I wouldn't say this is the place to kayak if you're looking for something super quiet and peaceful, as there are lots of things going on when you're kayaking here - you're sharing the water with little planes taking off and landing, paddle-boarders, jet-skis, speed boats and duck boats and crew boats and everything in between. Having said that.. I really enjoyed kayaking here. Great views of Seattle and the Space Needle. Everything was easy, from getting in to getting out. We went yesterday (Saturday) when the weather was really nice and waited maybe ~30 mins for a double kayak (we arrived at 2 PM just FYI). Should you bring your phone to take photos? I would have. There's no reason you will get very wet - maybe just your butt and arms. extra: After an afternoon of kayaking, get some good German beer and food at Feierabend nearby! It was a great way to end the day. read more

Want to get out on the lake but don't have your own boat? It's okay! Go to Moss Bay and get on the water via kayak, mini catamarans, or paddleboards! Best part? You don't have to drag your stuff from the car to the water, everything is there for you, just hop in! Make sure to take a picture ID (they hold while you have their gear) and some form of payment. They also rent whenever you get there, so if you show up at 3:20, you'll have to be back in by 5:20, big plus for the flexible schedule! NOTE: If you're completely new, you may want to go somewhere else because they do not give you any instruction whatsoever. They got my paddleboard out and didn't even hold it for me to get on. If you're a veteran, then no worries. They also make you wear a life jacket, so if you're not a fan... there may be other places that you might want to check out. read more

Love this place! Decided to take a visiting friend kayaking on Friday afternoon, and after a quick Yelp search we decided on Moss Bay due to the high reviews and reasonable prices. I'm so glad we found this place! Located on Lake Union, it offers rentals for kayaks (1 or 2 person), paddle boards, and boats, and is very easy to get to. The staff is super friendly and knowledgable, and the prices are great. They charge per hour, and then pro-rate by 15 minute increments after, which is really nice. We didn't even have to wait when we arrived around 2pm on a Friday - some quick forms and we were right out on the water! The views are stunning - Gas Works Park at one end, and the Seattle skyline at the other. I had such a fantastic time! Bonus: there's a cute outdoor bar right next to Moss Bay - perfect to grab a beer or cider post kayak! read more

Friendly helpful staff. Went on a busy day but only a 10 minute wait time. Great views of Seattle. read more

4-stars for paddle-boarding: Boyfriend and I went on July 4th around 1pm. We wore bathing suits and took towels, a bottle of water (or can buy for $1), and personal belongings. The wait was ~30 minutes on a sunny day (not too shabby). Kayaks were more readily available than paddle-boards. With the backdrop of the Space Needle glistening in the background, you flap around the oddly cool and lukewarm Lake Union. It was my first time and I had fun dipping into the waters and rowing between motor boats. The two of us paddled for 2 hours ~$60. You store your belongings on open shelves in the shade (shady -- pun intended) but nothing was stolen (fabulous)! -1-star for parking: We asked one of the employees about the parking situation BEFORE we signed the papers. She had clearly mentioned the slanted public parking has to be paid for and the straight parking lot right by the bay was private and free; that private lot gave us a ticket for $43. Womp womp- preventable waste. read more

Love Kayaking. Had only been once - on Maui, in the ocean, which is super different than the lake - but definitely a "Yay! I'm a fan" of this place. Reasonable prices for two people to spend an afternoon enjoying the Seattle sun. Got there early (not cray cray early, but like 11am?) and called it a day by 2pm. The guy was super nice and only charged us for an hour and three quarters, no prompting necessary, just a nice guy. Save that I am totally exhausted, and my arms may not be functional tomorrow, I can't wait to go back again. And I love that my man and I got to do some team building stuff. Row, left, right, blahblah row grumble grumble shit! a boat! Row, smeh, wait, look at us in unison! Team adventure for life! Would be five stars but I'm a little cheap (cheap with money, not stars, but I guess stars too?) :-/ that's more about me than the place though so I guess I should do 5? 5 because the guy hooked us up. 4 because we could have gotten someone else. read more

It's so nice to have a local kayak rental place! Fun to have good activities nearby like this. Word to the wise... the first time we took a kayak out, we didn't realize there's a rudder. Be sure yours is in the water before you take off. It will make your life a better place. read more

My partner and I had a great time kayaking on the lake! There were plenty of available kayaks and service was quick and helpful. Waterproof bags are also provided to keep your valuables protected read more

My first time kayaking! I was a little scared to kayak in Lake Union with all the huge boats, but it wasn't all that bad. We had a living social coupon (dbl kayak) and it was awesome! We both had drippy bottoms by the end of the 2 hrs, but it was worth it. I wish they had the covers for us to use though. The workers seemed pretty nice. I agree with another reviewer though... I wish they told us about the steering mechanism thingy! It would have made kayaking easier. I will be back to try out the single kayaks! NOTE: You do have to pay for parking in the lot where Moss Bay is at, but its not any worse than Seattle streets. I think I paid 3 dollars and change for 2.5 hrs. I think max was like 5 hours for 5 bucks?? Something like that. Just don't forget to pay or else Diamond Parking will ticket! read more

My bf & I tried out this 2 hr $18 Livingsocial deal and it was NOT disappointing (: As a first-time kayaker, I like Moss Bay mainly due to their location! It is easy to find right off "I love sushi". It was only a short wait for the double kayak which usually ran out pretty fast! The staff are nice but it was kind of a "on your own" deal. If you are first-timer, go with someone who had kayaked before and rent the double to maximize your experience. It was a happy trip top off with great PNW weather. P.S. I love the panoramic view of Fremont/Ballard/QueenAnne that made me giddy up (: read more

We had a wonderful time paddle boarding on the lake. Perfect weather and super easy for our first time. We were afraid we might fall in but it was so stable and we could go down on our knees for added stability. read more

Moss Bay - Tours Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great place to rent a kayak or a hobie cat on Lake Union! Depending on which staff you get you get different level of instruction. Some are very attentive. So if you need help just ask. Also, if you want to rent a hobie cat you need to know how to set one up and be familiar with basic sailing. read more

Good, efficient, friendly staff. Well maintained, almost new looking equipment. My husband and I plan to become regulars there! read more

Moss Bay - Tours Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Prices are reasonable and kayaking was a lot of fun! Keep your phones and valuables on shore tho... we lost our new iPhone to the lake trying to capture the perfect shot. read more

Moss Bay is my #1 choice for kayak rentals in Seattle. Kevin and his staff are super friendly and efficient, getting you on the water quickly and hassle free. They do take the time, however, to make sure you know what you're doing and to explain safety tips. Kayaking is a great activity for families and more serious athletes as well and the Lake Union setting is hard to beat. TIP: Look for Groupon offers in late spring that are valid all summer. read more

Highlights: - Friendly employees - High-quality kayaks - Affordable - Easy check-in / check-out; lines weren't too long read more

Alright, I did it. I was THAT girl...the girl who swears she knows how to kayak and then FLIPS her kayak. In case anyone was wondering if Lake Union is cold in April, it's COLD. The awesome staff at Moss Bay took a brief moment to giggle at my misery, but by the time I was above water, one of their guys was on his way to my rescue. I felt extremely taken care of at Moss Bay, and just to prove I knew my way around a kayak, despite being wet, I had a great time and made it to the arboretum and back. Moss bay has a great team that provides amazing customer service, short wait times and great pricing. I'm excited to spend my Sundays here this summer and I'll do my best to not flip my kayak again. read more

Came here with a groupon on a Friday afternoon. It was kind of busy because there was a big group of kids on a field trip, but the staff was very accommodating and we only had to wait a little bit before we were helped. If you bring your phone/electronics/wallet, they have a dry bag that you can put your stuff in, so make sure you ask for one! The day we went kayaking was kind of windy, so rowing was a little challenging - make sure you check the wind speeds before you go. Maybe call ahead and ask for their recommendation? Overall I really liked this place and would definitely come again. read more

cheaper than most places. nice workers there, good service, good time, good view, nothing more you can really ask for. Just sucks that sometimes you gotta wait but it's always a fun time here! I even trust my stuff at their storage area! read more

Rented from Moss Bay a Perception Carolina single kayak (I think it was the 12 foot long version) It paddled very well but when I hit some crosswinds I wished I had a rudder. It was very stable. The rental process was quick especially considering it was Labor Day weekend. They did give me a dry bag to pack my belongings in, and there was plenty of room between my legs (within reach) for it. The girl who helped me was very nice but she didn't know how to adjust the seat back or the paddle (to turn the blades). I asked for a spray skirt but we could not put it on ( for this reason the owner gave me a steep discount at the end -which caught me by surprise). I had a great time on the water. I chose Moss Bay because it was first come first serve without reservation (which I forgot to make) 2 days later I called Northwest Outdoor Center to make a reservation, and I was on the water an hour later in a higher end boat with better guidance and advice, and much cheaper parking. But overall for some fun on the water both outfits will work well. read more

Very efficient for paddle boarding. You can go out as long as you want and they'll just charge you by how long you were out.

Love kayaking at this place. The people are always really nice, they provide dry bags for your stuff and life vests along with you rental. You can choose between a double or single kayak or a paddle board. They're all reasonably priced. It's a fun area to kayak in too great views of the space needle, the bridges and waterways and gasworks park. Also a lot of good food near by for when you're hungry coming back. read more

I like the positive helpful attitude of the staff. They were willing to teach us to sail with very little wind and we did learn some good techniques for dealing with these conditions. Union bay the body of water is not a fun place to go out on Sunday too much action on the water. read more

This is a perfect way to explore SLU. The instructions are clear and the checkout is very fast. There is almost no wait on a Sunday around 11:00. The price is also reasonable. The fare increases by a quarter hour after the first hour, which is great! I highly recommend this place. read more

Moss Bay - Tours Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My kids have attended the week-long all-day camp at Moss Bay this week, and they have had a blast! They loved all the boating and land activities. The counselors are all very friendly and professional, and have the energy to keep the kids happy and safe on the water all day. For two of the days the kids paddled/sailed over to Ivar's for lunch, which is a great adventure. My children are 8 and 10, so one was in the younger group and one in the older group- both had an excellent time. I am surprised and thrilled that my younger daughter loved sailing best. Communication was great before camp started- they answered my questions well and when I had a last-minute safety concern I had a phone conversation with the director who put my mind at ease. I have two suggestions for parents considering signing their kids up for camp at Moss Bay: 1- plan to sign up on the day that registration begins, or expect to be on the wait list (but no worries, we got in off the wait list); 2- don't send your kids to this camp *right* before you send them off to sleepaway camp... they will want to be able to take the weekend off before doing something intense, because this camp is more physically demanding than what most kids are used to doing (outside on the water all day can be draining, especially if the weather is a bit too hot/cold/rainy). That was my bad- my kids did this camp M-F and had to leave for sleepaway camp on Saturday.. so I kept my older daughter home on Friday because she was starting to get a cold. If she had all weekend to recover it wouldn't be an issue, but we can't chance her getting sent home from sleepaway camp! One last thing to keep in mind- if you're not used to driving to SLU every day, get ready for some insane traffic. Luckily my husband works nearby on Capitol Hill so it wasn't a huge issue for us, but I drove them the first day and was unprepared for how stressful the drive would be. Yikes! read more

Reasonable price. Good service. Convenience right by street car. Wish they have snack/drink stand.

it was really nice. The weather and water(temperature) was perfect!! this was my first kayak experience and moss bay made my day. the staffs were real nice. P.S. Water was only a dollar but it was not cold. besides that everything was perfect! read more

Had a great experience here! The guy was so helpful, patient, and thorough. Kayaks were in good condition and life vests were not stinky and gross. On a busy day there are a lot of boats to steer clear from, but other than that I love the scenery! read more

I simply cannot think of anything that is more fun than enjoying a casual afternoon kayaking on the lake, with the perfect weather in Seattle! It was not at all crowded, so we came by without a reservation and was still able to get the boat and paddle quickly. After filling in the form, we were let to the river and handed over the paddle. Our instructor was also nice enough to explain us lots of the attention points before letting us leave. Really enjoyed myself! This was definitely the best experience and I would like to recommend it to my friends for sure! read more

Staff here is so friendly, willing to help you out, and knowledgeable. Came on a Sunday, around 1. Despite the beautiful day, we didn't have to wait. Rented a double kayak, which was $21/hour, then prorated for every additional 15 minutes rented. We had the option of renting a kayak with peddles to help you steer. You can keep your belongings on cubbies, or in a huge dry bag, which is what we did and strapped to your kayak. That thing easily can hold a duffel bag full of valuables. Opt for the dry bag. There's a lot to see, from the boat houses, seaplanes, to Gaswork Park at the other end of the lake. When you stop in the middle of the lake, make sure to take in the skyline and surrounding view. Gorgeous. Only downside, but this is our fault, is that we came on a weekend, so boaters were everywhere, making kayaking a little challenging. There was still a safe amount of space for kayakers and paddle boarders. Kayaking from Moss Bay to Gaswork Park and back will take about 1.5 hours, at a moderate pace. I would definitely return! Awesome way to get some exercise while appreciating Seattle's beautiful environment. But I'd try to visit on a weekday to avoid choppy waters. read more

Great service here and very helpful! They seem to also have kids programs during the summer - there was a huge group of elementary aged kids kayaking away when I visited over the summer! read more

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The people who work here are super friendly and helpful, and make the whole process easy. Rates are pretty good ($18/hr for SUP and $15/hr for kayak) and the location is convenient. Check out the city parking lot just above the paid private lots. Great place to rent on lake union! read more

If you have the patience to play who's on first with the staff, go for it. If you'd like to save yourself the frustration of dealing with incompetence, you might want to go elsewhere. It's a shame, because it's a great location with decent prices. I'd honestly probably go back again, but they are in desperate need of a decent manager on busy weekends. Second time at Moss Bay, second time with a really disappointing experience with the staff. We wouldn't have come back at all if we didn't already have a Living Social voucher that we couldn't use the first time (because after asking multiple times if it was okay to sit on the patio while we waited forever, and being told that was fine and being promised they would yell our names when we were up, we were then skipped over and bumped to the bottom of the list repeatedly for the next 2 hours until we gave up and went home). This time around was no different. I waited patiently in line to sign up for paddle boards, and they inexplicably went directly to the guy right behind me and put his name on the list ahead of me (?!). Alright, no big deal, maybe lines work differently here at Moss Bay, we put our name on the list behind him. Then, much like our previous experience, two more couples walked up and said they'd been waiting forever over on the patio, and were told that they had been called and skipped over 30 minutes prior. So now instead of being next in line, we ended up being 6 deep. No problem, I've been to Moss Bay before, as long as you stand next one of the kids working there they'll just hand you the next paddle board that comes in and skip everybody else in line. Which they did, causing us to cut the line, which I would have felt bad about had I not already put in multiple hours of waiting time over the course of 2 Saturdays at Moss Bay. I know these guys are overwhelmed on weekends, but come on... put somebody in charge, get a list, and maybe walk out to the lovely patio 15 yards behind the shop to see if your customers decided to sit in an actual chair while waiting? Is that too much to ask? Especially when you tell your customers that's what you'll do? Then, when waiting to pay, my girlfriend asked if she could use her kayak voucher to pay for the paddle board and pay the difference out of pocket. The first employee said no. Then she said she'd check. She checked, and then said for sure no. Then I asked why not, she said she didn't know but we couldn't do it. I got fed up and I asked the manager, and he said sure, no problem, we won't even make you pay the difference. Great communication guys. Honestly, if you just act like you knew what you were doing, you could probably walk up, grab a kayak or paddle board, throw it in the water and take off and just pay them when you get back... the staff has no idea what's going on. I watched a guy have a whole conversation asking permission to load two paddle boards on a boat, take them to his boathouse for the day, and bring them back later. He was assured that was not a problem. The next employee he talked to told him he absolutely could not do that, the paddle boards had to be paddled out and back from the dock. He went back and found the first guy and he loaded the paddle boards up on his boat for him. read more

Just before summer started, Moss Bay offered a half-off deal for kayak rentals through LivingSocial so I bought the $18 coupon for 2 hours of hiking in a 2-person kayak. My dad and I stopped by on a Wednesday afternoon on a pretty nice day. Look for the signs for I Love Sushi, find some parking (I don't think there's free parking), and then walk towards and then past I Love Sushi towards the water and you should see signs for Moss Bay. Although their website indicates that there may be a wait for kayaks on a nice day, there was no one around when we showed up so we got changed, signed a waiver, and hopped into a kayak after they got us the right-sized life jackets and gave us some paddles. They helped us get into the kayak safely and then reminded us how to hold the paddles but that was it--no further instruction after that (not that we needed it but first-timers might be more nervous about that). There's nothing stellar about Moss Bay--just any old kayak rental place but I think I'll be back since it's in a pretty convenient location in SLU (how great would it be to kayak and then hop in to Daniel's for HH?!) and the prices are about average. read more

Fantastic experience as first time paddle boarders. Both staff members were friendly, energetic, and made us feel confidently at ease about heading out on Lake Union (tho we were kinda nervous about how we would do!). We used a Groupon for two hours of paddle boarding, and wished we had more time to stay out longer! I don't have much to compare to but I'd certainly come back here again. Nice they provided dry sacks to bring our stuff with us on the water. read more

I normally don't take the time to write reviews, but my I had to share my experience here. After seeing a previous "review," I am glad I did. I was actually checking in at the same time Andy S. was "verbally harassed." Andy S. had moored in the public docks a few feet away and attempted to untie someone else's boat (I don't think he asked permission to do so) in an effort to better moor his. "Kevin" told him not to untie it. I don't think he rented from Moss Bay, but looked "embarrassed." The "Kevin" guy apologized for having to raise his voice and even gave us a discount because he felt bad! Honestly, he didn't have to do that. The staff was very nice and had everything ready for us. They offered a dry bag to make none of our valuables got wet. It was my first time paddleboarding and was very nervous about falling in. One of the staff members, Francis, gave me a quick tutorial: be sure to ask for him if you've never paddleboarded before! It was much easier than I thought and I never fell in. I HIGHLY recommend Moss Bay. Its got a great view too! read more

Too good to be true their people are super friendly and helpful they r truely one of the best ever. Have been here four times

This is going back a while, but I was recently thinking about it again because it was so appalling. My child took a summer camp. At the end of the day, when parents are arriving for pick up, the kids are allowed to jump into the lake before going home. She was about to jump in, but hesitated for a minute because she was a little scared. Up comes another child who shoved her in the water. My daugheter was horrified and scared, and I had to pull her out of the water. The staff was standing around and did NOTHING! I presume that part of the camp day is spent on safety and safe behavior around the water. I would also presume that when certain rules are violated that staff would view that as a "teachable" moment. But no -- not one staff member came to our aid, talked to the other child, even gave any recognition of what just happened. When I told the other child that pushing her in wasn't OK, the mom accosted me and said her child didn't do it. I was like -- hey I saw her do it, there is no question. I took my child with me immediately after being accosted by the mom, with zero help from staff, and never came back. The next day I left a voicemail for the owner of the business, who I think lives in California, and he never called me back even though I was calling him about an egregious safety issue with a CHILD! Do not bring your child there, ever. read more

This is a super place to go for rentals. They have lots available (of kayaks anyway, that's what I rented), and helpful but non-intrusive staff to get you out on the water. I am told that some of the Lake Union rental businesses have all kinds of rules about where you can take the kayaks, but I got none of those kinds of restrictions from Moss Bay. They told me it was fine if I went through the locks, and I imagine I could have taken the thing to the Kenai Peninsula for all they cared, so long as I paid. The kayak was in fine shape, and the location on the Lake is great. It's right near the seaplane airport, but the pilots are very polite and careful about boaters so it wasn't a problem. I had a great time paddling to the Ballard Bridge, which is a nice couple hours from Moss Bay's dock. read more

This is a great place to rent kayaks/paddle boards, but be prepared to wait on busy, sunny days. We waited almost an hour for 3 paddleboards to become available. Once you are on the water, you can stay out as long as you'd like, but you'll be charged every 15 minutes so don't come back after a nice tour of Lake Union expecting to pay less than $25. The staff is helpful. read more