“Just relax and enjoy the ride,’’ Hilmer reminds his paddlers-in-waiting.
That stress-free goal has helped make kayaking popular with Cape visitors. From Buzzards Bay to Nauset Marsh to the inlets of Wellfleet and Truro, kayak outfitters are catering to customers who want a view of an osprey nest instead of the action on a high-definition television.
“I think kayaking offers our visitors a unique way to explore Cape Cod that they hadn’t had before,’’ said Kristen Mitchell Hughes, vice president of marketing for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. “There’s such beautiful places to kayak around here.’’
Options for kayakers are plentiful on the Cape, including guided tours, solo rentals, corporate and family outings, eco-tours, and lessons. Kayaks can be rented for one or two passengers, and the venues can range from riding ocean surf, to navigating rivers, to exploring secluded creeks.
Of course, many kayakers bring their own boats, launch them at a public beach or landing, and set off on a tour limited only by their whims and their watch. The Cape - prodded by fingers of saltwater and pocked by freshwater kettle holes - offers a rich variety of scenarios.
“There are coves to explore, there are marshes. On the back side of West Dennis Beach, there’s a beautiful area to go for a swim or a walk,’’ says Abi Smith, who, with her husband, Cliff, operates Bass River Cruises and Kayaks in West Dennis.
“More people want to be involved in active sports, and they’re just trying to get their exercise in a fun way. It’s a very green sport,’’ says Smith, whose company provides rentals but not guided tours. “A lot of families are involved. We’ve had people going out with very small children, even a 6-month-old. We’ve also had folks in their 70s and 80s.’’
