We rented a canoe from Frog Hollow for a couple of hours on the weekend. It was SUPER affordable,…read morecheaper than anywhere I've ever been and much cheaper than renting a boat by far. They provided everything we needed (paddles, life jackets) and gave us a quick 60 second refresher on how to use the canoe before we headed off. We were at one of the channels off of Falls lake, and they gave us advice on which direction was the best to go off towards. It was pretty hot out, but being so close to the water made it cooler and the shade lowered the temperature a lot too. Along the way, we saw turtles, fish, and a couple of herons. The whole experience was very peaceful, relaxing, and low-stress. It was a great day to spend a warm morning outside, although I would recommend booking an earlier or later time in the summer since around noon there isn't really much shade on the water. Will definitely come back for another paddle!

Frog Hollow is a gem for paddling enthusiasts!…read more As someone in my mid-40s learning a young person's sport, I've had two incredible 1-on-1 sessions with Jer on flat water, with another scheduled this week and I can't recommend them enough. Jer's technical expertise, constructive criticism, and what i consider endurance training have been invaluable to build confidence for white water. It's easy to think you understand the sport by reading, watching, and listening, but reality hits when you're underwater and upside down. Jer has been fantastic in sharing both the positive and realistic sides of whitewater paddling, making the experience both challenging and rewarding. I still remind myself "nothing worthwhile comes easy at first". Lastly, if you're looking to improve your skills, fix bad habits, and gain a deeper understanding of the sport, Frog Hollow is the place to be! Thanks, Josh

Lake Johnson Park is one of Raleigh's best spots when you want a workout that actually comes with a…read moreview. The 3-mile loop gave me the perfect mix of cardio, scenery, and just enough challenge to keep things interesting. The trail is mostly paved and very well maintained, but there are also a few off-road paths if you want to switch things up. The lake views are gorgeous throughout the walk, and the heavily wooded sections make it feel peaceful and shaded even on warmer days. I also appreciated that the trail has a few solid uphill stretches. I'd say it's ideal for intermediate walkers, runners, or cyclists looking for a scenic challenge without venturing into hardcore hiking territory. The only downside is the parking situation, which can get pretty tight during busy hours. Still, once you're on the trail, it's absolutely worth it. Raleigh really lucked out with this gem of a park.

Natures finest!…read more Local park with free (but limited) parking. Walking trails. Kayak and paddleboard rentals. Birdwatching. Clean picnic and public bathrooms. Great place to go and enjoy nature.

We enjoyed kayaking down the river on a beautiful August day…read more I went with a group of friends and we all had fun. The experience was easy- registration, payment and wavier sign was all done online. We arrived, checked in, and were promptly kayaking. We visited during corona- so masks while checking in and during the safely brief. If using their transport they also ask you to wear a mask on the bus. Fun, outdoor company and activities.

It's so bad it smelled the area is the service is ok but they could improve and also I heard they…read morebut dead body's in there or missing people die there or someone k1lls them there so be careful please

Kayak back support was terrible and not working. It was a very unpleasant experience.read more

We rented two paddle boards and had a not-so-great experience. We had no issues making the…read morereservations, finding the location, and opening the lockers. Unfortunately our lockers were missing key parts, including fins, ankle straps, and paddles. We contacted the support number, and someone responded quickly. He gave us codes to spare equipment lockers, but we had to go into 3 different lockers to piece together all the parts we needed. The main issue was the paddles. They have 2-3 parts that snap together, and most of the parts in the spare lockers were not compatible with each other. We spent 40 minutes trying to cobble together pieces to make two usable paddles. In the end, the guy extended our reservation for an hour, which was nice. On the water, we had no issues with the boards. One major point to note: the website says (in multiple places) that the pumps are electric. They are NOT. They are hand pumps. I don't think we'll rent from here again.

When you set out to kayak the historic Haw River it's hard to suppress speculative thoughts about…read moreyour adventure and wonder how it will all turn out. This was on our minds as my wife and I drove past an "entering Alamance County" road sign on our way to the Haw River Canoe & Kayak Company at Saxapahaw, North Carolina. A leisurely drive along Swepsonville-Saxapahaw Road parallels the Haw and suggests a hint of our forthcoming adventure. A tough bridge built for hard times stands over massive, craggy, dark gray rocks, chiseled into the river bottom by the waters bonding the town of Saxapahaw to the earth and the history of this area. On arrival, we could see paddlers struggling to sandwich their watercraft among the rocks around the Saxapahaw bridge. But we never foresaw when we left here, our memories would bear an indelible imprint of this place as "Aramanche" -- a place where Native Americans saw water flow through blue clay. One reason to rent a Kayak here is to unplug yourself from the present and reconnect with the past. In fact, the owner and his staff will tell you his fondest wish is for customers is to "unplug and reconnect." When you cast your eyes out over the Haw as you paddle a kayak, you'll see tranquil and rapid running waters, deep cuts into riverbanks and tree lines, and evidence of the dominating torrential waters that have run for millennia along this 110-mile river down to the Cape Fear basin near the Atlantic coast. The geological history of this place is violent. But there's more. There's tons of history and culture to absorb. Generations of native Americans and later, European colonists, are bound up in the history of this river. Native Americans ran The Great Trading Path that ran from Chester County, PA, along the Shenandoah Mountains roughly to where I-81 and route 220 meet near Danville, Virginia, today. From there, settlers found their way into North Carolina along the Haw. Why Go? If you're interested in American history, you'll visit to have fun and to bask vicariously in the river that was once part of the Underground Railroad. Along this river, Quakers would shepherd slaves from house-to-house, across the Ohio River, and into the free territories in the west. If you're a history buffwith an archaeological bent, you'll visit the Haw to find that blue-gray clay the Siouan Indians used as body paint. It was found in Saxapahaw, and the Indians called this clay "Aramanche", meaning, a place where "water flows through blue clay" in Eastern Siouan. If you're interested in seismology, you'll be curious about the natural fault line running from this area down to Charleston, S.C., that triggered the Great Charleston Earthquake of 1886. You can see this line on the surface under a little bridge in the nearby village of Glencoe, N.C., along Highway 62. If you enjoy riding the rapids as a Kayaker, you'll need to sign up for a class-III white-water adventure. The fault line that runs from Glencoe down toward the Cape Fear river basin features sharp drop-offs triggering the rapid waters adrenaline junkies crave. A guided tour along the Haw lasts about 3-hours. Go, unplug, reconnect with American history and, enjoy!

we were booked on Thursday @11 am. we were an hour away and it was raining. called the number…read moreposted online twice but couldn't get a hold of anyone when we called. left a VM. but no call back. we drove the hour and nobody was there. A couple of minutes later a nice young lady showed up. we agreed the weather was so bad the paddle could not go ahead. it is disappointing we had to drive 2 hours (there and back) for nothing when if someone had been proactive to contact us to say let's cancel. they need to monitor phone calls etc. or have a way to get in contact. We went back the next day when the weather was perfect. Lovely 3 mile paddle. Remember, you have to walk 1/4 mile trail to the launch with all your stuff including the paddles and walk back When done. There was nobody there to meet us on our return but no big deal I guess. They share the bathrooms with the business upstair. Very basic.

First to review?? Seriously? Wow, a bit of pressure. Okay then. I took my son to Hexagon Wake…read morePark/Tucker Lake yesterday to take him wakeboarding. I purchased a groupon pass and had seen the park featured on NC Weekend so I figured it might be worth a day trip. We get there and the guy working the front gate was gracious enough to let us go into the park without paying extra. The area is divided into two sections- the Tucker Lake part and Hexagon Wake Park. We had a blast hanging out in the water and on the assorted diving boards, trampoline, pyramid, etc. at the lake. We then headed over to the building for his lesson. He was given a helmet, life jacket, and a wake board. We met Will who set my son up on the beginner cable. Think of it like a ski resort, with the bunny slope and then the other runs. C did the bunny slope a few times, which consisted of a remote controlled cable that ran back and forth and then moved on to what they refer to as the 2.0 system. Will was super nice, very "yes ma'am" and a generally stoked wakeboarder. From there, you are cued up in a line to get on a cable that you grab either from a seated start or a standing position (again, think ski lift). If you make it off the dock you can take the tow rope/cable around the lake as many times as you'd like. There are ramps for tricks as well. Some of the guys we saw were amazing. They were pulling all kinds of tricks. If you fall you simply swim to a floating dock that is on the perimeter of the lake. I can't attest to how the cables felt, or what it was like to wakeboard on a cable versus a boat, but I can say that the guy working the 2.0 cable system was so encouraging and nice to everyone who was in line. He practiced with them, set up them exactly right on the ramp, and was incredibly positive. Even though my son was never able to do a complete run, he had a great experience and wants to go back. And after that, we went back and did front flips off the dive board. And honestly, isn't that what summer is about? If you're in the area be sure to check it out. We'll definitely be back.

I didn't realize how tough wakeboarding was (even for a pretty competent snowboarder), but my…read morebrother and I had a great time! I've been back 3 or 4 times since I bought my first groupon in Summer 2013. It was nice that the experts at the place volunteered tips to novices and encouragement after we face planted quite a few times. My word of caution would be that this is extremely rigorous activity. The average dad isn't going to be able to just hop on the cable unless he has had exposure to snowboarding/wakeboarding/skateboarding. If you've never been wakeboarding, don't expect to hop on the cable on your first try. You'll drink plenty of water as your face smacks the water on the first couple launches..... but keep at it! I think I heard the cable's cruising speed is 16 mph, so you're actually launching off the dock at about 25 mph since you're starting out from underneath the cable. So, don't expect to go as slow as you want like you can on a bunny slope. It is a great environment to learn for those up to the challenge! I would suggest going on days that aren't holidays and not during the summer.... another commenter made a valid point that this place can get BUSY and it takes a while to get set up for another run. I'm at the point where I can zip around the lake a few times and I'm just attempting some of the jumps and other features. It's a place I could go time and time again--so much fun!

This marina is a quaint and relaxing "jumping off point" for getting out on the pristine Lake…read moreBrandt. For just $6 you can bring your own kayak, SUP, or canoe to launch on their sandy little beach. Or you can rent one of their kayaks. Even on weekends with decent weather I've seen them mostly available on the spot. There are also options for an annual pass, fishing, and even a paved ramp to put in motorized boats. You could also very easily just sit and relax here by the waterside or stroll around. But if you want to get on the lake, this is the prime spot. Bird watching along the shoreline is great from the vantage point of the kayak. With a vast array of birdsong to ID, you can even see kingfishers ducking, diving, and doing anything to ruin your chances of proving they exist with a photograph. But at least you can enjoy a quiet and relaxing float to ease the soul.

I'm not much on boating or kayaking, but this is great spot to enjoy nature. The water is calming…read more The path is somewhat clear and when it's dry you can have a leisurely walk under the tree tops!