Rideaway Adventures — Local services in Mashpee

We had a great time doing the Cape Cod Explorer Tour out of the Mashpee location, launching from the New Seabury Marina.

If you're not from the area, give yourself just a few extra minutes to navigate the winding roads leading to the launch site but once there, it's smooth sailing (or paddling)! Parking lot has plenty of space and team members are there to meet you straight away. Necessary gear is provided but you can also rent a small dry bag for your phone, car keys, and/or wallet. Got one, but honestly could have done without, as the kayaks have adequate onboard dry storage...and it's unlikely you'll tip. :) Guides and staff handle portage of kayaks to the launch site, just about a minute's walk away, and help you launch onto the water.

Will was our tour guide and we couldn't have asked for better! He grew up in the area and is incredibly knowledgeable about a number of topics. While he is a great conversationalist, he's also acutely aware of the surroundings and location of his tour members. He spent the trip guiding us from larger boat traffic and moving between family groups to keep the entire party engaged. Even witnessed him recognize and skillfully defuse a building sibling conflict by swiftly sliding his boat in between theirs and politely commenting "Excuse me!" as he paddled further forward. A+ move.

The environment of the paddle is generally protected, calm waters. Most of the time is spent working through a residential area, viewing the homes, docks and boats of some well-to-do folks. There are some clever boat names to keep an eye out for. Great viewing of ospreys (in season). You also make it out to the "spit", a strip of sand separating the ocean from the harbor. We were lucky to visit when we did, as we were able to spend some time walking out to a sandbar and see a number of locals digging for clams.

Highly recommended for those looking for a casual paddle and would be particularly well suited to younger families (although we - including two teen daughters - thoroughly enjoyed it)!

Our thanks to Will and the Rideaway Team for a great time...

What an excellent experience! We registered for a tandem kayak tour just 30 minutes before it began, while en route to the location. The company had space for us and welcomed us with smiles and a quick overview of our route: a real estate tour, a beach stop to walk or swim, a gentle coast through bird nesting areas, and more. Due to weather and timing, we ended up being the only participants, so we got a private kayaking tour!

Our guide was absolutely fantastic. She’s a marine biologist with a clear passion for wildlife. She picked out interesting beach finds and explained them to us. I even got to take home a horseshoe crab shell she found! The beach stop was a highlight: beautiful for walking, with warm waters perfect for swimming. We had a blast splashing around, and she gave us total flexibility with how much time we spent there.

Beyond her marine knowledge, she shared funny stories about the houses along the coast, commented on the many fake owls and clever boat names, and made the whole tour feel personalized and engaging. She was patient with our kayaking pace, happily took as many photos as we wanted (which she later sent to us for free via email with the company’s logo), and gave us great food and ice cream recommendations for after the tour.

Even with slightly unlucky weather, this guide made our experience outstanding. I would absolutely recommend...

Mike and his crew are absolutely top-notch. My first encounter with RideAway was the prompt phone call I received after inquiring through their website what kayak tour would be best-suited for our family. The woman I spoke to was polite and extremely helpful with her suggestions.

In addition to booking the tour, after we arrived at our rental, we decided to rent a kayak and paddle board for delivery. The delivery fee was reasonable and Mike phoned to let us know when he was on his way to drop off the rentals. Upon arrival, he gave us a quick lesson on Paddle boarding 101. I really appreciated his emphasis on safety as well as technique during the lesson. Again, on the day our rentals were set to end, Will phoned to let us know he was on his way to retrieve the items.

Excellent communication that didn’t end there. About an hour before our kayak excursion, Mike called to ask if we had any questions. The kayak tour itself was excellent. Mike is extremely knowledgeable about the area and the ecosystem. Again, his kayaking 101 lesson was comprehensive and included pointers on technique and safety.

Top-notch service,...