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Napa Valley River History: Intimate Kayak Tour
4.7
98 Ratings
Napa
Our captivating Napa River History Tour brings you up close to the lesser known yet profound history of the Napa Valley. As you journey with us by kayak, we’ll unveal the region from a unique, insider’s viewpoint capturing Napa’s most intriguing secrets.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- 680 Main St - One person kayak. Beyond its lush natural scenery, Napa Valley also boasts a storied history. Luckily, you can explore both of these elements with the Napa River History Kayak Tour. Under the supervision of an experienced guide, the tour will embark from 670 Main Street, right near downtown Napa.
From there, you and your party will be outfitted with kayaks before taking to the serene waters of the Napa River for a journey through the past and present of this unique area. For the following hour-and-a-half to two hours, you will paddle alongside your guide as they give you a run-down of local lore, including tales you’re not likely to read about in any guidebook.
You’ll learn about the first settlers to Napa Valley, as well as Napa’s famed wineries and local businesses. Did you know that Napa was established before California was a state? Or that Elvis performed and stayed in Napa? These are just two of the many interesting factoids your guide will offer up during your voyage— historical trivia ranging from the amazing to the bizarre.
What's Included
- Tour guide provided
- Kayak included
- Lifejacket provided
- Paddle included
What's Not Included
- no exclusions
Additional Information
- Please make sure ALL members of your party sign the following waiver prior to arrival
- Life Jackets, Paddles, Kayaks and a Professional Tour Guide are included.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
Location
670 Main St
Main Street
Please arrive at 15 minutes early. Bathrooms are at the General Store 540 Main Street.. Free parking at 5th and main garage. Walk across the street and follow the signage to the River Front. Walk down to the floating dock and check in. Our crew is dressed in Hawaiian Shirts and Sun Hats.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(98 Ratings)
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Jill_b
Apr 19, 2024
Perfect balance, lots of fun. - I’m not very athletic and not a youngster so I had some anxiety about trying this. Justin had a great system for getting into the kayak (and out) that took all of that anxiety away. After a great history tour he sent us off to explore by ourselves. Perfect combination of instruction and freedom. Loved it!
Review provided by Viator
Cassandra_c
Apr 4, 2024
Great experience! Book it! - Great experience! Tour guide was so nice and had great stories. I was a newbie and it was a beginner ride with no stress. saw some wildlife. Would highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Robert_k
Oct 22, 2023
“Must do” experience when visiting Napa! - We had such a great time! Our guide was fantastic and had the best stories! We loved learning about the history of Napa and we equally loved learning about all the wildlife that was surrounding us! It was a nice balance of being guided and then some alone time to explore. Being out on the Napa river is such a beautiful and serene experience. I highly recommend this!
Review provided by Viator
Jdruby0007
Aug 25, 2023
Kayaking through History - The tour starts with Justin talking you through the history of the Napa River and Downtown Napa as you kayak along the river. He answers any questions that you may have and engages with each member of the tour by name. You can tell that Justin loves what he does and is passionate about Napa and its history.
The final part of the tour you are free to kayak and explore by yourself. This is a great way to end the tour as you can explore the river running past the Oxbow Preserve.
This is a perfect activity for anyone visiting Napa. It's a different way to take in the sights and you learn the untold history of the area. It's also suitable for kayaking beginners and those that are more experienced. I highly recommend this activity.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emily_m
Aug 18, 2023
Must Do! - Our tour guide was awesome. He was very engaging and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed having a guided tour for the first half and then being left to explore on our own for the second half. Highly recommend for couples who are active and but also kinda nerdy!
Review provided by Viator
Dwn3315ml
Jul 31, 2023
Napa Valley - River History Kayak Tour - Justin was fun and knowledgeable! Highly recommended! Felt good to do something athletic while we were there!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juana_m
Apr 30, 2023
I had a great experience... - I had a great experience at the River History Kayak with my husband. The guide showed us the River and told us the history of the River during our time on the kayaks, he was so nice and professional, then he gave us some time to explore the River on our own. We really enjoyed the experience.
Review provided by Viator
Chyle_b
Nov 22, 2022
Fantastic - Justin is filled with the rich history of Napa!! He is also a musician and has a love of music of different genres!! We connected there too! Great experience! My first time kayaking and Justin help make it a great one!! I would definitely recommend this to anyone!!
Review provided by Viator
Travelingjulietx
Jun 25, 2023
Kayaking in Napa - who knew?!?! - This was a really laid-back and mellow way to experience the Napa Valley. I really enjoyed hearing about the history of Napa and the efforts the city has made to restore the river to its natural state as part of both conservation and to reduce flooding.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sue_b
Apr 26, 2023
Not worth it..... - Our tour guide was full of great information, but there was basically nothing to see along the river but mud & debris. A bit disappointing, could have spent our time doing many other more interesting things.
Review provided by Viator
