California is home to best kayak tour in the nation, USA Today says. What makes it special?
California is home to the best kayak tour company in the country, according to USA Today.
Santa Barbara Adventure Co. topped the publication’s list of the top 10 kayak tours in the United States in 2024, published June 5.
“Kayak tours combine aerobic fitness with the chance to immerse yourself in nature on guided outings,” USA Today said, “and the diverse waterways of the U.S. present some of the most breathtaking paddling adventures in the world.”
A total of three California companies landed on the list, including Tahoe Adventure Company in Tahoe Vista and Central Coast Kayaks in Pismo Beach.
What makes Santa Barbara kayak tours best in US?
“Renowned for its balmy Mediterranean climate, Santa Barbara is the perfect city for a lengthy kayak tour,” USA Today said.
Santa Barbara Adventure Company has been offering excursions on the Central Coast since 1998, according to its website.
“We’re committed to creating unforgettable adventures of the highest quality while highlighting the natural beauty of our surrounding countryside and coastal waters,” the company said.
The business, which prides itself on its “knowledgeable and friendly guides,” offers kayaking tours of Channel Islands National Park, Santa Barbara Harbor and the Gaviota coast, plus wine country trips, surf lessons and snorkeling excursions.
Santa Barbara Adventure Company took to social media to thank USA Today readers for “voting us # 1 ‘Best Kayak Tour’ in the nation.”
“To all our amazing guests who have paddled with us before, we’d love for you to join us on another epic adventure this season,” the business wrote in a June 7 Instagram post. “And for those who haven’t joined us yet, come see what makes our adventures the best!”
It’s not the first time Santa Barbara Adventure Company has earned accolades for its scenic tours.
In April, Newsweek named the Santa Barbara-based outfit one of the top 10 adventure travel companies in the nation. Another Central Coast company, Los Padres Outfitters in Carpinteria, also landed on the list.
What are the top 10 kayak tours in the country?
Here are the top 10 companies offering kayak tours in the country, according to USA Today:
- Santa Barbara Adventure Company
- Amelia Island Kayak Excursions in Ferdinanda Beach, Florida
- Rising Tide Explorers in Naples, Florida
- Desert River Outfitters in Bullhead, Arizona
- Great Turtle Kayak Tours in Mackinac Island
- Tahoe Adventure Company in Tahoe Vista
- Crystal River Outfitters in Glen Arbor, Michigan
- Frank’s Paddlesports Livery in Indianapolis
- Central Coast Kayaks in Pismo Beach
- Maine State Sea Kayak in Southwest Harbor, Maine
How did USA Today come up with its rankings?
To come up with USA Today’s Best 10 Readers’ Choice Awards for 2024, a panel of experts selected nominees across a number of categories.
The publication’s readers then voted for their favorites.
So far, USA Today has ranked the nation’s best beaches, campgrounds for recreational vehicles, national park lodges, vintage trailer hotels and glamping spots.
The publication also shared its top picks for things to do and places to go this summer, including hiking trails, drive-in movie theaters and scenic train rides.
This story was originally published June 14, 2024 at 8:46 AM with the headline "California is home to best kayak tour in the nation, USA Today says. What makes it special?."
