detailtravelgirl

We are a family of 4 with 2 children ages 15 and 11. We would like to try a half-day kayaking experience while in Alaska in mid-June. We will be in Seward, Homer and on Kenai River during our stay. Are any of these locations better suited for beginners i.e. calmness of water or reputation of guide company? I have read Seward may not be best place for beginners if you are dropped in Aialik Bay, due to exposure to Gulf of Alaska. Has anyone done a kayak trip out of any of these areas? All help would be appreciated. Thank You.

BudgetQueen

Either Homer or Seward. Aialik Bay is sheltered, and I would think that would be a great place for your group. Superior scenery.

BayouGal

If you will be in Valdez, there are lots of recommendations here for both Anadyr Adventures and Pangaea Adventures. We will be kayaking in several different areas in June, and I will post a trip report. Unfortunately, it will be too late to help you out. But please consider posting your own trip report to help out other travelers. Good luck!

repete

Both Homer and Seward are nice kayaking spots, but I'd second BQ and give the solid edge to Seward, expecially if you can get out to Aialik, which is a gorgeous boat ride just to get there. I'm not sure where the warning about the Gulf might have come from.

Once there, there are plenty of protected areas.

Connie

I wouldn't do it IN Seward. Even though the weather was calm the water was rough from all the boats coming in and out of the marina. We saw a group capsize and the water is pretty chilly. Luckily they were pretty close to shore.

They were the only group we saw in that location. Everyone else we saw were further out and we only saw them while on our Kenai Fjord tour.

bob_brown

For your first excursion, I suggest a shallow lake. I sure would not take off into an open bay without knowing how the kayak responds and how well I could paddle it.

When you say inexperienced, just how inexperienced? Never got in one before?
Or never shot Class 4 rapids?

repete

There are plenty of great sea kayakers who have never ``shot a Class IV rapids.'' Sea kayaks are far more predictable and stable than what you'd use in moving water. They are completely different boats.

AK vendors are well-prepared for beginners from the Lower 48, they make up a high percentage of their business.

Barblab

We Kayaked for the first time last year with St. Agustine in Pederson Bay accross the bay from the Homer Spit. We had a great guide, and wonderful time kayaking in a calm bay with sea otters! Another idea might be to see if you could book the Three Moose hiking and glacier lake kayaking trip out of Homer.

easytraveler

Several years ago we went on our first kayak trip while in Alaska.

It's not that difficult. Since you will be a family of four, try one adult and one child in a two-man kayak.

We were LOFI (last out, first in). We had a terrible time getting started. Our feet and arms were so uncoordinated! The guide kept having to double back to see how we were doing. Everyone else had already crossed the small bay by the time we were able to get our act together. However, by the end of the trip, we were so good at coordination that we even beat two men and got back to the pier first!

Just sit still and rotate your arms as if you were riding a bicycle with your arms instead of your legs. One person has to control the rudder with his/her feet.

Have fun! and BTW, the rafting trip was even more fun!