The setup: Mother's Day was coming up and I always try to find something unique and different for the 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.) read more

Urban Paddle - "Four out of five dentists recommend getting on the water and enjoying nature." - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Overall this place is solid. My boyfriend and I went for the LED kayaking. The view was beautiful! The 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) read more

Urban Paddle - LED kayaking - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Awesome people, awesome views, awesome experience, fair price! Small local business too, so go suport! read more

Great company. We had an awesome morning paddling to the Statue of Liberty. The crew were on top of everything. Lots of fun. Terrific experience. I will certainly be back. read more

Went on the sunset tour with these guys last night and had a great time! It's of course pricier than you'd expect kayaking anywhere else around NJ to be but you can understand why. Not only is the location the biggest draw of the experience but they are super coordinated and diligent about provide safety measures and precautions for everyone throughout the tour. They do promote that it's friendly to beginners and although I've kayaked before I was a bit nervous being out in the Hudson. We were running like 5 minutes late and they even called to check in, my friend didn't like that because she said it stressed her out but I thought it was great of them to look out for all the attendees since we had already reserved and paid for our spot, they even directed me to parking since I got a bit confused. When you arrive they give a detailed tutorial and answer all your basic questions and when you're out in the water there are multiple guys patrolling to make sure everyone feels safe! They've got the leader on his kayak that you follow as well as guys on jet skis at the perimeter and someone on a paddle board as well. All super friendly and keeping an eye out for the group! Such a lovely experience and I have a feeling I'll be back brining more friends to enjoy this with me! read more

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I bought a Double Kayak/Two Adults LED kayak tour a couple months back. However, due to unforeseen weather conditions - I had to rebook for 3 times. Which I completely understand! Weather will always be a gamble no matter how much you prepare. I would've given this a 5-star but dropped one due to my customer service experience outside of the actual kayak experience. Not sure if it's the anxiety in me, but every time rainy weather crept up my window, I would constantly check my emails, texts, Urban Paddle's website or Instagram to see if there was an official update whether our tour had been cancelled. Although it made sense in my head, having an official confirmation sent out would've been reassuring - rather than having me reach out via email, their live chat, text message, and Instagram to try to re-confirm my tour had been cancelled. Luckily I live close by so I didn't have commit to driving any long distances. Because I had to rebook so often, there was an additional charge on my account that no one told me about until I got to the kayak site. But the team was able to waive it knowing that all my rebooks were due to weather conditions - which I appreciate. The whole LED kayak experience itself was extremely professional and enjoyable. We were provided life jackets and headlights along with a quick tutorial on how to properly steer our kayaks. The team preps with a variety of water vehicles to ensure top tier safety while we go on our tour. I felt very safe having the team on the waters with us and loved the view of the NYC skyline with our glowing LED kayaks. You can tell the team's passion for kayaks and work really hard to keep this business running. I thoroughly enjoyed my time when I was there, and recommend this experience if you're around the area! Just triple check the weather and stay on top of this team if you foresee any poor weather conditions. read more

Urban Paddle - LED Kayak Tour - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

We had a very good time on our Urban Paddle adventure. The guides (of which there were 4) were all excellent, and were conscientious about protecting our safety as well as making sure we had a good time. My only complaint is that the group was WAY too big. Because you're paddling in an open shipping lane, there are lots of times when you have to herd up into a group and wait, and consequently you're always bumping into each other. We had 20+ kayaks in our group and this was frustrating. A group of 10-12 kayaks would have been more appropriate. Otherwise excellent activity. read more

This tour was so much fun. I wish it lasted a little longer though! Once the entire group arrived we were given vests and paddles then we went out to the marina to go out on the kayaks. We paddled to the skyline and hung out there for 10 minutes or so then paddled back. It felt much shorter than an hour but maybe time flies when you're having fun haha. Wish we enjoyed the skyline view for a little longer and maybe paddled to see the Colgate clock to our left. I've already recommended this kayaking experience to others. read more

Urban Paddle - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!! We had an absolute blast doing the night tour. The paddle guide Sam was awesome and very professional, along with the owner. We felt completely safe and comfortable out in the Hudson at night with them. Definitely a memorable experience and such a fun/unique way to kayak. read more

Urban Paddle - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Great experience. Very patient team if your not the best paddler. Very clear in communication. Friendly staff. I would definitely come back. read more

Urban Paddle - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Awesome activity while in NYC! Guides were great, felt safe the whole time, lotsa fun! A must. I'm

I don't like to write reviews cuz I hate Yelp but reading these reviews gave me life this morning lol. Just did the night time LED tour last night with a few friends and had a blast. With that said, I too, had a bit of a "fun" correspondence with Kevin. They tried to change our tour time to 45 min earlier with just an email reminder so when I reached out, I got a response right away by Kevin. The conversation could have ended badly but they were very accommodating and honored the original tour time. At the end of the day, we had a blast and everyone in my group was able to make it. Then I introduced myself to Kevin at the end of the tour and we laughed about it and he was very kind and apologetic. Basically....just don't be a dick. He's actually very sweet. read more

Amazing experience with the LED night kayak tour. The crew/leaders were awesome and accommodating to all kayaking levels. Safety was obviously their top priority and they are in constant communication with each other which made the experience super comfortable and enjoyable. The views of the skyline are absolutely spectacular from the kayaks. Will definitely be back and look forward to checking out their other tours. read more

We enjoyed the multiple times we went out. Probably not worth the money but ok. But the day we were leaving Kevin came unglued about a misunderstanding. Called us liars and a few other not so nice things. He had offered me a free kayak experience because I was a nurse who had traveled from out of state to work in NYC. This day he rescinded that and called me a liar stating I probably wasn't even a nurse. He absolutely was the most unprofessional person I have encountered. After this experience I would never trust him to guide a kayak tour. Also he parked his vehicle I front of ours and the entrance to the business we were leaving, holding us and others trying to leave captive. He insisted I cash so I am sure that will come back to bite us. But luckily we do have a witness who is a security guard at the business we were leaving. read more

Friendly guide, beautiful skyline of NYC. I went on the Kayak with my 6-years old daughter and we both had a great time. read more

Urban Paddle is impressive from start to finish. Kevin was incredibly responsive via email and easy to organize the paddleboard lesson with. His lesson for paddle boarding was incredibly useful and thorough. He fully stated that none of us would fall in the Hudson via email/ in person and we didn't which shocked all of us! We thought for sure that most of us would end up at some point in the Hudson enjoying the finest water :) With that being said, I am def planning on heading back to Urban Paddle to rent a paddleboard in the future. If you want to enjoy the Hudson and learn how to paddleboard from an expert, I'd strongly recommend Urban Paddles. read more

Great Experience Fun Time Beautiful View New York Sky Line Great instructors Looking Forward To Another tour Experience read more

My friend booked a sup lesson for us several days in advance. The company called her less than 2 hours before the appointment time telling their couldn't make it due to the schedule conflict. They offered to reschedule for 2 hours later but it didn't work for us. Wish they could call us a day before so we could adjust our plans or find another place. Upd: Kevin, addressing your comment: my friend sent me the screenshot with the text from your business on that day. It clearly states you had a scheduling conflict, there was not a word about weather. read more

My friend and I did the night LED tour and it was awesome! The views were amazing!! The staff was friendly, attentive to everyone's need and courteous. I HIGHLY recommend this tour. You will not be disappointed. A+ read more

My husband and I absolutely LOVE to kayak. This place is where we started, the equipment is clean and comfortable. It is a very fun activity to do when you are bored! Love it! read more

So much fun! Kevin was our instructor and he did a great job! He was very encouraging and did a great job of explaining things. He was also accommodating. I originally booked a 5pm tour but I asked if I could switch to the morning tour the night before and he said it was no problem. I'm definitely doing this again already looking at other times I can go! read more

Exceptional experience! The vibe was laid back but very professional. The team goes over everything you will need to know and then guides you every step of the way without being overbearing so you just have fun. The views are spectacular, and you depart from a dry dock and return to the same so there is no stepping into the water. A fantastic value for your dollar. My wife and I plan to bring our college age kids back for a return visit. A total win! read more

Fortunately they refunded the money. But we never got a call saying it was canceled nor an email saying they were going to refund it till a week later of not knowing what's going on. So unfortunately sir this is as legitimate as can be. read more

First off let me say thank you Kevin and staff for all wearing a mask and sanitizing our kayak upon arrival. The trip did not start off great. This woman AD and her tough guy husband almost ruined all of our time. She booked single kayaks for her 5 and 6 year old kids and then when she got there all the 2 man kayaks were taken so they had to wait 15 min for kevin to get a few more back. Kevin and his staff were very professional and calm. This want to be tough guy and I know the type as they usually come in to my store and steal Splenda and sugar packets and then complain. This man needed counseling and not kayak lessons as it was clear he is abusive to his wife and children. He even challenged kevin to a fight which he is lucky didn't go down as I'm sure he would of been more embarrassed in front of his family after Kevin mopped the floor with this idiot. Moving on the staff were very entertaining during our ride as they sung happy bday to another person in our party. They also took a ton of pictures of my group and we will forever cherish these wonderful pictures. We had so much fun we booked another tour for this week. I just pray that the want to be Steven segal tough guy isn't signed up for this tour lol. I tease with love my friends read more

This was a fantastic experience! Kevin was our instructor and he was very knowledgeable on the kayaking techniques. He was also teaching us the protocol on navigating the waters safely. As we were paddling he kindly corrected us if we were kayaking wrong! I learned a lot from him and the scenery was beautiful! Highly recommend! read more

So much fun! Kevin did an awesome job with our kayaking tour and taught us a lot. Stunning views of the city. Totally doing this again!!! read more

Urban Paddle - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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I have never been more disappointed in a business. I had a scheduled tour which the owner did not show up for, I had to call and reschedule for a later tour in which he then canceled. Several days went by with no response from the company via emails or phone calls. That is not how you run a business and I will never recommend this experience. read more

This is a wonderful establishment. My family recently came in for a sunset tour and it was well worth the $$$ we spent. My kids can't wait to go back again. It's very unfortunate though that Kevin and his staff had to deal with that creep show Pat and his wife. They are obviously borderline serial killers and need a lot of help. Maybe they think they can pull a fast one on small businesses in Sheboygan or Savannah or whatever they are from, but they aren't pulling that nonsense in Jersey City. read more

Where do I even begin? I came across urban paddle just by a simple google search for kayaking in New Jersey and I am soooo glad I did!! Everything from the beginning to the end was amazing!! The convenience of parking right there where you load up to kayak made the entire tour super seamless!! And it only cost $5!! The customer service was beyond anything I have ever experienced. The ENTIRE staff was so nice and helpful and EXTREMELY patient for a person who isn't use to kayaking and was kinda behind the group at a few points haha. The view is AMAZING of the NY skyline!! I could seriously go on and on!! If you are looking for something fun to do with amazing customer service and an experience you won't forget please book with them!! Kevin the manager was amazing as well as the other staff members!! Special special shout out to Andre, Kurt and Sam!! They were the absolute best!! And took really dope shots while I was in from of the skyline. I don't think I've ever left a yelp review but this tour definitely called for one. Book with them! I will definitely be going back :) read more

Great local activity! I have done both the kayaking and paddle boarding with Urban Paddle now. Kevin is attentive, energetic, and welcoming. It's a great way to learn new skills or improve on past experiences. You paddle out to amazing views of nyc and get to be on the water surrounded by activity. The tours are catered to skill level so would be perfect for families or older adults. It's close to the path and ferries for easy nyc access. I can't wait to go back. What a great addition to downtown jc. read more

Tried this place out with Class Pass today and it's a lot of fun. A great spot for kayaking. Kevin is a great guide!

This was a fantastic, super fun experience. I went with five friends for a sunset tour in late September, near the end of the season. It was the first time kayaking for many of us. We will be back next summer! I liked this better than the jetski tour of New York Harbor, and of course the price was a lot more reasonable, too. Kevin is a great instructor who made everyone feel at ease. You can tell he really cares about his customers and about the harbor. We even saw him picking a stray water bottle out of the water to keep it beautiful -- go Kevin! read more

No employees wore a mask to start....the story though is that I planned a trip for my family via the urban paddle website a few days ago. At that time the options for registering children and adults was not clear or different, nor was there an option to book single kayak or double kayaks. Consequently, I clicked to register all five of us the same as I noticed pricing didn't vary by age anyway and I imagined that kayak choices were made once we got there. I then added two more adults the day of our ride for my in laws to join us and found a very different set of options this time noticing I could click to choose a single or double kayak. When we arrived completely excited and having made a day of our planned night trip in JC, I explained this observation to a nice young woman who greeted us and helped us complete our waivers. She was very pleasant and admitted that the website had been recently changed along these lines, confirming that my observations were correct. As she helped us plan our ride she also explained that children under 12 were not allowed to ride a single (though again they pay the same rate as an adult paddler who can ride alone). This was another detail I did not remember reading on the website either, but was hopeful that she was going to be able to accommodate us. Kevin then arrived NOT WEARING A MASK as more paddlers did too and explained that due to MY mistake there was a problem with the kayak as the kinds (singles/double) we needed were not going to be available. This caused an argument and mostly because of Kevin's arrogant tone in his explanation of the problem. He repeatedly told me that this was my fault rather than trying to sincerely make it work, insisting that I booked children as adults (which for all intents and purposes they are, given the price is the same). I also assume he was somehow annoyed that there were three children along. After feeling he was being disrespectful in his responses to me "you were the one who booked kids as adults!" my husband argued with him (yes Kevin will likely reply that there was plenty of profanity...this is Jersey). Kevin was also completely committed to not letting us have the last word which also escalated the argument. In the end, the customer service was that of an amateur, particularly considering the cost of the services they are providing here. Needless to say we left super upset and as business owners ourselves know that sometimes you cave for customers. While they refunded our money, I will never go there again and will be sure to let my network of friends know about his condescending attitude. Also, if you are booking children do make sure you pay attention to how you book so you avoid this mistake. In addition, the website/booking design actually caused this problem and so perhaps that needs to be addressed to avoid this sort of confusion in the future. Kevin did a great job of making me feel like a terrible person for having made a very innocent mistake in addition for the price I was willing to pay to do this for my family. read more