If you have ever wondered about the kayak tours on the Outer Banks and you have even a mild interest in nature, you should go. Kitty Hawk Watersports books all the most popular kayak tours on the Outer Banks. The tours are easy, interesting, and relaxing. No experience is necessary.
What to Expect
Your guide will give everyone a quick tutorial on paddling prior to getting in a kayak. In addition, you don’t need to be a highly conditioned athlete. It’s not an endurance race, and your guide will stop and talk often enough to keep you fresh and engaged. Depending on the tour, your guide will mostly talk about nature with stories of the local history threaded throughout. Although there are no guarantees, you may see wildlife.
My favorite tour is of Alligator River. I was fortunate enough to see an alligator on my tour (and I’ve seen them in the canals next to I-64). Alligator River is one of the northernmost spots in the United States where alligators live. I know what you’re thinking, “I don’t want to be in a little kayak with alligators!” First, like most wild animals, the alligators are very shy. Second, these alligators are fairly small.
Besides the alligators, there are also bears, red wolves, shorebirds, birds of prey, and other wildlife. When you’re not looking for wild animals, your guide will tell you stories of the old-time moonshiners and the defunct logging town of Buffalo City.
You’ll have a choice between a single or double (tandem) kayak. Most people choose doubles because they want to socialize, but it’s still easy to talk to your friends from a single. I have a theory that paddlers feel like there’s safety in numbers, but I don’t have the data to back that up.
Can My Child Ride in a Kayak?
A very common question I receive is if adults can bring kids. If you want to bring a young child, you need to ask yourself, “Can my child sit in a kayak for two hours without wanting to get out?” and “Am I physically capable of doing all the paddling for both my child and me?”
I’ll tell you something from personal experience. I’ve raised three kids on the Outer Banks, and a 5-year-old is looking for an exit after seven minutes of being in a kayak – not out of fear, but from boredom. If you’re not sure whether your child is ready for a kayak tour, I highly recommend you come out and rent a kayak for an hour and see how it goes. That way, if it doesn’t work out, it won’t ruin the tour for all the other guests.
At Kitty Hawk Watersports, we’d love to have you see the other side of the Outer Banks. Give us a call at (252) 441-2756, or contact us online to schedule your kayak tour. Come along with us to explore, take pictures, laugh, tell stories, and share.