Paddle Share Station
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Paddle Share Station offers an affordable, flexible, and often uncrowded kayaking experience on the Mississippi River, providing options for self-guided one-way trips or educational guided tours with knowledgeable staff.
Key Highlights
- ✓Significantly more affordable than alternative kayak rentals (e.g., Lake Calhoun).
- ✓Offers one-way trips from rental point down to Boom Island for drop-off.
- ✓The kayaking route is described as 'magical' and the river is 'often empty', suggesting a peaceful experience.
- ✓Staff is described as 'helpful' and guides are 'knowledgeable' about local history, plants, and animals.
- ✓Customer service goes 'above and beyond', even arranging guided tours when unguided options are closed.
- ✓Online rental process for convenience.
Standout Features
- ⭐Online booking and rental system.
- ⭐Convenient one-way trip design with a defined drop-off point at Boom Island.
- ⭐Opportunity for educational tours with guides knowledgeable in local history, flora, and fauna.
- ⭐Paddling on a frequently uncrowded stretch of the Mississippi River.
- ⭐Ability to combine the activity with other local attractions like a farmers market.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Be prepared to manage your return transportation (e.g., scooter or bike rental from Nice Ride station) as trips are one-way.
- →Consider a guided tour for an educational experience about local history, plants, and animals, especially if river conditions are restricted for unguided tours.
- →Anticipate a minor effort to launch kayaks into the river, though it's less strenuous than bringing your own equipment.
- →Pair your kayaking adventure with other local activities like visiting a farmers market for a full day out.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Parents need to plan and manage their own return transportation from the drop-off point to their starting location/car (e.g., bike rental, scooter).
- ⚠It requires 'a little bit of a hassle to get your kayak down to the river', though less than bringing your own.
Price & Value
Highly rated for affordability, being 'way more affordable than renting kayaks at Lake Calhoun'. The base rental cost is good value, but parents should budget for return transportation (e.g., bike/scooter rental).
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in the reviews. The 'hassle to get your kayak down to the river' might pose a challenge for individuals with mobility issues.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not mentioned in reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking at the starting point is implied as parents drive to the launch, but specific details (e.g., free/paid, number of spots) are not provided. Parents will return to their car at the launch point after arranging return transport from the drop-off.
👥Crowd Levels
- •The river is 'often empty', suggesting a low crowd level on the water itself, which is a positive for a peaceful family experience.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Guided tours are available and can operate even when the river is closed to unguided tours, implying a level of safety consideration and expert guidance during challenging conditions. No other explicit safety features (e.g., life vests, staff supervision ratios) are mentioned.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Families with very young children who cannot sit independently or paddle for an extended period, as no specific accommodations for toddlers are mentioned.
- • Parents looking for an all-inclusive, no-planning required activity, due to the need to arrange return transportation.
- • If river conditions restrict unguided tours and a guided option is not desired.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Brian Niebler
7 years agoMy wife and I tried out paddleshare this summer. it was actually a lot of fun and way more affordable than renting kayaks at lake calhoun. You can rent online and paddle all the way down to Boom Island to drop them off. We then rented a bike from niceride station and rode back up to our car. Highly recommended if you're looking for an outdoor activity.
Emil
2 years agoThis day will forever stay in my memory with my friends that took me there, kayaking route was magical and staff helpful.
pete murphy
5 years agoJeff took us down the Mississippi when the river was closed to unguided tours because we had traveled to Minneapolis from Rhode Island for my birthday. WE HAD THE BEST TIME. He was so knowledgable about the history of the area, the plants and animals, and the best local breweries. The owner of the company really went above and beyond for us. 6 star experience. Thanks guys!
Marcin Sierant
10 months agoPerfect plan. Best memories I take back to Warsaw. Farmers market for berakfest, Missisipi for brunch.
Paul B
3 years agoAmazing experience as the River is often empty. It is a little bit of a hassle to get your kayak down to the river but much less than brining your own. Pro tip: You can scooter your way back to your car stopping at Psycho Suzi’s for a fun date.