I paddled the 4 1/2 mile Rio Trip last week, saw 2 otters and 3 blue herons. A beautiful short run, current and some riffles in the first half, calm water in the second half. Good equipment, an efficient shuttle, nice people.

I grew up in Healdsburg, but I live in Austin TX now. Today I was walking around the UT campus and I saw this huge sculpture made entirely out of old canoes. And several of the canoes had old phone numbers that were still visible on them. I recognized the area code and prefix as Healdsburg and was super surprised.

I googled the full phone number and found it was the number for River’s Edge Kayak & Canoe. So I guess their canoes really can make some miles! All the way from California to Texas.

This rental shop made the whole experience feel smooth, thoughtful, and just the right amount of fun. We rented both a canoe and a kayak.

From the moment we arrived, the staff set the tone—friendly, relaxed, and clearly used to getting families (and their dogs) out on the water without a hitch. They handed us dry bags, coolers, and a dog life jacket like they’d done it a hundred times—which they probably had. Our six-year-old was buzzing with excitement, and our dog—suited up and riding in the canoe like he owned the place—looked pretty pleased too.

The Russian River was calm and beautiful, with just enough current to make us feel like we knew what we were doing. We drifted past quiet stretches shaded by trees, then through livelier areas near Rio Nido with the hum of music and voices carrying over the water. We also saw some wildlife like fish, ducks, some majestic herons. We stopped on a little island for a picnic, skipped rocks, and let the kid and the dog roam like it was their own private world.

Coming back, sun-tired and sandy, the staff greeted us with icees. Nothing fancy—but exactly what you want at the end of a good day.

We really enjoyed this fun adventure and we’d rent from them again in a heartbeat.