Guided Moonlight & Holiday Lights Kayaking

Thanks so much to Danny and his skilled fellow paddlers for giving my boyfriend and I such a memorable experience. It was absolutely beeeeautiful to be out on the water after dark. It’s amazing to see a totally new perspective of the area in which you grew up. Plus, it was a blast learning about a boat (an outrigger canoe!) and sport neither of us had ever experienced.
Although December could be chilly, we found it a perfect time because of the holiday lights. We were lucky with the good weather and felt fine with a jacket and pants, since rowing will warm you up.
Highly recommend for a unique and fun experience. We felt totally comfortable and safe with Danny. We’ll never forget it!

We had such a great time on the Holiday Lights Kayak trip. Even though it was unseasonably cold, a few layers kept us plenty warm. The trip was fun and non-​strenuous, and Danny was a great guide.

Danny runs a great kayaking tour for novices and experts alike. It’s a bit of a workout but how much of a workout is up to you. The scenery is nice and a mid-​trip break at Balboa Island for some coffee or frozen yogurt. Danny’s pre-​trip tips on proper technique are incredibly useful. Make sure to wear shorts and bring flip-​flops. Your legs and butt will probably get a little wet but if you’re doing it right that’s about it. Loads of fun and will definitely be back!

My boyfriend planned this excursion for 15 of our friends for my 28^th Birthday, it was SO much fun. Something no one had done before and it was beautiful. Danny was really fun and made our time on the water a blast!

Danny’s tour is excellent. A great event to do on a summer evening, get a little kayaking in before a late dinner or drinks in Balboa /​Newport.
A nice two hour kayaking your. Not too short, not too long. Fun sea kayaks that are leisurely and tip-​resistant.
Super fun and a nice exercise /​outdoor-​centric night out.

We took a private guided tour with Danny Hough for a Full Moon Paddle and enjoyed the sunset, the wild life and the serene waters under moonlight. It was surprising how warm and bright it was, even in winter. Our guide (Danny) offers Moonlight Paddling and Holiday Lights Kayaking for ages 8+, as well as private guided paddles like ours. Both tour Newport Beach’s Upper Back Bay estuary and Balboa Islands.
We met and launch from the Newport Beach Aquatic Center in Newport Beach CA. (Our private booking included a shuttle from the hotel).
Before launching we enjoyed a gourmet picnic Danny supplied, at the waterfront. Our Kayak adventure traveled through Newport Beach’s Upper Back Bay — a place where fresh and salt water mix. The bay is an important stopover for migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway, and one of only a few estuaries left in Southern Cal. The area is home to nearly 200 species of birds (including several endangered), as well as bobcats, coyotes, sea lions, and other small mammals, fish, and native plants. Out adventure took us through the calmer, moonlit waters of the Back Bay and Balboa Islands and included sights of sea lions and other wild life.
Because it’s so affordable I should mention that Danny also leads groups for just $ 25/​pp without picnic, and $ 35/​pp w/​picnic dinner. Private couples and parties (like our tour), are available upon request and run about $ 100/​person.
For the group paddles, the catered picnic begins at 6:15PM and the paddle is from 7PM to 9:30– 10PM. If you’re doing a private one like ours, you can arrange any time you like but I recommend going out before sunset — it was magnificent. The contact is houghdm at yahoo.
Guided canoe paddles are also offered for larger groups with lots of amateurs or kids, but Danny says he has all ranges of paddlers, mostly novice, and ages 8+