I joined one of the beginner paddle board classes with a friend on Sunday a week or two ago. I…read morethink the class had about 7 participants total, with two teachers. I came in from Manhattan, and took the PATH to get back home. The walk from the station to Pier 13 isn't short, so I can see why Google Maps suggests the bus to get to Pier 13. Personally I plan to snag a ride share from the station to Pier 13 in the future since I run late to most things and the walk took a while. Although I've been paddle boarding before, this class highlighted that I had never been taught some paddle boarding basics during my prior adventures. We hung out pretty close to the docks most of the time because the water was so choppy that day, but I believe the instructors said under better conditions the class sometimes ventured further out. For those of you wondering about how clean the water is - I personally did not mind falling in and was splashing my hair with the water to cool down as needed. The water felt fairly clean, and was "brackish," as the instructors liked to say. The instructors for this class were great, namely Ben (I believe that was his name anyway). He was fun, easy to talk to, and 100% willing to jump into the water to demonstrate re-mounting the board for people that had fallen. They cover how to get onto your board from the dock, how to hold your paddle, which parts of your body you should be engaging to paddle, paddling while kneeling, paddling while standing, tips on steadying yourself, and re-mounting the board. By the end of the hour I felt way more confident, and was interested in signing up for their other classes where you get a guided tour of the nearby areas. There was mention of paddling to an island nearby for one of those classes. Would highly recommend this as a weekend activity. There's plenty to eat and drink on the piers/walkways around there after you get done.

What an amazing time! A safe new and enjoyable adventure. We learned a new skill, the people in…read morecharge made sure we had an amazing experience.

Margo and Paul took excellent care of us on our sunset kayak trip. With an emphasis on safety, they…read moretaught the basics on land, made sure we were comfortable on the water, and then led us on a tour, stopping often to share historical information (and to let the stragglers catch up.) Our trip wasn't a high level athletic event, but Manhattan Kayak does offer training and equipment to get you there if you desire. PS, my wife forgot her wallet in a changing room, the staff called and texted immediately but we were already home when we checked our messages. Stacy came in early the next day so we could collect the valuables. Operation, equipment, and staff all highly recommended at Manhattan Kayak.

I did a night kayak and took Kayaking Basics 1 and 2 from Manhattan Kayak. The night kayak was…read moreslow-paced for beginners. It looks cool with all of the under-lit kayaks. In Kayak Basics 1 and 2 I learned a lot I didn't know. They run small classes so that you get individual feedback when you're doing something correctly or incorrectly. Kayak 1 covered basic strokes. Kayak 2 added more techniques like tilting the kayak. In Kayak 2 they had us do a "wet exit" where you exit the kayak while inverted and get back in. I've always feared inverting and avoided it--and will continue to attempt to avoid it, but doing so in a controlled environment provided valuable knowledge to handle that situation if it ever occurred unexpectedly.

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.

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.

The setup: Mother's Day was coming up and I always try to find something unique and different for…read morethe momma of my kids as well as the mother-in-law. And I stumbled upon Urban Paddle and booked it for a 9am adventure. We lucked out that every variable and condition was ideal: weather, tide, calm water, almost no other boat-related traffic. We're a party of 7. The 'Urban Crew' numbered at 5. We were spoiled from start to finish with a group of really cool and helpful workers that were informative, fun, professional and made sure we were always safe and engaged the entire hour. (Make sure to watch their 6-minute YouTube video ahead of time so you know all about the proper paddling/rowing techniques when it comes time to hit the water.) The 'Urban Crew' were also invaluable because the owner was constantly taking pictures and videos and at the end airdropped them to us which was a nice 'cherry on top' since you can't really snap pictures for big chunks of the time when you're on the water. Is it expensive for an hour? No doubt. Did everyone absolutely love kayaking and getting to see everything from the Colgate clock to the back of the Statue of Liberty's head to the NYC skyline, not to mention all of the stunning yachts all docked and looking completely out of my price-range? Of course. Was it the funniest thing to see my mother-in-law somehow leaning back in her kayak like she was on a hammock while the father-in-law did all the hard work? Yup. (Did a cranky security guard try her best to be a stick in the mud regarding confusion over some parking-related issues when we were about to leave? Oh yeah.) I'd suggest clothing/footwear that you don't mind getting wet as well as sunglasses and sunblock (that sun is no joke bouncing off the water). Highly recommended. (The Mrs. is already plotting when to go back and I think she's even pricing kayaks to buy with that stimulus check that's burning a hole in her wallet.)

Overall this place is solid. My boyfriend and I went for the LED kayaking. The view was beautiful!…read moreThe difficulty was a 2/10 but honestly it does depend who you are and where your skill level is now. Our guide was perfect and he talked to us all night! Only bummed I never received the photos taken from that night. The entire trip takes a little over an hour. Parking is a little confusing but you have to find the parking authority and tell them you are there to kayak and pay $5 for a pass to put on your car. Overall great experience. I strongly advise not to put your hand into the water (who really knows what is in the Hudson River)

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

We first came to Endless SUP last summer when we were looking to purchase one of their end of…read moreseason rental boards. They let us rent out the SUP and and then applied the rental fee towards our purchase of the board. Considering these boards, are well over $1,000 we got a good deal on the SUP and the Werner paddle was included in the price. These paddles alone are close to $100. The thing I really noticed during our visits is just how friendly, nice and professional the staff has been. They take the time to talk to you, ask you about your needs, and direct you to potential options. The staff we encountered also SUP, so that always leads to a multitude of conversations. Good places to SUP, bad places, types of different boards, etc, etc. Although, they have some great water wear, the clothing options are on the pricier side. I found a cute pair of water shorts, but couldn't justify paying $60.

First timer and definitely impressed and so happy we booked with Endless SUP. Our instructor was…read moreso patient and informative in teaching us the basics, as well as friendly. We could not have asked for a better instructor!!!

Lovely afternoon on the water! Mike was super helpful and professional. I look forward to returning…read moreto this scenic spot!

I am thankful for Yellow Dog Paddle! Mike and team are friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and have a…read moregenuine passion for what they do. The kayaks and PFD are in great shape. Today was my 3rd trip and I can't wait to paddle again soon. Thank you!

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!

Brooklyns Best Kids Camp available! My 7yo was able to surf, skimboard, kite board, windsurf,…read morekayak, fish and just have an amazing blast! Instructors were flexible and very patient with kids.

Terrible communication and very unorganized. Our son loves the outdoors more than most kids but…read morespent much of the summer driving on a bus to and from activities.