Numerous ecological regulations impact our fish, yet few volunteers are interested in doing the hard work of registering them to vote. Canvass your local waterways with today's Groupon to Next Adventure: for $20, you get a 2.5-hour tour with guided instruction (available tour times listed to the right) on the Willamette River around Ross Island, a $40 value. All the necessary equipment is included, and no experience is necessary.
Now that Ross Island has begun to recover from years of mining, many species of bird once again call its riparian areas home. This is your chance to get an up-close gander at the regenerating flora and fauna. You'll shove off from the Sellwood Park boat ramp while securely snuggled in a safe, stable, sober, and beginner-friendly recreational kayak. Paddling alongside an experienced, doting guide, you'll have the chance not only to experiment with the sensations of kayaking (tingling, the taste of mint) but to whip out your binoculars and potentially spy osprey, eagles, herons, and other elegant avians. If you're a more experienced kayaker, this is also an opportune opportunity to test out Next Adventure's equipment. Either way, a semi-wild forest hidden in plain sight waits to be explored from the water.
Born in 1999 as a used gear shop, Next Adventure prides itself on supplying irrational inspiration and enthusiasm with rational, durable equipment. Since tours with guided instruction are usually capped at six, you'll receive plenty of supervision and totally stoked encouragement from your aqualeader, and perhaps even a nugget of zen-like wisdom that propels you into a life spent kayaking, even for minor trips to the drugstore. With Friday, Saturday, and Sunday times available through September, call ahead to schedule your tour with guided instruction.
Bring water, some snacks, layered clothing, and shoes you don't mind getting wet. Minimum age is 14.
Reviews
Though reviews are lacking for Next Adventure's specialty kayaking tours, the sporting goods store has received an average rating of 3.5 stars from Yelpers and a four-star average from Citysearchers.
- The staff was super friendly and extremely helpful. Attentive to our needs and price range. – JeannaMac, Citysearch
- They provide an extremely helpful and friendly environment. – billtronix, Citysearch
Groupon Says
Know Your Bodies of Water
Before kayaking, it's important to know exactly what type of body of water you'll be facing; a rapidly rushing lagoon requires a far different set of kayaking skills than a lazy moat. Here's a guide to the most common bodies of water:
Lakes: Comes in three varieties: lazy, indefatigable, and ultra-lazy. Because lakes do not feed into other water-bodies, they are breeding grounds for aquatic mutants such as double-mouthed bluegills and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Rivers: When psychologists say, "The Mississippi isn't just a river in Egypt," they're not just making a good point about emotional coping mechanisms, they're also giving you a great geography lesson: the Mississippi is also a river in America.
Swamps: These sticky wetlands are breeding grounds for Swamp Things, the enchantedly strong spirits of vengeance known for their catchphrase, "I'm swamped," which, like most figures of speech, is to be taken literally.
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