Get Out is your monthly guide to what's great in the great outdoors, written by columnist Allison Kay Bannister.
I'm always looking for spots to kayak besides the obvious big river we have right here in GR. For one, there aren’t a lot of rental options for paddling the Grand (except Parks & Rec, who recently took over the Saturday trips from GR Outside). Beyond that, every waterway has its own personality and scenery, and being able to experience different surrounds is part of the allure of kayaking!
A couple of summers ago, I found U-Rent-Em Canoe Livery out in Hastings, and it’s since become one of our go-tos. The first time we went, I planned to pick up a few of our group members on the way, and my first stop was in East Grand Rapids. Little did I know that there was a marathon happening that day, and there were road closures everywhere. There was no road that led to Rome, and they kept closing roads as I detoured, raising my angst exponentially.
I was seriously having a cow. Because, if you know me, you know I can’t stand to be late.
So, I was frantically driving in circles while also agitatedly calling my soon-to-be passengers and telling them what was happening. Okay, I was screaming into the dashboard, truth told. Anyway, it became evident at some point that my riders were going to have to walk to me. And everything was fine after that, except that my insane side was revealed to more people than I’d have liked. No one seeing this would have been preferred.
But, back to the otherwise uneventful—and very enjoyable—trip. U-Rent-Em rents canoes, kayaks, and tubes at a pretty reasonable rate for a three-hour trip. You just assemble your group, arrive, pay them in cash, and load up into their van, and they’ll drive you and your rented kayaks (with provided floatation cushions) to the put-in location.
It’s a pretty leisurely paddle on the Thornapple, and it takes you under bridges and past people fishing and through a mix of suburban and natural areas. You’ll see lots of birds and wildflowers along the way, too. If you go late in the summer, you may encounter hordes of tubing college students having a last fling before heading back to school. This really only adds to the fun, I promise.
Next up are some things you should consider about any kayaking trip, but especially a longer one. The two obvious ones are insect repellant and sunscreen—applied liberally. I usually wear a zip-up rash guard to further protect against UV rays. A hat or visor helps, too, since it’s harder to notice the effects of the sun when on the water. Water shoes or sandals with straps are also a good idea.
Definitely bring a tall water bottle and some easy-to-access snacks to make sure you stay fueled and hydrated. Just remember: drinking lots of water comes with consequences, and you may have to disembark to go wading, if you know what I mean.
And, one last thing: consider a waterproof case of some kind to hold your keys, phone, and anything else you don’t want to potentially get wet. I usually pin my key fob to my collar because if that goes in, nobody in my group is going home anytime soon.
But, you may want to stay a little longer in Hastings, anyway. They have a cute downtown with local shops that they pride themselves on, and a great restaurant called Walldorff Brew Pub & Bistro that always manages to fit our group in for post-paddle bites and bevvies. The food is delish, the draft selection is always interesting, and, like I said, they go out of their way to make room for a large party of weary of kayakers. It’s part of the reason we go back for this trip summer after summer.
Hasting is only about 45 minutes from central GR, so it’s an easy day trip! Ready to go? Learn more and reserve your date and crafts at urentemcanoe.com.
