I was a little hesitant to jump into the fray with this club because right about the time I started…read morebeing a creepy lurker on their message board, they were discussing and debating stroke technique with all manner of intricacy that made me think I would be in way over my head and shunned from the get-go, even though I've been in a canoe since I was a wee little one. And made me think that the fun, relaxed, unplugged atmosphere of paddling trips of my childhood would not be the case here. Boy was I ever wrong. The upper echelon of this group is a set of ridiculously knowledgeable folks, yes. Quite a few are certified instructors in kayak and/or canoe paddling, self rescue, etc with the American Canoe Association (ACA). Some of them are total gear-heads and love to discuss the latest and greatest stuff, including their stable of boats. But they are also extremely friendly, approachable, helpful, and have the general mindset of promoting their love of paddling (and the safety thereof) with anyone and everyone who is interested. From my first (quite hesitant) email to a trip leader about an upcoming paddle, to the lovely trip itself, and every subsequent interaction and trip in the past year or so, I've been treated with utmost respect and welcomed into the fold with warmth. On the first paddle alone, I was given a wealth of tips and tricks of the trade from several different members, and have seen others benefit from the combined zillion years of experience and knowledge that the group as a whole has to offer. We've also had people go out of their way to help us with gear, invite us to different events, and even lend gear from time to time. The real resource is the experience and wisdom of the members, but the website is really helpful too. It offers a ton of great information about local (Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi) trips, outfitters, rentals, gear suggestions, etc. Upcoming trips and events are listed here as well, including a rating of easy, moderate, strenuous, etc so you can gauge if the trip will be a good match for your skill set. There's also a link to the message board, which is a wealth of information as well and a quick way to get an answer to any paddling-related question you might have that hasn't been addressed on the website. And even the casual observer can see from the interaction there that there's a lot of good-natured teasing and a good dose of dry humor as well. The group offers different training classes and such at different events - Paddlefest (usually at the end of October) had tons of great classes on paddling, outdoor cooking, and even a tarp demonstration last year, and much of the same (and then some) is planned for 2012. They also do demo days, where members bring a ton of different boats for folks to try out and get a feel for, since it's so hard to tell how a boat handles until you're actually in it and paddling. Self rescue clinics are usually conducted at some point during the year as well. Your membership dues also include a membership in the ACA, which comes with a subscription to one of four paddling magazines and a host of other resources. Non-members are welcome to do club trips, but a signed waiver and a small fee ($5 per person I think) will be required so the club can satisfy its requirements with the ACA as a Paddle America Club. Most of the regulars are quite adept, but skill level varies greatly especially with some of the newer members. There aren't a whole lot of kids involved with the group at the moment, but don't let that scare you off if you're looking to get into paddling as a family. With the right trip (not too long, plenty of breaks, an easy and kid-friendly waterway), a well-behaved child will be more than welcome. My little one has been on numerous trips with the club and has always had a blast. I don't need to tell you about the benefits of paddling itself. Unplugging and getting away from the world for a bit and immersing yourself in the beautiful outdoors either appeals to you, or it doesn't. If you enjoy (or would like to enjoy) paddling and wouldn't mind spending more time on the water and sharpening your skills, this is the group for you. I really can't recommend these guys (and girls!) enough.

I enjoyed this place several times. Nice bus ride to take you up river to float back. The people…read moreare friendly and the gear is good.

Huge, huge fan of the Bogue Chitto River! Only a few are truly worthy of tubing down her. Don't…read morebelieve the fake news--if you love adventure, this is the river for you. If you're yearning to stretch your sea legs and test your skills as a sailor, head down to the mighty Bogue Chitto. Plus, if you ask nicely, they might even give you a free cigarette. Highly recommend to everyone in my network!

Awesome day trip! We did the 4 hour float via river tube and it was only $25. Free parking, they…read moredrop you off and pick you up, cooler tubes for $5, life vests on request, dressing rooms & bathrooms on site. Very friendly, well-run company. I've never floated the Bogue Chitto but I did a river float in Hot Springs, Arkansas a few years back and this was way more relaxing and organized. Easy float that would be kid friendly (would probably do the two hour one though) since there's not too many obstacles/rapids and lots of beaches to stop at. Took me less than a 1.5 hours to get here from NOLA and took my friends about 1.5 to get here from BR.10/10 recommend this and I will definitely be back!

Beautiful and clean river tubing. The owners are very cool, always friendly, they check in on us as…read morewe are floating a few times and we always have the best time with them. I would recommend Louisiana River Adventures over any other tubing in the area. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.

I booked an extended Manchac Swamp kayak tour during a visit to New Orleans in late February,…read morewanting to see the swamp and its wildlife in a more personal and eco-friendly way than the more popular airboat and alligator-feeding tours. My partner and I have some experience paddling and wanted plenty of time to see wildlife and get deep in the swamp for the best scenery, and for us the extended tour was the right choice! I'd recommend it to visitors to New Orleans who love nature, the outdoors, and/or getting a fun and unique workout in during vacation. We were on the water for about 4 hours. Sunscreen, sunglasses, shoes you don't mind getting wet, and PLENTY of water are a must! There are stops at a truck stop right before and after for the bathroom and buying any drinks/snacks, plus a stop on dry land during the tour. Our guide Nick was clearly dedicated to both paddling and nature even outside of work, and our tour felt less like a scripted performance as some tours can be and more like a buddy was showing and telling you things he was passionate about. We saw several small alligators, barred owls, hawks, turtles, and water birds. It was unseasonably warm so the reptiles were a treat to see, and it was awesome getting to see owls out in daylight which I'd never be able to pick out myself. Bring binoculars if you have them! My only small complaint, which has nothing to do with the tour itself: the AI-generated content on the company's Instagram page is kind of weird. Photos and videos from actual tours would be more honest and enticing!

MJ was fantastic, very knowledgeable. Plenty of gators to see, birds, and a turtle…read more Great time on the water for amour first trip to New Orleans! Can't recommend this tour enough. Ask for MJ!

Meh, glad we went, but would not book with them and cannot recommend. We decided to book and drive…read moreourselves there since it was a bit more expensive for us to drive than pay for three people to go from their office in downtown. They told us to be there 15 minutes before our tour start time and we were there 20 minutes before, but the tour guide was 10 minutes late past the start of the tour itself. We thought we were in the wrong place and tried to get in contact with the tour agency. Got voicemail the first time and it was this random woman's number, but then called the same number a minute later and a guy told us the tour operator was on his way and then needed to pick up the supplies. It seems that they should have communicated that earlier and they should have a better system in place. The launch from the boat area was into a busy area right under the freeway and our guide basically was like hangout there and wait for me. That foreshadowed the rest of the tour for us, he basically was distant from us most of the tour, either way in front or way behind and we were a total tour of four people. There was no discussion about what we would see beyond him showing us alligators. At one point we were in the deeper section and a massive log was in the way, he went over and faced the opposite direction while the four of us struggled to get our kayaks over the log. He told us to go around and we got stuck because it was more elevated on the side and just sat on his phone the entire time while we helped each other. I get we were a group coming together, but it felt like he just told us which way to go, but didn't do any real guiding. We even helped him load and unload the supplies from the kayak. I think this tour company needs to be better organized and train their guides on what they should do to become tour guides.

I booked a private photo tour and a group kayaking tour. Both were outstanding. I got great photos…read moreand learned a lot.

I wasn't sure what to expect since this tour came free with our hotel package, but it turned out to…read morebe amazing! After a short, comfy shuttle ride, we met Captain Allen -- a true Cajun with great stories and a fun personality. He shared fascinating swamp history, fed gators and even called out some trained raccoons from the woods! The whole experience was entertaining, educational, and way better than expected. Highly recommend it to anyone visiting NOLA!

Our tour with Matt was amazing! My husband and I had the best time and I highly suggest taking a…read moretour with Canoe & Trail Adventures. Matt is so friendly it was more like hanging out with a friend than a tour guide. On our trip we saw several alligators, turtles, a few snakes and even 3 eagles! Matt was so informative and answered any questions we had about the swamp and area. We spent almost a week in New Orleans and visit New Orleans on a yearly basis and my husband & I both agree that this has been one of the coolest things we have ever done! Friendly tip: Don't forget the sunscreen!

We found Kokomo on Groupon and booked one day in advance. We had a party of three and got Deb the…read moreamazing guide all to ourselves. We had an absolute blast! It was a nice mellow speed, Deb shared some cool knowledge, and helped us bask in the beauty. You can really tell she loves this place and it feels special to share it with her for the day! We highly recommend!

Wow! If you go kayaking with Kokomo Kayak Tours you will not be disappointed. The tour guide was…read moretop notch and down to earth. There are snacks provided as well history of the waterways. A great time!