At first we thought this preparation was a bit of a stretch, but as a long queue suddenly started to form we realised the race to the inflatable kayak was on. Please Note: For the safety and convenience of all participants, CraneOutdoors provides lifejackets, paddles and kayaks for all events. This kayak has two main chambers for two adults, and comes with a double paddle, waterproof storage bag and match bag, making it ideal for days out on the lake with a loved one. While the instructions on how to actually build the kayak could be a little clearer for beginners, it's genuinely easy to understand and to make the most of. As most items are limited edition, they often fly off the shelves – so you can’t hang about when they become available.

Running along its back side is the Castle Neck River, a superb location for paddlers of all skill levels to explore these sheltered waters.

We’ll land there and stretch our legs by hiking to the highest point on the island and burial site for Cornelius Crane and his wife, Miné. Join this educational hike to view the king tide and learn about The Trustees’ coastal resilience efforts to project our species places. These islands provide a haven for wildlife and have a rich cultural history spanning from when Native Americans summered on these shores, harvesting the shellfish for which this area is known, to their purchase by Chicago industrialist Richard T. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Starting at our dock in Essex Bay, we’ll paddle through the Fox Creek Canal and into Fox Creek, where we’ll see herons, egrets, and other shore birds nestled amidst the grasses of the salt marsh.

There are a range of facilities on offer to guests of the hotel, such as a games room, laundry facilities and a library. We’ll land on Long Island and take a short hike to a hilltop that overlooks the tide marsh that interconnects the islands. The Crane Wildlife Refuge, home to seven islands, offers an excellent opportunity to do this, suitable for even beginning paddlers.Choate House, and the White Cottage—Cornelius and Miné’s private getaway when they visited the Crane Estate. There is no better access to the premier saltwater kayaking destination of Essex Bay than via the Crane Wildlife Refuge! While many of our programs are geared toward a general audience, we also offer a number of family programs that are geared toward families with children under age 12 (look for “CraneExplorer” as part of the event name). Claiming to be quick to deflate and coming with a handy storage bag to keep it neat and tidy when not in use, it’s a summer holiday must-have if you love the outdoors.