My friends and I were looking for something different to do so we decided to give kayaking a try. I…read moream SO glad we ended up with Spence! He's incredibly friendly, knowledgable and chill. He gave us all really good advice that we would not have known otherwise (watch the water for ripples, that's where you'll get stuck on rocks, hold the paddle exactly like this, make sure if you ever go on your own you have a life jacket on the boat otherwise you'll get fined, etc.). Best of all he's just great to be around; he's fun and chatty and you can tell he loves the outdoors and his job. I think the best way to sum it up is to say that everyone in my group left the trip and said they wanted to purchase kayaks of our own! Maybe another guided trip or two isn't a bad idea, though, as the James is a tricky river...

This is so sad that I am the first reviewer...I hope more will review…read more I was looking for something different to do and saw a Living Social Kayak offer from KR...so, I figured "why not?" I called and Spence is just the nicest, most down-to-earth guy. Very calm...even after I told him that this was going to be my first time and I have no clue what I am doing or even what I should wear. 8am on a Saturday...I was not pleased...until I was in the water. Got to the site and the instruction was great! Brief, yet everything (I think) that we needed to know. He did everything...dragged the boats down the landing....held it while I cautiously got in....and off we went. I got into my own little zone and just paddled. Spence came and got me and we chatted for a bit....nice, nice guy. I cannot wait to go again!! So, for the suggestions...there are always suggestions. It would have been cool for Spence to have had everyone in the group introduce themselves. It was not until just before we ended that I found out that someone else on the trip and I work for the same company. I think the website needs some updating. Spence mentioned a moonlight paddle. This sounds wonderful to me, but I cannot find it on the site.I need to plan a bit further in advance than most people (I travel a lot) and knowing this schedule earlier would be helpful so I can plan my travel around events such as this. Low key, no frills, quality equipment, and nice guy!

Our whitewater rafting guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and incredibly sweet. He was a high…read moreschool senior working there for the summer, and he shared interesting facts about Richmond and the history of the buildings along the way. He also pointed out the birds and native plants we saw throughout the trip. I always thought whitewater rafting was primarily a summer activity, but I learned that the water is actually at its lowest during the summer, so there aren't as many rapids. Our guide encouraged us to come back in the fall or winter for a more thrilling experience! The company was casual and laid-back, and they were very responsive when I accidentally booked the wrong date. They quickly adjusted my reservation without any hassle. Sunscreen was available if needed, and water shoes could be rented if you didn't have appropriate footwear. I'll definitely be back for some whitewater rafting during the cooler seasons!

Had a great time with my kiddo (10) and our guide Mason. Weather was beautiful, other people in our…read moregroup were chill, and we felt a great balance of safe and excited. Some swimming, rock jumping, and riding through rapids... a really good experience. Thanks Mason, Stephanie (the other group's guide), and our driver/photographer, Nick!

The owners of Hudson Valley Swim are some of the best people you'll ever meet! I highly recommend…read moretheir service based off of their attention to detail. SwimRight Pool and Spa believes swim lessons are one of the most valuable life lessons anyone can learn

This is a great place for kids to learn how to swim. They use a building block approach to making…read morekids feel at ease and to gain confidence. Very nice and clean facility. Indoor pools are heated. Plenty of parking and place for parents (and grandparents) to sit while the kids swim. Don't forget dollar bills for the $1 vending machine. Next door is a very well stocked swim store in case you forget something.

I can't say enough good things about Quest! Especially Coach Kelly.. My son refused to put his head…read moreunderwater for MONTHS while doing lessons at another place. She had him diving under in 2 lessons. I am blown away with her patience, consistency and skill. She also makes it fun for my boys. Their favorite day of the week is Tuesdays because it is swim night. She has given my boys so much confidence, in the water and outside the water because they know they can conquer something difficult that they were once scared of. Highly recommend!

I had the pleasure of participating in the Basic SUP course with Bryan and Aaron and I would highly…read morerecommend it if you are new to SUP. You register for their classes on their website. Once you register you are automatically sent a Google Calendar event invite, which was a great touch! I think the instructors said they cap the class at 8 students, although we only had 4. I was wondering what to wear and glad I made the right choice- I think everyone in our group was wearing a bathing suit with some quick-drying clothes over top. It doesn't really matter what you wear on your feet because you will be taking your shoes off when you get on the board. I believe lessons are still held if it's raining, but not if it's storming. If you have a waterproof camera, you can give it to one of the instructors to hold on to and take pictures of you. We left our keys/water behind. They begin by teaching you about types of boards/paddles, all of the parts and their purpose, as well as safety. Once you are out in the water, you will practice kneeling, getting to your feet, and turning around. You will also practice maneuvering around objects and spend some time just paddling. It is a-ok if you fall and in fact, it was encouraged just to help us get over the fear of falling in. Both instructors were very encouraging and positive! I'm so glad I took this course as I started out moving my arms/paddle in a not-so-effective way and probably wouldn't have figured out how to do it the right way on my own. The course definitely helped me feel comfortable on the board. So what's next? They offer their Splash course and Pack Paddles to those who have taken the beginner course. They also offer eco tours regardless of whether you have taken the beginner course. I'm definitely tempted to try the Pack Paddle next because after today I can't wait to get back out there!

Had a great time. Scheduling online was simple and easy. All the equipment you need is provide for…read morea beginner lesson. The pace was leisurely. I felt that the instruction was direct and easy to understand. Everyone got more confident and comfortable as the lesson went on. Really glad I did this. I always felt safe and looked after. It's a great outfit.

Tyler was great! Quick lesson! Easy rental process, and he arranged for in and out of marina as…read morewell as dinner reservations!

We had such a great day on the water, all due to Kingfish Boat Rentals. They were super…read moreaccommodating, the boat was spacious, clean and comfortable and they did everything to make it a great day for me and my guests. I can't recommend them enough. Great customer service and a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

We loved our experience with Coach Fennec at our neighborhood pool. Coach was beyond encouraging…read moreand helped my kids feel confident in the water in just a few lessons!

Got a great swimming instructor---a little pricy since we're going through a middle man, but saw…read moregreat results for my daughter.

Employ more compassionate "coaches" who actually enjoy children...dont traumatize children or…read moreparents. UPDATE: The manager worked through the incident with my granddaughter and seems to have the kids success and experiences as the priority.. so I changed my rating to a 4 in hopes that my granddaughter will be successful there.

My 2-year-old daughter previously took swim lessons at Goldfish and LOVED her experience there. We…read moregot a gift card from a friend to Aqua Tots and decided to give it a shot. We took one class here and it completely traumatized her. It was not explained to us that Aqua Tots uses a "pro submersion" technique. On her first class, a stranger held her under water for 5 seconds. She screamed and cried. (Wouldn't you if a stranger held you under water?!) She told us for days that she didn't want to swim anymore. We returned to Goldfish and, after 3 weeks of warming up to it, she is back to loving the water (and goes under of her own free will.) She still tells us to this day that she doesn't want to see the "mean" teachers at Aqua Tots again. We reached out to Aqua Tots to see if this is their normal practice. They explained that it is. That's fine- we obviously do better with the teaching methods used at Goldfish. BUT they refused to issue a refund for the remaining months that I had pre-paid as all sales are final. Lesson learned: DO not pre-pay in advance until you give it a try. And (in my opinion) go to Goldfish instead.