Come enjoy a fun day exploring with your family!
**Fully booked? Give us a call to get on the waitlist!**
Duration
2 Hours
About
The slower pace of this tour is perfect for families with younger children. We'll take it easy, leaving plenty of time for kayak skill-building, wildlife-spotting and paddling fun. Only children 7 and older may join our trips due to the size of our sea kayaks and other equipment. All children younger than 12 must paddle in a tandem kayak with an adult.
Highlights
- Picturesque views of Portland and it’s surrounding islands
- Possible sightings of seals, eider ducks, guillemots, osprey, eagles and all sorts of seabirds
- Roughly two hours of slow to moderate-paced sea kayaking; appropriate for novices
- Possible splashing and dripping during the paddle -- you may get slightly damp or wet.
What's Included
- Double (two-person) sea kayaks that are stable, swift and perfect for beginners. Or, if you prefer, request a solo kayak.
- A brief lesson on the basics of sea kayaking taught by an expert kayak guide
- Licensed Maine Guide
Booking Notes
**WHAT TO BRING**
- Water Bottle
- Footwear that can get wet
- Light Jacket (not cotton)
- Sun Protection
- Optional: Camera, Snacks, Binoculars
**PARKING:** There is free all-day parking in the lot halfway down the hill on Cutter Street about 50 yards from Portland Paddle. When that lot is full you can find free parking on streets in the residential neighborhoods nearby. The parking spaces right beside Portland Paddle are limited to 5 minutes or two hours and some are reserved for vehicles with boat trailers.
**WHEN & WHERE TO ARRIVE:** Please arrive ten minutes before your tour is scheduled to start. You will see our signs at the end of Cutter Street by the East End Beach. Use the map above to find us or view the directions on our website.
**BATHROOMS:** There are public bathrooms and changing rooms that are open during limited hours. We have our own private portable toilet for customers. Most of the islands we visit do not have bathroom facilities, so it’s best to use the facilities before heading onto the water. If you need to go during your trip the best option is to find a relatively private spot along a shoreline.
**WHAT TO WEAR:** It's often cooler on the water than on land, so bring a warm layer even if it is a warm day. Sometimes we get wet from seaspray or from water dripping off the paddles. Cotton will not keep you warm if it gets wet, so it's best to leave the blue jeans and t-shirts at home and wear fleece, nylon, wool or other non-cotton materials.
**TIPPING:** We encourage you to offer a gratuity to your guide if you are satisfied with your experience. Tips are never expected, but always appreciated. A common tip on our day tours is $5-$10 per person. Tips can be given directly to the guide (cash or Venmo) or online via the follow-up email you’ll receive.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel one of our regularly-scheduled tours or lessons, or a rental booking…
- More than 48 hours in advance: You will receive a full refund.
- Between 2 hours and 48 hours in advance: You will receive a 50% refund.
- Less than 2 hours in advance: You will not receive a refund, and we cannot apply any amount paid to booking on another date.
If you need to reduce the number of people in your group within 48 hours of your booking we will reduce your total booking amount by 50% of the cost of each person that is being removed from the booking.
If you have booked out a regularly scheduled tour as a private tour, our private tour cancellation policy applies instead. In order to receive a full refund on any private tour, you must cancel with more than 14 days notice. The full text of our cancellation policies can be found at: https://www.portlandpaddle.net/cancellation-policy/
WEATHER
We will offer the option of a full refund if we decide to cancel your booking due to weather conditions. We usually do not cancel tours due to overcast skies, cool temperatures or scattered showers, but we do cancel when winds are too strong, when there is steady, heavy rain, or when sustained thunderstorms appear likely.
Please keep in mind that the weather along the Maine coast is unpredictable and quick-to-change. Forecasts made several days in advance are very frequently inaccurate, and it is very common for a single summer day to include several hours of ideal conditions and several hours of very poor conditions.
