Some friends and I were in the Rockford area looking to rent skiis. Unfortunately, we arrived too…read morelate in the day to rent. I appreciated that the staff was honest with us instead of taking the sale and having us be unhappy. It also helped that they had the most adorable dog in the world. Stop by!

If you are in the Rockford area and looking to buy or rent some adventure gear, this is the best…read moreplace around! Some friends and I recently took a trip to stay at a cabin in the Rockford area. We had planned to go cross country skiing and found that Rocktown Adventures rents xc skis in the winter. What we had not planned on was how slow we would be at finally leaving the cabin to go pick up the skis. Since they unfortunately don't do reservations for the skis, we called ahead to make sure they had some before heading over. By the time we got there it was already around 3 pm and unbeknownst to us, they close at 5 pm on the weekends. We got started with the rental process only to realize we would have very little time to ski before sundown. After explaining a couple options we had for still getting out on the skis, the staff member ultimately told us it probably wouldn't be worth our money given our time constraints. Instead of staying quiet, taking our money, and letting us have a very short ski trip, the staff member suggested the option that was best for us! He then told us that if we were ever back in town to just give them a call and if they had skis available he'd have them ready for us when we arrived. Not only is the staff knowledgeable and caring but they have an incredible selection of gear. We didn't end up spending any money there, and that is exactly why this was a five star experience!

We stopped in the afternoon before we were to rent bikes the next morning for my aunt and mother in…read morelaw. When they went the next day to rent, the owner was on the phone and didn't acknowledge them until they loudly said they were going to google the other bike shop. Then he finally helped them get two bikes. The one didn't have a water bottle cage, and they asked for one, but the owner was unhelpful. He also didn't help with seat adjustment or helmet adjustment even though they asked for help. These ladies are 74 and 63, and really did want help, but the owner just didn't seem to care. Bottom line is that they were just unhappy, and wished they'd gone to Nuts Outdoors.

Have had two great experiences with Drift Away on the Yahara River! Both were for groups and the…read moreowner Clark led guided paddles. Beautiful scenery, very relaxing, quality equipment and great customer service.

From the owner: Call or text 608 295-4348. Same day reservation available read more

I wanted to try Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) for about forever…read more The concierge at the Abbey gave me a coupon for a discount rental at nearby Fontana Paddle so I decided to finally give it a go. It was an excellent decision. Rates are reasonable. They fit you with a flotation vest, changing rooms are available and they have small lockers. You do not want to have your smartphone on you in the event you fall in the water on the lake. It is better to lock it up, IMO. The training overview was pretty detailed and there is a lot to remember and coordinate all at once. I liken it to riding a bike or driving a car. Once you learn it, you'll always have it and it becomes normal/natural, until then, you have to remember to switch hands, stay balanced, etc. I did go out too far from where they told me to stay, but that was unplanned. A little wind and then a boat sent me even further out which resulted in my instructor dude coming out on board to see if I was okay and if I could get back in on my own. Embarrassing, but also super cool because he gave me some on water tips that I somehow already had forgotten. Also, the further out you go, the more the wind affects you and there are more boats, so you can expend more energy on balancing rather than paddling enjoyably along. Once my guy knew I was okay and headed more in the right direction he went back and I went on to a very enjoyable experience. Prices are good. Staff is helpful. Get out early on summer weekends, too many boats on the lake will not make for a good SUP experience.

Perfectly located on the shore of Geneva Lake in Fontana. You can walk 20 feet to the lake to…read morelaunch. I have been in the store/shop countless times over the years. They have a huge selection of standup paddle boards, kayaks and accessories. I am actually wearing one of their shirts right now. Cool thing is, I just found out they sell ans rent snow shoes also. Being right on the lake, a hike on the lake path is something to behold anytime of year. A lot of my Rockford, IL friends kayak and have either friended them on facebook, visited the website or store itself. If you have any questions while you are there, which I always have plenty which I think some are kind of dumb, they are right there to answer them. I plan to take my family for lessons this Spring.

Excellent customer service. Patient, knowledgeable, and kind. Picked up a little hatchet and some…read moreexcellently priced sale items. Love this store

Had a great time kayaking on lake Monona. It was super easy…read moreto book & pay online. They sanitized the paddles and life vests and everything & it's easy to socially distance on the lake. Will definitely be renting from them again!

Fun and Relaxing! What a wonderful experience - easy, safe, and fun. I went with my daughter and…read moreher boyfriend - the staff was experienced and helpful, and our trip down the river lasted about an hour and 40 minutes. We had plenty of time to take pictures, splash around, and enjoy each other's company. It was a great blend of relaxation and exercise. Oh, and my wife hurt her arm and couldn't go - I casually asked if we could get a credit since we couldn't find anyone last minute to replace her, and they gave us a full refund. Thank yo,u Naperville Kayak - we'll be back!

What a perfect afternoon getaway! My husband and children (late teens) had a dreamy trip down the…read moreriver! Naperville Kayak booking is easy to book online. They have a professional team and great equipment! Will absolutely book again!

My wife and I tried paddle boarding for the first time and had a blast! Casey was a patient and fun…read moreinstructor. We came to the Saturday morning class and were fortunate to have great conditions (still water, warm weather, and partly cloudy) We learned the basics covered on the beach and headed out onto the water. All four of the people in our group managed to stand up immediately and we had fun paddling around the shallow area of the lake. It was great fun, and we're looking forward to trying out a restorative yoga class, either on Saturday morning under a full moon!

Rented a paddle board here. Colleen, the worker who helped me out, is super nice and was very…read morehelpful and prepared. Defiantly would do again.

Nomad Boardsports' service is appealing from the moment I navigated their website. It was very easy…read moreto reserve a tandem kayak for a Saturday morning. Checking-in was quick & easy. And there is a portable restroom right walking distance from where you check-in. Navigating Upper & Lower Nemahbin Lake was great, I would definitely go back.

Had a great experience with friendly staff who wore face masks and ensured the equipment was…read moresanitized prior to use. Beautiful location and lake. You can make your reservation and pay online to speed up the process. There's a parking lot, although parking can get full quickly. The only thing I didn't like much is they didn't give us instructions or tips prior to sending us off. Fortunately, I have experience kayaking and didn't need instruction, but something to consider if you've not done this before.

It almost seemed like a dream. From the very start, cruising through a large patch of lotus plants,…read moreit felt otherworldly. Very peaceful, going at our own pace. Enjoyed the cliff walls of Buffalo Rock and the shallow waters of some side passages. We paddled for 5 hours, covering 8 miles total. After we were done we headed to charming, historic downtown Utica for drinks and dinner at Skoog's Pub & Grill in North Utica, IL. I was impressed with the logistics and operation of the kayaking experience, from the guide* to the equipment and online booking process. *Full disclosure, the guide was my twin sister, but I am being objective...seriously.

I have mixed feelings about this kayak tour company. I signed up because although I'm a very…read morecapable and seasoned kayaker, I didn't know this river and I like learning about the ecosystems and local wildlife. For this reason I like having tour guides. Going up the river was fine. Coming back went a bit sour. I went as slow as I was capable of paddling or not paddling, but apparently it was too fast for the preference of our tour guide. I was barely touching the water with my paddle. I have no idea how I could have gone any slower. It wasn't humanly possible. After shouting at me several times, he took to chasing me down and ramming my kayak so it'd spin in circles. Would I rent a kayak here and kayak the river alone? Yes. Would I personally use a tour guide here? No I wouldn't. Would I recommend? If you're a family with little kids or a drunk sorority house, absolutely. If you know what you're doing, just go it alone. You'll probably enjoy it more. Edit: If the tour guide had concerns for group safety, he could have said so. Although ramming my kayak with his seems to be a bit of a conflict as far as my safety goes. It was an unprofessional approach when he could have simply explained why he needed me to slow down

What an amazing place! How did I not ever know about this? It is free for entrance otherwise it's a…read morefive dollar visitor fee. If you wish to go to the main beach, that's an additional $12 if you are not a resident of Crystal Lake. The grounds are immaculate, very well maintained, and the bathrooms are clean. There are two lakes, multiple pavilions that you can rent ahead of time. Lots of picnic tables for you to sit down. Near the bar and grill while you can't go in the water, you can take your drink and sit on one of the cheers on the beach. You can watch people practice on their WaveRunner. Swing on the swings at the bar and listen to great music. I did not have any food here. I did have an amazing Mojito. The bartender was a young man looking to join the Barrington police force. Polite, kind and also had great customer service skills. The reason why I didn't give it five stars is that there are absolutely no markings anywhere as to what trail you are on, how long of a trail it is, and where there may be porta potties. There aren't any maps or QR codes and it was a bit confusing as I came upon several wise and the trail to decide which way to go as I had limited time there. Given the fact that everything is so nicely taken care of I don't know how they can't have at least some markings on the trails that they have there. One of the workers sent me direction and it literally just took me to a pavilion. They have kayaks, canoes, paddle boats and SUP boards. They also offer lessons for SUP depending on the day. Lots of people fishing. Amazing Place! Please add signage for the trails! The pop and water machine near the beach entrance did not work. Hopefully those are checked daily to repair.

First time here, and came with our 3 year old. Boy oh boy did we have fun!…read more Beach was beautiful. Very clean, everyone there was respectful and our son had fun playing with some other kids. Water... cold. Expected. Lol. But nothing you wouldn't get used too. Typical "pool / beach" food is available. Not the cheapest... so be ready, lol. But all is okay. Haha. There is feet washing stations and a really nice playground! We had an absolute blast and will absolutely be back!!!