Kayaking for Kids Open
Kayak Chicago Montrose Beach
4.4(13)4.4 out of 5 stars, 13 reviews Chicago, IL
About Kayak Chicago Montrose Beach
Kayak Chicago at Montrose Beach offers an accessible and generally affordable opportunity for families, including beginners and children, to kayak with scenic lakeside views of Downtown Chicago. They provide all necessary gear, including kid-sized life jackets, and offer basic paddling lessons. However, parents should be aware of conflicting reports regarding the types of kayaks available (sit-on-top vs. sea kayaks) and a significant concern raised by one reviewer about pricing transparency and staff demeanor.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families and beginners looking for an easy and affordable introduction to kayaking.Children who are old enough to paddle and for whom kid-sized life jackets are essential.Those seeking picturesque views of the Chicago skyline from the water.Parents valuing safety-attentive staff and provision of all necessary gear.Visitors needing basic instruction on how to paddle.
Why families love it
- Located directly on Montrose Beach with staff assistance for getting kayaks to the water.
- Offers scenic lakeside views of Downtown Chicago from the water.
- Provides basic paddling lessons, suitable for beginners and those unsure how to paddle.
- All necessary kayaking gear is provided, including PFDs (life jackets) in kid sizes.
- Staff are reported to be very attentive to safety on the water and generally friendly.
- Can be an affordable way to go kayaking.
Insider tips
- Make reservations online, especially if visiting on a busy day or if you need specific types of kayaks (like single kayaks), due to limited availability.
- Before visiting, verify directly with the venue about the types of kayaks available (sit-on-top vs. sea kayak) to ensure it meets your expectations, given conflicting review information.
- Confirm current pricing directly with the venue, as one reviewer noted discrepancies with the website.
- Be prepared for potential surf conditions on Lake Michigan.
- If paddling in colder weather (e.g., late season), consider bringing or renting appropriate cold-weather paddling gear, though some rentals are available.
- Monitor staff interactions, as one review reported issues with staff demeanor.
Good to know before you go
- If you are specifically seeking a traditional sea kayak and are not prepared for a sit-on-top, *do not visit without direct confirmation from the venue* regarding their current kayak fleet.
- Visiting without a reservation on a busy day, especially if you need a single kayak, to avoid disappointment due to limited availability.
- If you are highly sensitive to potentially poor customer service, as some staff have been described as condescending or lazy.
- Relying solely on website pricing and kayak descriptions without direct verification, due to reported discrepancies.
- Conflicting information about kayak types: one review states 'only rent sit on tops, not regular or sea kayaks', while another claims to have rented a 'sea kayak'. This is a critical point for parents to clarify based on their preference and child's skill.
- Crowds
- Can be busy on "particularly busy day[s]", leading to limited availability of single kayaks. No specific times or days are mentioned for high crowd levels.
- Value
- Described as "Very affordable" by multiple 5-star reviewers. However, one 1-star review claims "deceptive advertisement and pricing" where "prices don't match" the website and suggests a business model that "rip[s] off visiting tourists." No specific prices are mentioned in reviews, so parents should verify current pricing directly with the venue.
- Accessibility
- The venue is right on the beach, and staff take you down to the water. No specific accommodations for physical disabilities or sensory needs are mentioned, but staff assistance to the water might be helpful.
- Safety
- Workers are described as "very attentive to your safety on the water."
What parents say
"Memorable padling tour with good lakeside views of Downtown Chicago. Be prepared for some surf. Dave opened up just for me (they close for the season on 31 Oct). I brought along my full winter paddling gear, but was able to rent sea kayak, spare paddle, PFD, neoprene sprayskirt, paddle float, and pump. Warmly recommended even though it was cold."
5 years ago
"the place is right on the beach and they take you down to the water, everything provided. we didn’t make a reservation, but you’d probably want to online if it is a particularly busy day (there’s only so many single kayaks). they give basic lessons as well if you’re not sure how to paddle."
a year ago
"Awesome experience with Kayak Chicago. We cleaned up the beach and went kayaking afterwards. Check them out. It’s fun, there’s plenty of rentals available with life jackets and kid sizes."
7 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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