Our kayaking adventure was soooo much fun! Both John and Emily were helpful and informative and fun. Emily gave us interesting info about the vineyards on the way to the launch site, and then got us up to speed with the "how-to's" of kayaking. I, my daughter, and my sis-in-law all had experience kayaking, tho very little...but I suspect having previous kayaking experience and a level of comfort controlling a craft on the water probably impacts the amount of enjoyment one has. For me, it was so much fun to kayak on the river rather than on a lake...it's a bit harder (that's what made it better!), but I would absolutely do it again! It didn't register to me when I signed us up that we would not be accompanied by a guide, but we felt safe and secure at all times. BTW, this is an awesome intergenerational activity. My sister-in-law and I are both in our 60's, and my daughter is in her mid 20's. Relaxing in the winery after our quest was a great way to wrap up the weekend. Great wines, great hummus, great pizza, and great servers! This was the last adventure of our 13-day trip to the Southwest, and I'm so glad we fit it in!!!