoe and a double kayak on the Croton River on a…read morebeautiful fall day. It was a wonderful slice of nature, which looked and felt a lot more remote than It was (there was a bit of highway noise on the lower half of the river). The equipment was in great shape, and the staff helpful and friendly. We went close to high tide, and were able to make it about a mile and a half before the river became too shallow. The staff member said one could do that in about 45 minutes, but with kids, an hour was more reasonable. The two and a half hour rental was a perfect amount of time, as that allowed us to proceed leisurely, explore some of the little nooks on the edge of the river, and take time for the all important snack break. All in all this was a wonderful experience, and we all can't wait to do it again.

Great Company and I enjoy Padding and working for the company. The summer is my favorite time to…read moreuse this company.

An intimate camping goods store with a varied selection of equipment and clothes. Not as big as…read moresome outdoor stores, but it has what you'll need to traipse around here. Really, how many of us are going to climb Everest?! The sales staff actually know their merchandise and what they're talking about. That's refreshing.

As a sports equipment and clothing store, I think they're overpriced. In their defense, they're a…read moresmall, boutique store and can't compete with the prices of large, corporate stores or online retailers. I wish I could afford to support smaller stores like this, but I only have so much money to spend on gear. The rest is spent on play! I will keep coming back to Mountain Tops for their kayak rentals. Living in NYC, I do have to make the trek upstate for my outdoor activities. I hike and camp in the Hudson highlands and now kayaking will be added to the list as a regular activities. Mountain Tops makes it too easy! My first experience with them was last year. My boyfriend and I booked a kayaking tour to Bannerman's Island, which included an on-island tour. Neither of us had ever kayaked, but after a quick tutorial we were on our way, with their guides nearby, of course. The guides are great (well, they were great that day) and they have comparable prices. Now that we know what to do, we go straight to the waterfront and rent out kayaks for the day so that we could paddle the river and pull up on random little shores to explore. It's an affordable and easily accessible activity. Tours need to be booked online or at the actual store location on Main Street. Kayak rentals can be done at the waterfront, depending on availability. And yes, you can use your card at the waterfront! I do wish they had later hours. Imagine kayaking in a sunset...oh!

Wow this is NY!??? Growing in Queens the only placed we kayaked was in the Carribean! Then found…read moreout about Hudson Valley when friends had a wedding here. Planned a group outing and Maki was great to work with! Brian, Matt, Andrew and the rest of the team were friendly and reassuring they would save us if we fell or got stranded lol! Anyways, all was good in Cold Spring, fun, gorgeous and relaxing! Will plan another kayak trip and check out the other locations, thanks guys!

Great group of guides 3 different and scenic locations and varying Tours for every ageread more

Poor Equipments. Staff are terrible. We went there as two couples. we rented a paddle boat. as soon…read moreas we started we called them advised that the equipment is not working, it's just not paddling as it's supposed to be. they said we will be right with you, after waiting for more than 30 minutes not moving in the water, the staff came and he started pushing us back toward the dock. And he goes like nothing wrong with the equipment it's moving. I requested to call the manager to look at the camera to actually see that the equipment was not even working, then Zack replied and I requested to replace the equipment only he's like oh ok just send us an email and we will see what we can do. This is the worst paddling I have ever been to.

Great day for kayaking on the Monksville Reservoir. Friendly knowledgeable staff who was very…read morehelpful. It was my birthday the day we went and we had a great time

Hank is hands down one of the coolest, most knowledgeable and down-to-earth instructors I've ever…read moremet. I gave him a rang the other day and he kind enough to accomodate a last minute paddle board session on a late Tuesday evening. After getting us familiar with the gear, a very helpful lesson and going over important safety information, we were out on the water in no time! While I have a good amount of experience on the water, I was able to implement his tips immediately and they really made a difference with my stroke and energy conservation. Even though it's the end May, the weather was actually quite reasonable too! We were able to paddle over to a nearby beach, enjoy wonderful views, and catch the sun set. It's clear that Hank is in the right business! I would not hesitate to recommend Surf Skate Fitness to anyone out there wanting to get out on the water for a couple of hours, for a very reasonable price. FYI: Even if you're a beginner, paddle boarding can be done at your own pace and technique can be modified if needed. So don't any lack of experience deter you from giving it a try.. it can be both relaxing and fun!

Hank is an incredible teacher! He is a truly empathetic, patient, and thoughtful person with…read moreeveryone he meets. He is truly driven by community and empathy. I recommend Surf Skate to everyone I know. Friends of mine have gone to Hank and had an amazing time and consistently return. Rockaway is lucky to have Surf Skate & Hank.

Lakesh and his crew were very friendly, and accommodating to my group. He also gave us a good group…read morediscount. There is a a nice sandy beach right across from the launch site, which is nice to paddle up to, when the tide is high.

Had a great session today. Launch is from a small very clean park. There are bathrooms, and it's…read morea short walk from the parking lot to the launch. Guys are friendly a d helpful and kayaks are in very good condition. The bay is a great spot to kayak. Calm water and interesting things to check out. Will definitely use again

Did you know that Lake Hopatcong is NJ's largest freshwater lake?…read more And did you also know that there's a great little place on the lake that lets you rent all sorts of strange inventions like a 'pedalboard' and a 'hydrobike' (along with the classics like kayaks and paddleboards) - so you can cruise along the lake, get a bit of exercise, fill those lungs with fresh air and more importantly... work up an appetite (so you can hit The Windlass right after)? I tell you it's true. All true. There were six of us (celebrating a birthday) - 5 on hydrobikes, 1 on a pedalboard. The lake is drop dead gorgeous and we went when it was still early and a bit overcast so it wasn't too crowded with boats and jet-skis and the like. (Waves/wakes from other boats can really dampen your own fun... so that stuff matters a bit.) But I gotta be honest: it was a lot of work. Unlike a kayak where you might get a nice 'bite' with your oar and can coast a bit... the bike is akin to being pneumatic (you stop pedaling and you almost immediately come to a halt as well). And those seats? They are not comfortable at all. Sore dupas all around (the following day as well, actually). But we all had a great time. The crew (Patty and Joe, I believe) were really cool, total professionals, and we always felt like we were safe as well having a great time exploring some of the lake and adjoining islands and whatnot. (We would definitely return in the future but would lean towards a kayak and not do the bikes again.) Wear sunblock, bring water, not sure if it was just me but my right foot was pretty soaked by the end whereas my left was dry (so you'd be better off wearing an old ratty pair of sneakers, regardless). Post-pedal was The Windlass (excellent) as well as some mini-golf (also excellent). Lots to do in this lovely part of Jersey. (But it'll cost ya!)

A cousin of mine tried the hydrobikes and lived it, so I thought I would give it a try. I asked a…read morefriend to come with me and he said it looked like a pain in the ass. I made a reservation online. Patty was so friendly and made it a great time! She let me use some sun block and fill up my reusable cup at their water fountain. She told me that I would probably like the standup paddle board better because it had better maneuverability. I took her advice. It was a lot of excise and fun as we rode around and she told me about the history and pointed out different areas around the lake. We even picked up some trash from inside the lake and it made me happy to know that there are good people out there who are also passionate about the environment. It was hot and I "accidentally" fell in and got to enjoy the water a little bit. Patty also gave me restaurant and hiking recommendations around the area and even took a picture of me. You may be able to call and make a same day appointment, but online will only allow the following day. I don't think it's with bringing or risking losing your camera or phone out on the lake, there isn't anything really photo worthy.

I had been seeking a company that would make house calls to perform bicycle maintenance. Lakeview…read moreresponded to my request. They came out to my house, replaced my rear tire, both front and rear brake pads, and finally performed a general tune-up, in the course of which they fixed my front shock absorbers that they discovered were broken. They performed all this work in a relatively short amount of time while I worked from home inside my house. The final price was very, very reasonable. I highly recommend their services!

A great day kayaking on Lake Zoar, made possible by Peter and his fine company "Lakeview Outdoor…read moreAdventures." If you prefer a different lake to explore Peter will transport kayaks there and back. It's a good company, and Peter is a fine manager.

If you're looking for a high-quality kayak and someone who truly knows what they're talking about,…read morego see Marshall. This guy is the real deal. His knowledge of kayaks is unreal -- from materials and stability to what works best for beginners vs. experienced paddlers, he breaks everything down in a way that actually makes sense. On top of that, Marshall's just a genuinely good soul. No pressure, no sales tactics -- he really just wants to help you find the right kayak for what you need. You can tell he takes pride in what he does and cares about the people he's helping. I walked away with an amazing kayak and the confidence that I made the right choice thanks to his guidance. If you want quality gear and honest expertise, Marshall is your guy. Highly recommend! ‍

I was in the market to purchase a new sea kayak. Since they are pretty pricey, I wanted to make…read morethe right choice. I decided to check out, The River Connection, where I purchased my last kayak from. They only sell sea kayaks. No recreational or fishing kayaks here. Walking in, you will be greeted and helped by the owner, Marshall. He is extremely knowledgeable, so any questions you have about kayaks or kayaking, Marshall will have the answer. Marshall goes above and beyond to earn your business. He also offers free demos, sells top-quality gear, and has instructional programs.

This is my third time using Jersey Paddle and they never fail to provide a great experience. They…read morealways have equipment available at a decent price. The staff is always friendly and helpful.

Absolutely loved my experience kayaking at Greenwood Lake! I rented a 2 person kayak for 1 hour for…read more$40. Parking is an additional $5 (unless you park somewhere outside and walk there like I did!). For 1 hour, it is plenty of time to row around the lake! The view is super pretty and the lake is very calm so it's easy to paddle around! I had a great experience; definitely recommend!