Tippecanoe and Kayaks Too

Name: Tippecanoe and Kayaks Too
Address: We Are Located At Blue Bell Beach, 7958 Harrison Ave, Cleves, OH 45002, USA, Cincinnati, OH, US
Telephone: (937) 361-2896
Rating: 4.4

4.4(83) Cincinnati, OH

Directions Website

About Tippecanoe and Kayaks Too

Tippecanoe and Kayaks Too offers a unique kayaking experience on a notably quiet and less-crowded stretch of the Great Miami River. It stands out by providing transport for personal kayaks (a rare service) in addition to rentals, and is explicitly welcoming to families, children, and dogs, with options like 3-person canoes and a specific 5-mile relaxing float. However, a significant safety concern regarding equipment failure and emergency response has been reported, which parents should carefully consider.

What parents should know

Summarized from real visitor reviews.

Best for: Groups with a mix of personal kayak owners and renters.Families with children and/or dogs seeking a peaceful, uncrowded river float.First-time kayakers on the Great Miami who are seeking an affordable and relaxing experience (with significant caution regarding safety and conditions).Those who wish to avoid heavily trafficked river stretches and disruptive groups.**Families with children:** Explicitly allowed and suitable for a peaceful, less-crowded river experience where kids can 'flow down the river' with less worry about traffic. However, the reported safety incident for beginners is a critical concern for this group.

Why families love it

Allows transport of personal kayaks, a unique service in the area.
Operates on a quiet, less-crowded stretch of the river, free from 'drunks and crazies' often found elsewhere.
Very easy online booking process for rentals and transport.
Friendly staff mentioned in multiple positive reviews.
Affordable pricing.
Short and easy logistics for getting to the river from the business and back.

Insider tips

Book online, as the process is described as very easy and efficient.
Make reservations ahead of time, especially due to reported COVID-19 restrictions.
If you own a kayak, take advantage of their personal boat transport service.
For a relaxing trip, specifically choose the 5-mile portion of the river.
Be aware that detailed pull-out instructions might not be provided, so be prepared to identify your destination independently (though reviewers found it easy to figure out).
Crucially, assess river conditions yourself before committing, especially if you have children or are a beginner, given the serious safety incident reported.

Good to know before you go

If river conditions appear rapid or challenging, especially for beginners or families with young children, due to reported safety incidents and unsuitability for beginners.
If you are a beginner and require explicit, detailed instructions for river navigation and safety at all times.
If you expect immediate, comprehensive emergency support from the business in case of a serious incident, based on reported unresponsiveness.
If you prefer a highly active, long-distance, or high-adrenaline kayaking trip, as this venue focuses on relaxing floats.
A severe safety incident was reported where a canoe lacked a plug, causing it to fill with water and almost drown occupants and their dog. Locals, not the business, provided rescue.

Crowds: Consistently praised for being quiet, fairly empty, and much less crowded, even on gorgeous summer mornings (e.g., August).
Value: Described as 'affordable pricing.' The unique personal boat transport service adds significant value. However, a major concern is a report of being charged for lost gear even after a near-drowning incident, suggesting potential unexpected costs or an unsympathetic approach to customer safety vs. property.
Food: No specific food and drink rules or policies mentioned in the reviews.
Accessibility: No specific accommodations for special needs or accessibility mentioned in the reviews.
Safety: Staff is noted for doing a great job cleaning kayak paddles and life vests.

What parents say

Laura S

5.0

"We had a group where some of us had their own kayaks, some needed to rent. This is one of the only (if not the only) place nearby that still will transport personal boats. It made our trip so much easier! We all booked online, which was very easy. All we had to do when we showed up was unload our kayaks from our car/pick up our rental gear for the renters. We didn't get a lot of instruction (ok, no instruction lol) as to where to pull out at the end of our trip, but it was easy to figure out on our own. We loved that the river was quiet and fairly empty, especially for a gorgeous August mo"

8 months ago

MireMax Prez, LLC

5.0

"Very nice small business operations. There was a lot less people on this stretch of the river which we enjoyed a lot. Perfect place to take your fam and kids. Wasn't packed like some other ones w drunks and crazies. We are def will be back. Only place that allowed kids, dogs and got 3 people canoe. We let kids flow down the river and didn't have to worry another too much river traffic. Friendly stuff"

a year ago

Bailey Johnson

1.0

"Deleted my original review for some reason. Me, my boyfriend, and dog almost drown in the river after our canoe flipped. The canoe had no plug to let water out. The water was rapid and the people who lived on the river who thankfully pulled their kayaks into the water to save us and our dog told us the business sends people out in the water in conditions that are far too bad for beginner kayakers. Highly recommend finding somewhere more established. When we got to land and tried calling them no one would even answer the phone. Once we did they were more concerned with charging us for lost gear"

5 months ago

Reviews sourced from public Google data.