Next Adventure, Portland

Though Next Adventure arms adventurers with a range of outdoor gear, from standup paddleboards to alpine-ski gear for the winter months, the kayak is its specialty. Beyond the shop's sale and rental inventory of sit-on-top, whitewater, sea, and touring styles, instructors impart the ins and outs of paddling in the Next Adventure Kayak School. Their classes cover topics such as sea and whitewater kayaking, basic strokes, and techniques for rolling the vessel upright when it's overturned in the middle of a rapid. Guides also lead regular trips across the water to local landmarks such as Sauvie Island and Rooster Rock.