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    Kayak Connection

    4.6 (254 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    View from the back of the Double Kayak
    Rachaelle S.

    We rented Kayaks with a large group of friends for my birthday and we are so happy we did it with Kayak Connection. We were all able to book the same start time and pay separately, which was so convenient. Prior to arrival we filled out the waiver online. Day of we checked in, waited for the full group, got fitted with gear, and had a little tutorial then off we launched from their pier to the slough for some wild life spotting. Tips, stretch before so you don't get tight during kayaking, lots of sunscreen, bring a hat, sun glasses, snacks water, & don't think your back pack won't get wet... it will ... don't bring it leave it in the car. Everything was so easy and it made my birthday so special! Thanks Kayak Connection!

    A Sea Lion snoozin' in a kayak near the docks
    Amy L.

    We had the absolute best experience with Kayak Connection, thanks to our incredible guide, Emily. We booked a family tour with three kids (ages 7-9) and three adults (two of the kids and one adult had never kayaked before) plus another family joined our group. Emily made everyone feel comfortable right away, introducing herself, asking what animals we were most excited to see, and connecting with both the kids and adults. Emily's background as a marine biologist really set this tour apart. She was able to answer every question with so much knowledge and enthusiasm, and she kept the kids fully engaged the whole time. She checked in often on the kids' energy levels, set clear expectations about paddling with and against the tide, and offered lots of encouragement so everyone felt confident and supported. Her ability to connect with kids was outstanding, she treated their questions with real respect and excitement, which made them feel important and kept them stoked the entire trip. She even turned a simple moment of seaweed on a paddle into a mini science lesson, showing the kids a welk, and isopods on the feather boa kelp. We saw seals, sea lions, otters, pelicans flying in squadrons, and terns diving for fish, and lots of sea and shore birds. It was such a gift to explore the beautiful Elkhorn Slough. Our group felt so lucky to have Emily as our guide. She made the day fun, safe, educational, and unforgettable, truly helping us create core family memories. Thank you, Emily, for such a wonderful experience. We couldn't recommend her (and Kayak Connection) more highly!

    Robin H.

    Worth every penny! What an amazing experience and the staff is so awesome!! I would suggest this place for anything!

    We did a 2.5 hour guided tour with Kayak Connections. I cannot say enough good things about this business! They are 5 stars all around. I did a tour with them back in 2018 and it was the highlight of our trip. This year in January I was back in the area with my extended family for a reunion. I almost didn't suggest this activity because we had some young kids in our group, several who had never kayaked before and a quadriplegic 14 year old who is non-verbal and can barely hold her own head up. I thought this might be too hard for our group, but several people in our group wanted to give it a try. Kayak Connection was awesome to work with right from the beginning. They were responsive to phone calls and were not afraid of the challenges our group brought to them, answering questions thoroughly and making changes to accommodate our wheelchair. Our whole group had a great time and especially my quadriplegic niece! Kayak Connection worked with us to find the best way to get her out on the water, propping her up in the kayak with life jackets and towels making sure she was comfortable and safe. One of our guides, Heather, kayaked with her so that we would all be able to watch her and gauge her reaction. All of our guides were so patient and knowledgeable and allowed our whole group to be at ease and just have a wonderful time. We saw tons of birds, Seals and Otters! This was the highlight of our week long vacation, and definitely one of the best experiences for my niece. If you are in the area, book a tour with Kayak Connection, you won't regret it.

    Jeanne M.

    Friendly, efficient staff. Sit-in kayaks with spray skirts. Dock launch. Otter and seal pups!

    Evangelina B.

    So much fun! This was my first time kayaking and I was a bit nervous, you know is the kayak going to tip over, what's lurking in the water etc... I came here with my friends for the bioluminescence kayak tour so we would be kayaking mainly in the dark time. Jake was our guide and he was super nice, patient and knowledgeable. He made us feel comfortable the whole time, especially for newbies to kayaking like myself. Throughout the tour we saw a lot of wildlife in and out of the water.Jake not only gave a tour but he provided a lot of educational information about moss landing and the wildlife there, very cool. I highly recommend their tours, especially if you're new to kayaking!

    Megan V.

    We had a wonderful morning on Elkhorn Slough with Kayak Connection. We have never been kayaking before today and weren't sure what to expect, but now that we have been I definitely recommend it to everyone. Our 5 year old had a great time, the family tour is the perfect length for families with little ones. The water is very calm so if you're afraid of the possibility of capsizing like I was, save your anxiety. The boats are very large and stable, we barely even got wet. Our tour guide Cam was awesome. He had so much knowledge about the ecosystem and the animals that live in the slough, and he has a wonderful way of relaying that information to kids in a way they can understand and making it fun and engaging for them. When our son started getting "bored," Cam caught a kelp crab in a little tank so he could see it up close and then let him pour it back into the water to set it free. Attention was fully re-engaged after that. Bonus that he took a bunch of pictures for us and airdropped them to me once we were back on land. Definitely looking forward to our next kayaking trip. Thank you for the memories Kayak Connection and Cam!

    Jenn C.

    Friendly staff with great communication by email, phone and in person. Well organized - very clear where Kayak Connection customers should park. Clean and well maintained -- gear and the very sensible porta-a-potties (who wants to clean sand out of a bathroom after soggy tourists return)? Clear and helpful directions from the staff, and maps. The young women who work there are friendly and fun. The entire staff - including owner Dave - are approachable, helpful and very clear in their communication. Can't beat the price - $50 for 4 hours for a single though I might try for all day next time so I can head past Kirby Park to see more of the slough. I went out twice over Labor Day weekend, conditions and observations as follows: Friday, 12:30pm reservation - very windy blowing from the west, made it a bit difficult to control the single kayak and easier to float into the slough. There were dozens of seals parked on the shore just outside the Elkhorn Yacht club. Once into the slough, there were hundreds of sea otters and harbor seals that day, and easily thousands of pelicans and cormorants. Friday afternoon was a ebb-tide party. I went about 3 mi in and then turned back, paddling west into some stiff breezes. Sunday, 9:30am reservation - no wind and the water was flat as glass, with winds expected around mid-day and ebb starting around 11:30am -- I floated easily into the slough on the end of the flood stage. Fewer sea otters and seals, heaps of birds, with pelicans making especially noisy splashes into the water. I also saw two jellyfish - the first one was an Egg Yolk Jelly, the second was about the size and color of a basket ball -- with a mauve underside. I went pretty far up the slough (don't do the same if you have little experience, aren't a strong swimmer or have shoulder problems) and got to see more of the birds from Friday hanging out in the estuary reeds, likely waiting for the ebb to low tide so they could get brunch. There were a lot more paddlers out on Sunday -- both rentals and folks launching from Kirby Park (about 5 mi from the mouth of the slough). Folks - remember to keep your distance from the sea otters, seals and other animals. If they are looking at you - you are too close. If they pop up near you, try to gently move away and give them space. They are not an attraction that you are entitled to interact with - they are wild animals with their own needs and lives.

    Bianca P.

    My mom and I had a great time on the wildlife tour with Kayak Connections. We had an awesome instructor! They gave us tons of details on the wildlife and the history and even gave us information on how we can get into kayak ourselves. I highly recommend if you live here or are just visiting. It is a great way to get outdoors and see things up close plus learn something new!

    Maria A.

    We saw tons of sea otters! Even a baby. Soooooo cute. All them, including the little one, were somersaulting and spinning around in joy. We went on a Monday, and even though we gave them space, they were practically popping up to say 'hi'! My closed kayak - which I recommend - kept the water out of the insides and kept me warm the whole time. We went on a little bit of a windy day, but as we've kayaked before it was no prob. Heard the guy say if you're a first-timer, best to book a trip before noon. We also saw 3-4 different kinds of birds, and sweet blubbery sea lions - maybe 10-15 - sunning on the sand. Nice reminder. Mark, in particular, was super-helpful. Highly recommend this spot for these times!

    Kayak socially spaced check in area
    Roger L.

    Numerous options when Kayaking in Monterey, but these 5 stars go to the stellar service service of the staff on a record hot and crowded August day. Cat checked us in and treated the socially spaced afternoon crowd on a hot Saturday amiably and with patience. All of our oars were disinfected before they were handed to us and Lauren, got us into our kayaks and back out without rushing us at all. Fun Observation - Check-out the "Clean Pen Dispenser" which Lauren created out of a straw dispenser so that everyone using a pen gets a clean disinfected one every time. Patent pending? We visited the closing crew at the end of the day and were impressed that they were soaking and disinfecting the giant pile of life vests thoroughly. Overall, a good experience with friendly helpful staff and an incredible day to see otters, seals, and pelicans.

    Jellyfish next to the kayak.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Kayak Connection

    Review Highlights - Kayak Connection

    I've lived near Elkhorn Slough for years and now I'm kicking myself for not having gone kayaking there before.

    Mentioned in 64 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    I am so glad we did this and would do it again as there was probably more to see! My youngest was…read more4'8" (generally 5' recommended), but passed the pedal test when we let her try. If she did not we were planning to send her kayaking with dad. So glad we tried asking. We were on the water long before any kayakers headed out. We did run into mud and sea grass but as long as you paid attention to how to deal with it, it was within the average person/kids' ability to get out. Also easy to take photos/videos compared to kayaking! Pros-Easy to learn to handle, very stable, fast, kids love it, can explore harbor and slough. Cons-Low tide and sea grass limits where the bikes can go, but we found plenty of places to explore despite this. The only way to reserve is by calling the number.

    We've always driven by this place but I wasn't familiar hydrobikes were a thing until my fiancé…read morebooked for the two of us as a surprise. He booked through Groupon for half-price for 2 hours. Though, Marcus, the owner, later told us we could call in also to get better pricing. The parking is a bit confusing- make sure to park in the lot that is at the edge and doesn't have the restroom. You can take any spot but the ones marked for the club parking. To find the place, look for the hydrobike sign on the right side of the building behind the kayaks. There is a table with waivers beside the building where you can wait. We arrived when no one was there yet and ended up wandering around thinking we were in the wrong place. Before sending us off, Marcus greeted us, had us sign the waiver, and explained where to go and what to avoid. He then gave us lifejackets, had us meet at the dock in the other parking lot, and adjusted the seats to the hydrobikes before we went on our way. Some general things to note: avoid eel grass, stay 5 kayak lengths away from wildlife, and to make sure to not do anything that would warrant a rescue ($100 charge if you need it). I'm someone that isn't very comfortable with water and since the bikes are rather high up, I was paddling anxiously to get to the river while avoiding looking down at the marine life. After a while, I felt more comfortable, knowing I wouldn't accidentally fall into the water, and was able to see egg-yolk jelly fish and plenty of otters. My fiancé and I had a great time going around and enjoyed our experience. We did end up heading back a bit early because the seats got uncomfortable after a period of time. Otherwise, we plan on doing this again but with others in the future too. Tips: Wear comfortable clothing for the weather as it can get cold. Your shoes will get a bit wet so feel free to wear sandals/ flip-flops. I'd recommend binoculars so you can see the wildlife more easily. Bring a phone in case you do need to call for help. The bikes have a small storage compartment and cup holders if you need.

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    My friend Hayes and I went on a tor with LB and had the best time. She was an expert guide and had…read morethe best jokes!

    We had a blast kayaking with the otters and seals!…read more Parking was easy as was check in at the store. They gave an informational overview of where to paddle to see wildlife as well as other recommendations and safety tips. They provide life jackets, waterproof jackets and pants which were great too keep water off your clothes. There are porto potties available if you need to use the facilities. The staff were well very nice and helpful. The main con of our trip was the two person top sitting kayak we were on seemed to have problems with steering. No matter how hard we tried to turn right, the kayak always tended to veer the other direction which was frustrating. We got another kayak to check if they saw anything wrong visually on the water, but they couldn't see anything so maybe there was something going on with the underside of the kayak. Besides that, we had a nice time on the water and were able to enjoy seeing all the birds and cute otters and seals out and about. Later in the morning and early afternoon we even got to see the otters get more active and go diving for mud worms that looked like bright orange cigars. It was super cute seeing the otters sleeping nested in the kelp too. Try not to disturb them though since they need to conserve energy to stay warm! We unfortunately saw one tour group led by a guide that went right next to a sleeping pod of otters and woke them all up. Overall, fun place to go kayaking with wildlife! Glad we went on this trip here!

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    Blue Ocean Whale Watch

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    4.8(202 reviews)
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    Picked this company because of the reviews and everyone was right! After booking they provided a…read moredetailed list of everything we need, including parking and clear directions. Because of their location in Moss Landing, we saw several whales within minutes of leaving the harbor. In addition, we saw otters, sea lions, and dolphins. Both the captain and guide were professional and checked on us during the excursion. Also very knowledgeable and shared lots of great info. The boat is not as big as some of the tours we saw, which was nice because we all got a great view without being on top of each other. Highly recommend for all those reasons. The big plus is location. Don't have to deal with traffic getting in/out of Monterrey.

    I've tried out various whale watching tours in the Monterey Area & I always choose Blue Ocean over…read moreeveryone else. Why? 1. Capt Kate is so knowledgeable about everything we are seeing 2. Capt Kate doesn't book the boat full this way everyone has a great view 3. The boat itself is more suitable for an optimal viewing experience 4. Capt Kate will seek out various viewing opportunities. 5. Capt Kate keeps a respectful distance to the whale and never chases them 6. It's out of Moss Landing which is right where the activity is. Most other whale watching companies go out of the Fisherman's Wharf which means you have to spend 30-40 minutes traveling just to spend 35 minutes with the whales and then spend another 40 minutes it's traveling back. Bottom line you get more bang for your buck with Blue Ocean and it is truly a whale watching EXPERIENCE rather than a boat ride.

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    I took my first lesson with Eskape Sea Kayaking (ESK) back in 1999. I was hooked and have been…read moreexpanding my kayaking skills ever since, mainly under the tutelage of the instructors of ESK. Roger, the owner, is not only a great teacher, he is an amazing coach. He keeps his class sizes small so that he can give each person individual attention. Both in receiving lessons and watching him teach others, it always impresses me how much Roger tunes into the nuances and needs of each person in the class. The staff ESK brings in to help with the classes always mirrors that style as well. Roger, Tom, Bryan, Gregg and the rest are some of the best paddlers on the West Coast. Whether you want to just learn the basics or go out and take on the big waves, this is the place to go.

    What Yoda is to The Force, Roger Schumann is to kayaking. If your future kayaking plans involve…read moreanything more then calm fair-weather kayaking on a pond, Roger's instruction will be invaluable. Roger will taylor classes to your skill level and comfort. We spent four consecutive days with Roger and left far more competent and safe than when we arrived. The classes are reasonably priced and you could not ask for a more beautiful location. We saw Sea Otters, dolphins and birds beyond count. We could not have been happier!!! http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33048-r317079943-Santa_Cruz_California.html#

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