Skyline Kayak Tour

Small Group Kayak Tour of Skyline in Milwaukee runs through Brew City Kayak LLC. Rated 4.6 across 9 reviews. Runs 1 hour 30 minutes. From $83.

Overview

This 1 hour 30 minute paddle with Brew City Kayak puts you on the Milwaukee River right through downtown, in a small group capped at 12 travellers. You meet your guide at the dock at 820 S Water St, get paddles, life jackets and instruction, then head out on the water with the skyline above you. The listing notes that most travellers can participate, and one reviewer called the trip easy to do.

The route passes several well known riverfront sights without stopping. You glide past the Summerfest grounds, follow a stretch of the Milwaukee RiverWalk, and drift by the Bronze Fonz. One traveller enjoyed seeing the city and learning about its history from an entirely different vantage point on the river.

The tour begins and ends at the same dock, where a pier setup makes getting in and out of the kayak straightforward. Hotel pickup is not included, so you make your own way there, though the listing notes the site is near public transportation and shares a free parking lot with Boone and Crockett and the Cooperage. Wear clothes that can get wet and you will be set.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Brew City KayakArrive at 820 S Water St, at the back of the shared free parking lot near the blue shipping container, on the patio closest to the water.
2. Gear up and instructionYour guide hands out paddles and life jackets and runs through instruction before you launch.
3. Summerfest (pass by)The route passes the Summerfest grounds on the river, viewed from the water without a stop.
4. Milwaukee RiverWalk (pass by)You paddle along a stretch of the RiverWalk, seeing the downtown riverfront from river level.
5. Bronze Fonz (pass by)The group drifts past the Bronze Fonz on the river, with no stop.
6. Return to the dockThe trip ends back at the meeting point, where the pier setup makes exiting the kayak easy.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this paddle.

• What to wear. Plan on getting at least partly wet. One reviewer warned that your seat will get soaked and recommended workout clothes over anything you want to keep dry.
• Getting on the water. One reviewer praised the pier setup, saying it made getting in and out of the kayak very easy.
• Effort level. The paddle doubles as light exercise, as one reviewer put it, a workout and a city tour in one. It is easy going for most people, though the listing cautions against it for travellers with back, leg or shoulder problems.
• Group feel. The group is limited to 12 travellers. One couple enjoyed a comfortable paddle in their double kayak.
• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup. The meeting point shares a free parking lot with Boone and Crockett and the Cooperage and sits near public transportation, so arriving by car or transit both work.
• Weather. The experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled for poor conditions, the operator offers a different date or a full refund, so keep some flexibility in your schedule.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and the listing advises against it for anyone with back, leg or shoulder problems. It also requires a minimum number of travellers to run, and if that minimum is not met you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund, which can disrupt tight plans. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before start time are not refunded. One reviewer felt the guiding fell short on their trip, reporting that commentary was hard to hear on the water.

Frequently Asked Questions