Seattle is surrounded and full of water. When the sun comes out, the water comes to life. That’s why Tim and I love to go kayaking in Seattle. While there a number of different places to rent kayaks in the city, one of our favorite spots is Agua Verde Paddle Club.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In addition to kayak rentals, Agua Verde also makes some of the best Mexican food in town. We’re going to focus on the kayaking in this post, but if you’re looking for a run down on their delicious food, check out this post by Tim.
Agua Verde Cafe & Paddle Club is located on Portage Bay, between Lake Union and Lake Washington. This location is key. If you head east from the dock, you can kayak through the Montlake Cut and paddle around Washington Park Arboretum (which is beautiful). There are several quiet and fun waterways that take you around the park, including into Duck Bay, Union Bay, around Marsh Island and Foster Island.
If you head west from Agua Verde Paddle Club, then you can kayak around Lake Union and take in the Seattle skyline. You can paddle along the shore, visit Gas Works Park, houseboats (including the famous houseboat from Sleepless in Seattle) and get near Fremont. There is also a lot of great scenery around Portage Bay, including more awesome houseboats, so you can also paddle around there as well.
Agua Verde Paddle Club offers single and double kayak rentals, and they also rent out stand up paddle board. You don’t need any experience to rent equipment. It’s great for beginners, intermediate, and advance kayakers. The staff is very helpful and will answer any questions you may have before you take off.
They also supply a dry bag for free, so you can store your keys, wallet, phone, and anything else you may want to bring with you. Next time Tim and I go kayaking, we plan to bring a lunch and put it in the dry bag. Then, we can make a pit stop for a picnic along the way.
Pricing varies depending on the day at Agua Verde. On the weekend, you can rent a double kayak for $32/hour. That price drops on weekdays, including a two-hour deal and weekday special. Check out the Agua Verde Paddle Club website for a complete breakdown of prices. I also recommend checking out the hours, as those change throughout the year too.
Agua Verde Paddle Club also offers guided tours, including full moon tours, sunset tours, arboretum tours and custom tours. Tim and I haven’t been on a tour, but I definitely have the moon tour on my to-do list. I can’t wait to check it out!
For the location alone, Agua Verde Paddle Club is one of the best places to rent kayaks in Seattle. Add in the friendly staff, great equipment and awesome Mexican food and you have a true Seattle gem. Where else can you go kayaking and immediately enjoy a cold margarita and fish tacos in Seattle? It’s a great combination!
Have you ever rented a kayak from Agua Verde Paddle Club? Where did you go? We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Don’t forget to also check out Seattle Bloggers for more fun places to visit!