Kayak and craft beer beat the usual pub crawl. This Traverse City tour strings biking and kayaking into brewery stops, with a map to handle the routes between. You start at 12:00 pm and roll back to the meeting point after about 4 to 5 hours.

I like that the tour supplies the equipment, so you do not have to track down a helmet, lock, or kayak gear. I also love the variety of stops, from Right Brain and The Filling Station to a kayak approach at Rare Bird, with an option for Silver Spruce.

Plan on paying for tastings and food yourself, and the kayak portion includes at least one dam-area lift-and-drag that can feel heavy.

Key points to know before you go

• Bike-to-beer, then paddle-to-beer: You switch modes mid-tour, so it stays fun instead of repetitive.
• Included gear handles most logistics: Bike, helmet, lock, plus kayak, life jacket, and paddle are all provided.
• A map + suggested routes reduce stress: You get guidance for where to go and what to do next.
• Boardman segment is self-paced: The water part is more “your day” than “marching band.”
• Some costs are extra: Beer tastings and food are not included in the ticket price.
• Expect a portage moment on the water: One dam-area section requires lifting and dragging the kayak.

Price and logistics that actually matter

KaBrew costs $79 per person for a 4 to 5 hour adventure. That price is mainly for the active route and the gear—kayak and paddle plus bike and helmet—while the beer and food are on you. If you compare it to buying rental gear plus transportation plus a standard brewery tour, it tends to feel like a fair way to do Traverse City on one ticket.

Another detail I appreciate: the tour uses a mobile ticket and runs from a clear starting address at 1910 W South Airport Rd. The group size caps at 40 travelers, so it usually stays organized without feeling like a theme park line. Also, the average booking lead time is about 63 days, which is a hint to lock in early if your dates are flexible.

One more practical note: the tour depends on good weather. If conditions are poor, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund, so it’s worth keeping your schedule a little elastic.

What the day feels like: a 12:00 pm start with two modes of travel

This is not a sit-down “drink tour.” It’s a move-your-body brewery run. You begin at 12:00 pm, then you head out on bikes for the first brewery stops. After that, you trade bikes for kayaks and switch to water travel for the later stops and the Boardman segment.

The timing is built around short brewery visits—about 45 minutes per stop—which keeps the pace lively. It also helps if you are not trying to spend half the day waiting in lines or making a decision about where to sit. You can taste, grab a beer, and still have time to finish the route.

You’ll also get help with navigation. A map is provided, and the day is designed so you do not have to personally figure out which trails connect or how to transition between biking and kayaking.

Stop 1: Right Brain Brewery on the bike route

Right Brain Brewery is where the day kicks off. You bike from the Happy Town area to Right Brain, then settle in for about 45 minutes.

What’s attractive here is the “warm-up stop.” The vibe tends to be relaxed enough to get your bearings, grab a first tasting, and adjust if you are still waking up your legs. The itinerary notes that the admission ticket is free, but tastings are not included in the tour price, so you should expect to pay for whatever you order.

If you are the kind of person who likes a calm first move, Right Brain is a good place to start. One theme in guide feedback is that staff help people choose how to handle the day, which is ideal on your first brewery leg.

Stop 2: The Filling Station for flatbread and brews

Next up is The Filling Station Microbrewery. Again, you bike between breweries, and you get around 45 minutes at the stop.

This is the place to think about food timing. The tour includes time to grab one of their famous flatbread pizzas, but nothing is included in the price for food or drinks. That said, if you have been paddling and biking all day, pizza at this point can make the rest of the tour feel easier.

Practically, I like how this stop lines up with the middle of the day. You can refuel without committing to a full lunch sit-down. And because the schedule keeps moving, you do not end up stuck deciding what to do next while your group is waiting.

Stop 3: Kayaking to Rare Bird Brewpub in the heart of Traverse City

After the first two breweries by bike, the tour switches gears. For the third stop, you kayak to Rare Bird Brewpub in the heart of Traverse City, with about 45 minutes on site.

This is one of the strongest reasons to choose KaBrew if you like scenery. The breweries are the “destination,” but the water route is the experience. You get the feeling of moving through the city from a different angle, and you are not stuck in parking lots or traffic.

As for food and beer: admission is listed as free for this stop, but the tour price does not include alcohol. Plan to pay for tastings or a pint the same way you would at any brewery.

Stop 4: Silver Spruce as the optional bonus stop

Silver Spruce Brewing Company is a potential fourth stop. If it’s included on your run, you’ll get about 45 minutes there before heading back toward where you started near Medalie Park.

The word potential is important. That means the day can flex based on timing, flow, or conditions. I like tours that leave room for reality—because weather and water pace can change. The downside is that you might not know for sure if you will hit this stop, so do not build your whole beer-plan around it.

If you do make Silver Spruce, this stop adds variety and gives you another brewery choice before the self-guided water time.

Stop 5: Boardman River and Lake time, self-guided at your pace

The last part is where KaBrew feels most like a real outdoor day. You get self-guided time on the Boardman Lake and the River, with suggested routes and a sample itinerary. You can explore at your own pace and even change the order a bit.

This is also where the “adventure” mindset matters. The route is set up so you have room to enjoy it without feeling rushed. You still have structure, but you’re not locked into an exact minute-by-minute program.

Two practical insights from the way people describe the experience:

• The kayak route can connect lake to river to bay, so it’s not always the same kind of water the entire time.
• There can be a moment that requires extra effort, including lifting and dragging the kayak around a dam. If you have not carried a kayak before, this is the one part where you should assume you’ll work a little.

Gear and effort: helmets, life jackets, and the dam-area portage

One of the best values in KaBrew is that the tour includes the gear: kayak, life jacket, and paddle, plus bike, helmet, and a lock. That’s a big deal. You avoid shopping, packing, and hauling rental equipment, and you spend that time walking around breweries instead of wrestling straps in the parking lot.

Safety-wise, you get a life jacket, and the bike part includes a helmet. For most visitors, that’s the right level of support for a day that mixes active movement and alcohol-adjacent stops.

Effort-wise, the bike segment is often described as easy overall, with only a couple of hills in some routes. The kayak segment is more variable. One caution from reviews: the kayak can be quite heavy, and you may have to lift and drag it around a dam. If you are small-framed or you dislike portaging, give yourself extra time and go slow.

Guides can help set expectations, and names that show up in feedback include Johnny, Fisher, Marissa, and Aaron. Even Scott, listed as the owner, gets credit in some write-ups. The common thread is hands-on support during the transitions.

Alcohol, food, and the real cost of a “beer day”

Here’s the honest money picture: your $79 ticket covers the activity and equipment, not the tasting bill. Beer and food are not included, and the tour explicitly calls out that tastings are extra.

At Right Brain Brewery, the notes say the admission ticket is free, but the tasting fee is not included. At The Filling Station, you have time for flatbread pizza, but that food is not included either.

So how do you budget? Think like this:

• Set aside money for at least a tasting or pint at each brewery stop.
• Add food if you want it beyond snacks.
• If you’re doing the flatbread, consider it a mid-day anchor so the rest of your paddle feels smoother.

The value is that you control the spending. You can taste a little at each stop or go heavier at one place, and you still get the full active route.

Guides and group size: where this tour earns its high marks

This experience gets high recommendation rates, and the biggest reason is the human factor: the guides keep transitions from feeling awkward.

People mention guides by name, including Johnny, Fisher, Marissa, and Aaron, and they also talk about how friendly the team was. Some groups say they had rescheduling help when weather changed. Others liked that staff gave clear instructions for switching from biking to kayaking.

If you are the type who gets nervous about logistics—where to go, when to swap equipment, how to start the paddle—this tour is designed to reduce that stress with a map and help during the handoffs.

Group size also matters. With a max of 40, your day should stay structured, but it still tends to feel social rather than crowded. Some people even describe doing the self-guided version when there was no group, which suggests flexibility depending on demand.

Who KaBrew is for (and who might want a different day)

KaBrew is a strong fit if you like:

• Outdoor time that actually gets you moving
• A guided beer-and-brewery route without the “only sitting and standing” vibe
• Scenic water views plus bike trails between stops
• A day that still gives you autonomy during the Boardman portion

It may be less ideal if:

• You hate portaging or carrying a heavy kayak for short stretches
• You expect beer and food to be included in the ticket price
• You want a long, slow brewery experience with lots of downtime

For groups, it’s also a good pick. Feedback includes bachelorette parties and girls trips, and the mix of action and tasting tends to work for different personalities.

If you are solo, it can still be fun because the route is the main event, not just the group. But you’ll want to like “do and go” days.

Should you book KaBrew in Traverse City?

I’d book KaBrew if you want your brewery day to include a real outdoors component, not just a list of bars. The bike + kayak combination is the standout value: you get two kinds of local scenery, the gear is handled for you, and the day’s pacing keeps things from dragging.

I would think twice if you’re sensitive to paying extra for tastings and food, or if you know you’ll struggle with the dam-area kayak lift-and-drag. If that sounds like you, you can still enjoy the breweries, but you may want a tour that skips the water transition.

One smart move: book early, because this runs on a schedule and the “max 40” setup means popular slots can go fast. And if weather looks iffy on your date, accept that changes may happen, but that there is a pathway to reschedule or refund.

FAQ

What’s included in the KaBrew $79 ticket?

Your ticket includes the active gear and guidance: kayak, life jacket, and paddle, plus bike, helmet, and lock, along with a map and tour information. Beer, food, and alcohol are not included.

How long is the KaBrew experience?

It runs about 4 to 5 hours.

Where does the tour start and end?

The meeting point is 1910 W South Airport Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point.

Are beer tastings and food included?

No. Beer and food are at your own expense. The notes also mention that tasting fees are not included, even though admission tickets for the stops are listed as free.

How do you switch from biking to kayaking?

You use the provided map and instructions for the transitions. In the self-guided version, you also contact the staff when you need to exchange the bike for the kayak and when you’re done.

What happens if weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.