Texas Pack & Paddle, San Antonio

The brainchild of outdoor enthusiast Stacey Ohmes Banta, Texas Pack & Paddle unlocks San Antonio’s local waterways for paddlers and fly fishers with kayaking classes, tours, and aquatic sports equipment. Their American Canoe Association–certified instructor explains how to slice the water with paddles and rev a kayak’s engine during introductory lessons that also review safety and rescue techniques. Those with a firm grip on their aquatic steeds can head out with a professionally licensed All-Water Guide, who calls upon wisdom gathered over 34 years of kayaking to lead expeditions through waterways such as the Guadalupe River. Regardless of their chosen pathway to adventure, visitors can rest assured that all staff members hold CPR and first-aid certifications. Further assurance can be found at the company’s store, which outfits explorers with Keen footwear, dry bags and boxes, and Stohlquist WaterWare, and whittles spears for kayakers set to embark on seasonal kraken hunts.