Kayaking changed my Door County experience. Having been born and raised here in Door County, I thought I had seen it all. I had been to all the state parks, climbed all the bluffs, I had even been out on a boat before. But everything changed when I kayaked Door County for the first time.
I had never previously had a reason or opportunity to hop on a kayak; I assumed it was just like boating but with more work involved. When my sister took the job of a kayak guide, she urged me to paddle along on one of her tours. I hesitated at first, but a close friend of ours desperately wanted to try, and needed a buddy to join her on the tour which used tandem boats. So I gave in, threw on my life jacket, and went for a paddle.
Physically, our kayak tour was rough. My friend and I could not keep our kayak from turning right, we were both exhausted midway though, and I got a sun burn that still haunts me to this day. But I will still remember this day as the best day of my life, because it was magical! We kayaked alongside the cliffs at Peninsula State Park and passed by Eagle Tower, which I had climbed many times before, and new the scenery by heart. But seeing the cliffs from the kayak gave me a whole new perspective. After this experience, a passion grew in me to be out on a kayak again.
A few years later when the job opportunity arose to work at Door County Adventure Center arose, I jumped at the chance. During our orientation, we kayaked all of our tour locations to get an understanding of what our company offered. I immediately fell in love with the Mink River Estuary, located in Rowleys Bay. With its pristine water, tranquil scenery, and abundant wildlife, I couldn’t help but feel like a true adventurer.
Seeing the peninsula from a kayak is like being reintroduced to it. You can experience the water like never before, put your hand into it, and let it take you on a magic carpet ride. On clear days you can even see one of the many shipwrecks that are sprinkled around the shores up close.
Even when launching from the same location multiple times, it’s always a different experience. Everything changes dependent on the season, weather, water levels, even the time of day. Every kayak adventure is a unique and unforgettable experience.
So if you think you’ve seen all that Door County has to offer, join us on one of our kayak tours and discover a whole new world! We offer a variety of kayaking services around the county from guided tours to rentals, and our staff is eager to introduce you to its waters.
-Amanda Bagnall-Newman, Marketing Intern
