EVENT | Kayaks On the Water
7/12/2021
It was July 4th weekend and we were looking for a way to celebrate outside, aside from the traditional backyard BBQ. We stumbled across Kayaks On the Water online in Long Beach, and decided to go soak up some beach sun.
The kayak rentals are located on the sands of Alamitos Bay, one of the most beautiful and calm marinas in SoCal. The beach and marina are always supervised and there is very little boat traffic, so you don’t have to worry about dodging several boats on the water. There’s also a small moon jellyfish cove where you can actually pick up and pet them - don’t fear, they’re non-poisonous.
Take this review with a grain of salt, as we DID go on July 4th. The beaches were absolutely packed, and the shores sounded like a Koreatown nightclub.
The Pre
Reservations:
Especially with COVID still lurking in the background, Kayaks on the Beach recommends making reservations. The reservation process consists of watching a few safety videos and signing a waiver. You must know how to swim! This is written all over their website, but I can assure you… many people bypass this and lie about knowing how to swim. Go at your own discretion! You don’t pay online when you make your reservation. They take payment AFTER you finish kayaking, so you can go for as long as you want.
If you do not make reservations, the company has stated that they cannot guarantee you a kayak rental if you just walk in.
Attire:
Beach attire (swim trunks)! You may get wet in the kayak! Don’t forget to bring sunglasses as well - I made the mistake of not wearing sunglasses. Especially in the summer, the water reflects intense light, and by the end of the session I felt like my eyes were gonna fall out. Also, when we were kayaking through the bay, there were people in other boats with water guns and water balloons. You might get sprayed! Though I’m not sure this is a daily thing… maybe it was only a July 4th festivity.
Parking:
Parking was absolutely horrific. Again, this was July 4th and the beaches were PACKED. I’ve heard from friends that if you just go during a weekday or regular weekend, there is ample street parking or parking in beach lots. Most parking spaces are metered, so bring some money.
Location:
Kayaks on the Water is located at 5411 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803. If you walk out onto the beach, they have a small tent set up with signs, and loads of kayaks just waiting to be rented out. You can’t miss it!
The During
When arriving at the Kayaks On the Water tent on the beach, they quickly checked our reservation email confirmations. We were then given a quick tour of the bay, and general rules to follow (no getting out of your kayak and into the water, don’t go into certain parts of the bay because of boat traffic, etc.). After we were all checked in, each of us were given life jackets, a paddle, and a kayak. Pro tip: even if you’re going as a couple, I’d highly recommend getting two single kayaks. Doubles are larger and much harder to steer and move. If you get a double you’d have to coordinate paddling with your partner as well. We hopped into our kayaks, and off we went to explore!
The waters were extremely calm in the bay. The only waves that were present came from small boats passing by. Kayaking itself isn’t as hard as you think. It’s fairly easy to paddle, pick up speed, and maneuver in the water (my 5 feet 100 pound girlfriend had absolutely no problems). There are a few different places you can go to within the bay - check out this map below.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Spinnaker Bay - It took us a good 30 to 45 minutes to get from the beach to Spinnaker Bay. This is where all the moon jellyfish are! These jellyfish were one of the primary reasons we chose to go kayaking here in Long Beach. The jellyfish are seasonal, and I believe they only come out during the late spring and summer time. The sides of Spinnaker Bay are lined with houses and private docks. You aren’t allowed on these docks, and if you cause damage to any of their property, you will be charged! All the way at the end of Spinnaker Bay, is where you will find the jellyfish - you CAN’T miss them. They are literally everywhere at the end of the bay. Some of them even come up towards the surface of the water, so you can actually pet them.
Public Dock - At the public dock, you’re able to tie up your kayak and head up for a snack! I believe there’s a small shopping center there with various restaurants, grocery stores, and beverage stops (Jamba Juice and Starbucks). We didn’t make our way to the public dock, because we brought snacks and drinks in our backpacks onto the kayak.
Wildlife Refuge - The website states that during high tide, you can get up close to various kinds of birds. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to check out the refuge because we had to make it back to shore for other July 4th plans. The refuge is definitely something I’d want to check out next time I go kayaking in Long Beach!
At the very end of Spinnaker Bay, you’ll find moon jellyfish! You can actually pet them because they’re NOT poisonous. Be careful picking them up though, they are very fragile creatures.
Our crew! Everyone’s in a single because it’s THAT much easier!
After we finished checking out the bay (our fun-filled kayaking excursion lasted about 2 hours), we headed back towards the beach to return our kayaks and pay. This is when we really started feeling the burn in our arms and shoulders. It’s definitely a workout and if we went beyond 2 hours, I’m not sure our whole crew would’ve made it back!
The Verdict
At $12 per person per hour, Kayaks On the Water is a must. You get to go at your own pace, see some pretty cool wildlife, and just enjoy basking in sunny SoCal weather. This is honestly the perfect daytime activity with family or friends if you’re feelin’ like having a beach day.
Kha’s Official Rating: 9/10