Paddle Portland’s waterfront on a slow-paced, family-friendly sea kayak tour
2 Hours
Sea kayaks, Lesson, Maine Guide
Explore the Portland waterfront at an easy pace designed for families and beginners. Build sea kayaking skills with a licensed Maine Guide while keeping an eye out for seabirds and other wildlife.
Ages 7+ only. Children under 12 must paddle in a tandem kayak with an adult.
Cancel more than 48 hours in advance for a full refund. Cancel 2 to 48 hours in advance for a 50% refund. Cancel less than 2 hours in advance for no refund. Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather.
Product ID: XZRUQD
Bring a water bottle, footwear that can get wet, a light jacket (not cotton), and sun protection. You can also bring a camera, snacks, and binoculars.
Wear non-cotton layers (like fleece, nylon, or wool). It can feel cooler on the water than on land, and you may get slightly damp from sea spray or dripping paddles.
Use the free all-day lot halfway down the hill on Cutter Street, about 50 yards from Portland Paddle. If it’s full, look for free street parking in nearby residential neighborhoods. Spaces beside Portland Paddle are limited to 5 minutes or two hours, and some are reserved for vehicles with boat trailers.
1 Cutter Street, Portland, Maine
This kayaking outfit offers both guided tours and independent rentals along Casco Bay, and the guided experiences clearly shine. Tour leaders like Josh, Dan, Whitney, Joe, and Michael earn consistent praise for being knowledgeable, friendly, and skilled at mixing local history with wildlife spotting. People specifically mention seeing seals, ospreys, and herons, plus getting fascinating historical context about Fort Gorges and the coastline. The sunset and half-day bay tours seem to be crowd favorites, with guides creating that sweet spot between adventure and relaxation that makes for a memorable outing. Here's where it gets tricky: if you're planning to rent equipment independently rather than join a tour, you need to be extremely specific when booking. Several frustrated reviewers drove an hour after calling ahead, only to be turned away because staff didn't have time for the required safety course. There's also a concerning incident where someone felt their life jacket wasn't properly checked before heading out solo, leading to a dangerous situation in the water. The pattern is clear: the guided tours run smoothly with experienced, attentive staff, but the rental side seems to have communication and safety protocol issues. For off-peak visits, definitely book tours in advance since they may cancel without enough participants. If you're considering a rental, call ahead multiple times and confirm exactly what's required, or better yet, just spring for a guided tour where the stellar guides will take care of everything.
Relax in a floating Scandinavian wood-fired sauna on the Kennebunk River
Trace Portland's ghost stories and history on a private lantern-lit walk
Pedal Maine’s coast past lighthouses, forts, and harbor views
Sample Portland craft beer with a guide at three curated brewery stops
Taste global flavors on a 3-hour Old Port walk with a local guide and enough bites to make a full meal
Race to steal a rival pirate crew's ship and treasure