About Agua Verde Paddle Club
Agua Verde Paddle Club offers an exciting and scenic kayaking experience on Portage Bay, ideal for families seeking an active day on the water with unique views of Seattle landmarks and wildlife. The flexible and accommodating owner, friendly staff, and top-notch equipment contribute to a memorable outing, complemented by post-kayak amenities like showers and a fresh air deck.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking an active and scenic outdoor adventure on the water.Parents looking for a flexible and friendly paddle club experience.Visitors wanting to explore Seattle from a unique water perspective.Groups or families who enjoy a lively water environment with other boat traffic.Those looking for a full day out, including post-activity relaxation and dining options.
Why families love it
- Experience exciting paddling conditions due to waves from passing sailboats and motorboats.
- Enjoy scenic views of Seattle landmarks including houseboats, the UW, Montlake, arboretum, bridges, waterfowl, lily pads, and snowcapped mountains.
- Staff are friendly and the facility is clean.
- Owner is highly flexible and accommodating, even allowing visits during listed 'closed' times by arrangement.
- Equipment and service are described as 'top-notch'.
- Post-kayak relaxation available on a fresh air deck overlooking Portage Bay, with drinks like Margaritas for adults.
Insider tips
- Bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy during or after kayaking.
- If planning to eat on-site, verify how busy they are to avoid long food wait times (up to an hour).
- Consider calling ahead, especially during off-season months (e.g., November), as the owner might be flexible with opening for pre-arranged visits.
- Be prepared for waves generated by other boats, which can make paddling more exciting.
Good to know before you go
- If you are on a tight schedule and plan to eat on-site during peak busy times (expect potential 1-hour food waits).
- If your children are very young and require extremely calm, wake-free water for kayaking (due to waves from other boats).
- If you are looking for a venue strictly with age-specific kid-focused play areas, as the primary activity is kayaking.
- Food service can be very slow, taking up to an hour when the place is busy.
- The presence of many sailboats and motorboats creates 'big waves' which some parents might find exciting, but others might find challenging or less suitable for very young or nervous children.
- Crowds
- The venue can get 'hopping' and 'full', leading to significant wait times for food (up to an hour).
- Value
- Pricing is clearly listed: Single Kayak: $23/hr, Double Kayak: $30/hr, Paddle Board: $25/hr, Premium Single $35/hr, Premium Double $40/hr. The value is enhanced by 'top-notch' equipment, friendly service, and the scenic 'stellar Seattle day' experience. They also compensate for long food waits with complimentary items (e.g., $7.50 chips and guacamole).
- Food
- Food is available on-site and described as good, but can have long waits when busy.
- Accessibility
- No specific accommodations for special needs or wheelchair accessibility mentioned in the reviews.
- Safety
- Equipment is described as 'top-notch', implying well-maintained and safe gear for kayaking.
What parents say
"It’s so much fun kayaking here. So many sailboats/motorboats passed by, the big waves made peddling much exciting. Don’t forget to bring some snacks and drinks. It’s so nice to have drinks while or after kayaking. Single Kayak: $23/hr Double Kayak: $30/hr Paddle Board: $25/hr Premium Single $35/hr Premium Double $40/hr"
2 years ago
"Staff were really friendly. Clean place. Parking available across the street. They also have a shower"
10 months ago
"The food was good. But it did take almost an hour to get. Now, they were hopping and the place was full. After about 30 minutes in (after telling me 15 minutes before that my food was almost up) I was given a free full of chips and guacamole. This is normally about $7.50 so it was nice offer. The tutorials about 15 minutes after that. My recommendation is verify whether they're busy and if they are maybe choose a different time unless you got a lot of time to kill ."
6 years ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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