I took my 8 year old son winter river rafting in February. We were in town for a wedding, but…read morewanted to use our free time to do something different/ unique. It was the perfect activity. The guides were great and luckily we were paired with another family we had small kids, making the experience even more fun for my son. We usually go to MI in the summers, so we'll be back to JVO for some summer fun too.

Winter rafting with Jordan Valley Outfitters was an incredibly wonderful experience. It was by far…read moreone of the coolest experiences I've ever done! Reserving my party's spot online was easy. I received an email with all of the information and directions I needed beforehand. The bus ride to the river's start point was comfortable. On the way, we were briefed on what to expect and safety information. The winter rafting ride was magical. We were lucky enough to have just gotten a fresh snowfall. The views truly looked like a scene out of a movie. The Jordan River was a stable flow therefore little paddling was required. The snow's heaviness weighed some branches down over the river so some ducking was in order! Our guide, Sam, was outstanding. He was knowledgeable about the river, area, and provided great local recommendations! Partway on our journey, our guide led us off the river. Where we were treated to homemade cookies and hot drinks. Run don't walk to Jordan Valley Outfitters!

No nonsense, well priced, easy in and out. Kayaks were comfortable although the paddles were not…read morethe long, curved type.

If I could give Patrick 6 stars, I would. He runs a great local bike shop here in Bellaire - I've…read morepurchased two bikes from him so far. He knows bikes, is priced fairly and gives back to the community by way of his leadership of the Glacial Hills Pathway and Nature Area. This is a "must stop by and say hi" place that I highly recommend.

Nothing beats a day on the water in Northern Michigan. A week before our vacation I rented a boat…read morefor our family. Unfortunately, the forecast called for a cold and rainy day for the Monday our boat was booked. The company told me they have a no refund policy unless it's really raining, but the cold alone isn't fun when on a boat. Fortunately, they were very accommodating even with their policy and let us move the boat to a few days later when the weather forecast looked perfect. We had a boat big enough for 14 people (very roomy for our party of 5) and a tube. My husband doesn't have much boating experience, but didn't have any issues after a 3 minute lesson from the friendly woman at Boyne Watersports. The highlight for the kids was definitely the tubing. They have 2 types of tubes: the laying down ones my kids use at camp (for 3) and another one that's more like a couch (for 2). We opted for the "couch" tube and the kids absolutely loved it. They went again and again and again. By the end they were asking for a "hells ride" and flipping all over the place. We wish we had taken them up on instructions for how to dock the boat because the kids started to get hungry and we passed by their new favorite restaurant, The Landing. However, my husband was too nervous that he would crash the boat attempting to dock so we waited to eat until we got back. 4 hours was the minimum, but I think 3 hours is plenty. It's also a very expensive outing, but was one of the highlights of our trip up north! I'd definitely use this company again. They did mention you could rent boats for less time if you walk up, although the gorgeous day we rented was a busy one for them so probably best to rent in advance.

My girlfriends and I rented a pontoon for the day (10:30-5:30) and had a BLAST! We all felt the…read moreexperience was well-worth the cost, given the amazing customer service and beautiful boat. Our total came out to around $700 with using a 1/2 tank of gas (went all the way to Charlevoix). We floated in Oyster Bay and loved our experience!

Great experience. Knowledgable, flexible, and has great equipment…read more I was traveling to Michigan to meet up with a range of family. I wanted to rent some equipment that would allow me to have fun as an experienced windsurfer and to be able to teach a range of people weighing from 145 to 225 lbs, and ranging in age from 19 to 60+. Dave provided everything we needed and offered to swap things out as wind conditions changed. He knows his stuff and is fair and honest and a nice person.

Torch Lake is Michigan's longest inland lake at 19 miles, deepest at 285' and 2nd largest. What…read morethose facts don't convey, is the beauty of the lake. Drive NE Torch Lake from M88 for a couple of miles and look to your right take in the beauty of the lake from the hills NE Torch lake winds through. Locals say that 6 shades of blue can be found in Torch's crystal clear water and I believe it to be true. I've had the pleasure of getting to know the owners Dave and Lisa over the last couple of years. They are seasoned sailors and and can provide lessons if you are new to sailing/windsurfing or just rusty. In the case of windsurfing they have a simulator on land that allows them to give instructions while you practice, without getting your feet wet. They will also take you out into the lake and provide instruction based on your skill level. Their business is located in a small subdivison on the NE side of the lake. Wak-Wing can be challenging to find with a GPS, keep in mind the city is Central Lake. Look for the white sign with a sailboat on it. While it's possible to catch them at the beach, it's highly recommended that you call and make an appointment. Enjoy!

Great service - better than the rest. We called these guys up and asked them to deliver and they…read moredid. Free delivery puts them above the rest. They provided us with the paddle, quick instructions, and a flotation device. Very friendly and I'll be using them again.

We had such a great time learning to paddle board. Keith was so helpful in showing us what to do…read moreand giving us tips on how to be successful doing it. He brought our boards to Lake Walloon, which was a perfect place to board. Keith was kind, courteous, and on time. Would definitely recommend this business for a day of fun!

For the sixth year in a row my family has rented skis from the Bahnhoff ski shop. Our experience…read moreis always excellent. The quality of equipment, the correct fitting and the wonderful service keeps bringing us back. This year we had a problem when on our second day of skiing. Our granddaughter hurt her arm late in the day to the extent that the ski patrol snowmobiled her down the hill and we ran her to Spectrum hospital. In the chaos of getting her down the hill and to the hospital we left some rental equipment at Nubs. Bahnhoffs only concern was with the health of my granddaughter, not with the rentals. They showed complete understanding and compassion for the situation. End result, we lost a helmet and set of poles. Their equipment was the least of Bahnhoff's concern. The manager said to not worry that they will work with Nubs in retrieving the equipment. What a great staff Bahnhoff Sports employs, I thank them all. Bill Van Cleve Ann Arbor MI

Enter at your own risk…read more "Guys, come on! It's a holiday. We're closed. You gotta go!", said no business owner angrily to guests that just spent $600 a mere FOUR MINUTES after closing. Just kidding. Don, the new owner of Bahnhof said that to us. CONTEXT: We showed up 75 minutes before closing on New Year's Eve. We immediately asked for support with our selections. An incredibly bright, pleasant, and patient young man did an AMAZING job explaining all the ins and outs of the items we were considering. Item by item, we added to our pile and proceeded to checkout. We loved our experience up to that point and sincerely looked forward to bringing in our four adult children for complete outfitting at the end of January-likely totaling thousands of dollars. THEN it happened! At precisely 7:04 pm, our transaction was finished. We grabbed our bags ready to walk out, and I asked a question about socks. As the young man was answering, the angry old man others complained about in their Google reviews very snottily says, "Guys, come on! It's a holiday. We're closed. You gotta go!" We were dumbfounded. Who speaks to any customer like that? In my experience, someone who lacks gratitude, respect for others, and basic human decency. Supporting this store was a grave error on our part, which is why we promptly returned every item the next day. We then proceeded right next door to Boyne Country Sports, where we received INCREDIBLE service from a staff who clearly RESPECTS and APPRECIATES their clients. As a local resident and life-long entrepreneur that consults with small businesses, I *passionately* support small-local whenever possible. Frankly, that makes writing a negative review more difficult. However, I feel it is a duty to share our experience, so you can choose to spend your hard-earned dollars where they are appreciated. After sharing our experience with many other locals from Boyne City to Petoskey over the last few days, it seems that most who know this character have one common point of knowledge - he does not like out-of-town visitors. This is evidenced by other 1-star Google reviews, Don, shows up as an angry, rude, and spiteful old man. I would go as far as saying he is an utter embarrassment to the local small business community. I feel for his staff (the young man others have mentioned) who are left working for a tyrant, who seemingly likes to bark orders at his employees. And, it may only be a matter of time before the right local business owner comes along and sees the value of this young man and others, and how fortunate they would be to have them represent their store instead. For locals that have been supporting this place for years (most prior to Don's purchase in 2017), perhaps your experience is different. For those of you traveling to the area, I invite you to spend your money anywhere else. From direct experience, I can say that you will receive better service and better selection, at a more competitive price. In my 25 years of helping businesses grow through their challenges, I have learned that some owners know their strengths and weaknesses, and where their talents are best utilized. And then there are some who are clueless. In my experience, Mr. Marszalec is clearly the latter. Otherwise, he would know not to step foot in the retail, customer-facing space. I can't help but wonder what the Smith's think about this type of reputation being created after spending 40 years building such a wonderful business. Unfortunately, having knowledge, experience, or even a passion for an industry does not equate to being a good operator, much less a good leader. As such, despite feedback being a gift and an opportunity to learn and grow, I have little hope of my review creating any actual change in future customer experiences considering he chose to not even offer a heartfelt apology. So enter this store at your own risk - or simply support a different local business instead.

Came to kayak the Crystal River…read more We rented a tandem kayak and a single sit on top kayak. It was roughly 109. They do military discount so it was cheaper to come in store than book online. It was very easy coming in and renting. Minimal paperwork and then you go wait for the van to take you to the start. The van was a 5-8 min ride to the start of the river. You go in the van with the other groups who are going. Heads up there is poison ivy where they park the van. But they tell you where and to avoid it. All the staff were very good at telling us things we needed to do and look for on our trip. But incase you got curious little ones, maybe keep them close til they get on the kayak to avoid any poison ivy. We started at 1040 and ended at 1310. So roughly 2.5 hours it took us. They do let 12 and up rent their own kayak I believe or it's 13 and up. I'm glad we did a tandem kayak for my 12 year old daughter. She would have got her self stuck alot with the trees in the river haha. If your child isn't experienced in kayaking I'd do a tandem so you can help them navigate around the trees. There's a lot of fallen trees in the river. But nothing you can't navigate around. I won't lie I did get stuck twice haha. We brought a cooler and a dry bag and they fit on my kayak. It was very fun. We had great weather it was a little cloudy but we preferred that then get beat down with the sun for 2.5 hours. We would definitely come back again!

Sooo..where to begin. I'm really disappointed that this adventure didn't work out. Off the bat, we…read morewere late getting started and checked in. There were several things that caused this (a huge group in front of us, our kayaks being taken by someone else, more kayaks being shuttled over), but that wasn't the issue. I've kayaked before and have some experience here. The river is not for beginners. I was looking forward to something relaxing, not too technical, but that's not what I got. I had to paddle and maneuver constantly. About 1/2-3/4 of the river is covered in downed trees and logs. The staff say that this makes the river "interactive" and that this is out of their hands. At some points, it felt ridiculous. It got extremely narrow, and when we'd try and navigate around obstacles, the water was so low we'd get stuck on the sandy bottom. A sign at the beginning referenced that the water was at the "middle" level. I can't imagine how it'd be if the water were any lower. We're taking less than a foot in some places. The other person I went with flipped her kayak twice due to debris. Additionally, we saw several people flip and get stranded, especially when using the tandem kayaks. The water is just too low in A LOT of the river. Four people we just happened to bump into just stood up and dragged their kayak since it was easier at certain points. There should also be information about the kayaks utilized. Specs would be helpful. I think beginners wouldn't know what some of the specs mean in some cases, but at least include a weight limit, type, how heavy it is, etc. If you have kids, in my opinion, it's unlikely that they'd be able to move their kayak alone. We also came across locals (at least it seemed like it) who were kayaking and floating the opposite way. This led to more challenges with navigating and more flipping. The portages are also hard to navigate. There are three, which require people to exit, drag their kayak across a path or road, and then reenter. These portages were hard to use, especially while carrying gear and kayaks. One in particular was across a road, which seemed unsafe. There are no staff posted at these sites to assist if needed. The river was gorgeous. The trees, wildlife, views...I loved that part. I wish more information were provided WITH an accurate description given so I could make a proper informed decision about what I was paying for.

Had a great time paddling on a perfect October day. The guy at the booth gave us great advice…read moreabout which way to go and great recommendations for lunch and breweries. Definitely book for 4 hours, 1 is not enough! They provide the kayak, paddles, life vests and a bike lock for when you get off for lunch. No need to bother with their add ons, just bring a few ziplock bags from home to keep your stuff dry. Had a great time, great fun and value would go again!!

It was a slow day and they were going to close early, but the friendly and helpful guy renting us…read moreour bikes figured out a way we could stay out past closing and return the bikes safely and easily. A real hero that guy, too bad I didn't catch his name. Anyway, rental was simple, the gear was very good quality, no attitude or space cadet vibes, just a great and easy process from start to finish.

You simply can't spell "boards" without "Brad". B-rad as we like to call him has engraved himself…read morein such legendary status in Harbor Springs that he has such a presence as one would imagine Michael Jordan does in Chicago. If you don't go paddle boarding with Brad, you simply have not officially visiting Harbor Springs. He is as much as a staple as Toms Moms and Gurneys. 5 Stars, would recommend

From the owner: Harbor Springs Paddle Board Club offers the most fun activities to do in Harbor Springs. Stand-up…read morepaddleboarding is the fastest growing water sport in the world. We offer LED night paddleboard tours, SUP Yoga, SUP lessons, paddle board rentals, and sales. We are fun people who love paddleboarding. Check out our Full Moon paddle every month. Experience the SUP life in Harbor Springs, MI.