Kayak Branson

[Okies]

I don't see reviews for Kayaking very often in this forum, so I thought I would add this one.

I invited some girlfriends from church (here in Oklahoma) to come up and enjoy a long weekend at my vacation house in Hollister last weekend. We did this last year and had so much fun, we decided it should be an annual event. Last year there were only 4 of us, but this year we had seven ladies! One of the things we decided to try was kayaking.

We rented Kayaks from Kayak Branson - which is across the street from Tablerock Marina on Hwy 165. Rod & Carla are the owners, and they were so courteous and a joy to get to know. We rented 2 doubles and 1 triple kayak, and decided to kayak Taneycomo. The price averaged out about $24/person - which was a pretty good deal for 4 hours of pure fun!

We met at their business, and Rod delivered us and the kayaks to Lake Taneycomo - just east of the fish hatchery. He had suggested we go around 1PM because the dam's generators would be turned on at 1, and make for an easier trip. He was right! We basically just had to stir our kayaks into the current and float. The only paddling required was to steer. It was so relaxing! Even though it was about 95 degrees out that day, the wind coming off the cold, cold lake felt like an air-conditioner! Heavenly! We had brought along an ice chest (we put in the 3-man boat), and stopped for a quick lunch along the way. It was supposed to be a 4-hour float, but we actually did it in about 3 hrs, even though we took our time. Rod picked us up at Scotty's boat dock (which is South of the Branson Landing, near the railroad bridge).

By the time we made it to the pick-up spot, and were waiting for Rod to come pick us up, we all decided to take the "polar-bear plunge" and take a quick (make that VERY quick) dip in Taneycomo! Believe me when I say it's like swimming in an ice chest! But, it was a blast! We declared we each had to do it, just to say we had swam in Tanecomo! Forty-five degree water is just a TAD nippy! Made for some great laughs though!

If you want to get back to nature, we would highly recommend kayaking Taneycomo, and using Kayak Branson. It was a great trip - and one we won't soon forget!

[biscuitcreek]

Thanks for the review! I think there's been 1 or 2 kayaking reviews in the outdoor forum before but it's been awhile. I'll have to tell DH about this. We've done a lot of canoeing but have never kayaked.

[MelanieHamilton]

We borrowed kayaks from a friend, and took them camping on Tablerock, weekend before last. We had a blast! We spent almost the entire weekend, on the water, in the kayaks.

We were planning to take a canoe when we go to the Buffalo River in September, but decided to take the kayaks, instead. Luckily, we have a great friend who is willing to let us borrow his, any time we want. But, thanks for the review of Kayak Branson. You never know when we might have some friends and want more than two.

We've about decided to purchase a kayak for each other, as Christmas presents. It's the most fun we've had, in a long time. We've done alot of canoeing, but the kayaks were so much more fun.

[Okies]

Melanie: We've wanted to buy some kayaks too, because we have a house in Hollister, and are in Branson quite a bit. However, it's just the transportation of the kayaks back and forth to the lake that has us stumped. We usually come up in our car, and there isn't a way to get them to the lake other than getting some kind of little trailer or storing them at the lake. We have plenty of room to store them at our house, just no transportaion. We may do it eventually - when we come up w/a solution. A few rentals would definately buy a kayak! They are really fun. I was afraid they would feel "tippy" but we felt very stable in them. We had the "sit-on" type, and I really liked those better than the "sit-in" I think. One reason, when we got to shore you could hop off easily to pull the kayak to shore. One of us in the group had the sit-in kayak, and they had a more difficult time pulling into shore because they couldn't get out easily. I've also heard that the sit-ons are easier to get back on if you jump off to go swimming (on Tablerock of course!)

[MelanieHamilton]

Originally Posted by Okies

Melanie: We've wanted to buy some kayaks too, because we have a house in Hollister, and are in Branson quite a bit. However, it's just the transportation of the kayaks back and forth to the lake that has us stumped. We usually come up in our car, and there isn't a way to get them to the lake other than getting some kind of little trailer or storing them at the lake. We have plenty of room to store them at our house, just no transportaion. We may do it eventually - when we come up w/a solution. A few rentals would definately buy a kayak! They are really fun. I was afraid they would feel "tippy" but we felt very stable in them. We had the "sit-on" type, and I really liked those better than the "sit-in" I think. One reason, when we got to shore you could hop off easily to pull the kayak to shore. One of us in the group had the sit-in kayak, and they had a more difficult time pulling into shore because they couldn't get out easily. I've also heard that the sit-ons are easier to get back on if you jump off to go swimming (on Tablerock of course!)

You can put a rack on the top of your car, for the kayaks (Google Kayak Car Top Carriers).

Also, go to youtube and put "Kayak cart" into the search bar. You will find several videos that show you how to make EASY, INEXPENSIVE carts, to roll it from the car to the water, and back. DH is making a couple, before our fall trip.

Luckily, the ones we borrowed are 8-feet long, and fit in the back of DH's car/truck. So, the ones we purchase will only be 8'...no longer. But, some day we want to get the rack for the top of the camper, and just carry them up there. We go to the river a couple of times a year, and to the lake a couple more times. This is something we'll use alot, so we'll eventually buy a couple.

We've paid a fortune for canoe trips, in the past. They charge $30, just to drive your car back to the end of your float trip. If you rent the canoe and ride in their bus, it's around $50 a trip. This time, we're taking both cars. For $30 gas in my car (up there and back), DH will drive us and the kayaks up river, and we'll float down to the campsite, and drive my car back to get his. Two or three float trips (in one vacation) and we'll save a ton of money, just on float trip transportation.

P.S. We use the kind that you "sit in". In fact, the seat is part of the inside of the kayak (no separate seat). It takes a few times to figure out how to roll in and out, but it's not hard once you get used to it. I found it easier to get in and out, in chest-high water...wouldn't want to do that on Taneycomo, though.