We had a blast, our guide Ben was fantastic, put us all at ease, especially me as I had never done rafting before. He got us through all the rapids - we lots of fun and excitement.All the staff we met were helpful and after doing our half day trip when we got onto the bus for ride back - I appreciated the bottles of cold water waiting for us - a nice touch.
I was in charge of getting 12 guys together for my brother's bachelor party. After questioning the groom to be, I decided that a white water rafting trip would work out perfectly. The people at adventure connection are very friendly and extremely talented. Our group camped on-site and were given meals throughout the days of our trip. I would recommend this organization to any of my friends as they were part of the reason for one of the most memorable bachelor parties I have ever been apart of. Thanks again to the guides and keep on paddling!
Our one day rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the American River was the perfect end to 3 glorious days spent in Yosemite. Tim was the perfect guide to get us through the rapids, giving instruction well before each rapid so we all knew exactly what to do, so it was a smooth and enjoyable trip. We are a family of 6, 2 adults and 4 teenagers, and we would all highly recommend this as something that a family with teenagers could do. A hearty "Paddle High Five" to you, Adventure Connection!! Best wishes for your continued success!!
We crept into camp sometime after midnight, which was a bit later than we had anticipated, but I was not able to get that Friday off. Fortunately, we ran into Tammi & Tawny, who had also arrived late Friday. Feeling lost & stupid is always easier in a group! :) We had brought our own tent, so they showed us where we could pitch our tent, as they tried to find the one that had been set up for them. The next morning we awoke to a lovely omelet breakfast, and met our guide, Ray, along with the rest of our group members. I must say, we couldn't have asked for a better group, or guide! Ray was amazing! His knowledge of the area, wines, and his ability to read people, and blend the various personalities into near perfect harmony was pretty stellar! How better to top off a beautiful day, but to come back to camp and have the most amazing looking tri-tip, perfectly cook I might add, and BBQ chicken, potatoes, & grilled veggies. There was also some very yummy looking tofu dishes, which I did not try. Then on Sunday, WOW, his skills on the river are beyond amazing! He made it look & feel like it was nothing. Our raft was called to assist with a couple "man overboard" pick-ups, one of which was actually an emergency situation. Ray remained calm, and his directions were always clear, understandable, and easily carried out, which I feel was imperative to the group remaining completely in synch and engaged! Although, I'd like to think that sacrificing the left shoe, from my favorite pair of Vibrams to the River Gods might have helped, at least a little bit, I know most of it was the skill & confidence of our Fearless Leader, and the confidence he had in all of us! Thank you Ray, for an unforgettable weekend, and much needed ego boost! :)~Adrienne
The entire staff were so friendly and vibrant. The schedule was laid out perfectly and the food was sooo good. My first time was in May and I had the most amazing experience! I will definitely be returning!
This trip was part of a wedding anniversary celebration, and it was most memorable in the best way. We spent Day 1 on a multiple site Wine Tasting Tour, and we were in great "spirits" after tasting the various wines from the different Vineyards (we bought several bottles to take home). Then Day 2 was the rafting trip. Such an adrenaline rush! We had a great Guide who piloted our boat into the best of the river rapids without causing any harm to any of our boat team. Highly recommend Adventure Connection (versus the other rafting companies in the area) because they made us feel at home & welcomed, tended to any need a camper had (especially when some in the group did not follow the instructions and we not dressed properly for the rafting trip), and provided a most professional & personable experience for two people who had never been white water rafting. We have even talked about going back again in the near future (taking our son to give him an "out of his comfort zone experience" because we had just a tremendously fun time the first time.
A few friends and I booked a trip down the American River. It was one of the best adventures that I have had in a long time. I was a little anxious because it has been awhile since I rode in a raft. The guide, a handsome fellow with cute dimples, was very helpful at making me more comfortable. He was amazing and intuitive as to the needs of the rafters. The guide is there to help you have a great time, be your helper, rescuer and more if needed. I did not realize that tipping is encouraged, I certainly tipped this fellow once I realized that he is trying to finish college and that this is a service industry where the guides are not paid as well as one would think.
The guide was knowledgeable and kept us out of the rocks and bushes. Made for fun all the way. Helped pull us together as a team and tried some advanced maneuvers like surfing the rock waves. We had a blast. Water was a little low because of the drought but that didn't stop the action on the rapids. We had a nice lunch and enjoyed the wildlife including a few river otters along the way. A very serene day dashed with white water adrenaline! *you should be in reasonably good shape especially for walking around the waterfall -portage over the rocky trail. I wouldn't recommend for very young children.
I planned a bachelor party using adventure connection, not only was it affordable, it was an amazing experience. The whole party thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
WE HAD THE BEST TIME!! Who knew the combination of wine tasting with strangers, camping with strangers and whitewater rafting with strangers could be so darn fun?! We met lots of great people from many different places and it was a BLAST! Such a great way to celebrate our 17th Anniversary. Sooooo fun!!For specifics, pretty camping area right on the river. Bathroom facilities not TOO close, but if your bring a flashlight you’ll be set. Plenty of good food and drink. 98% of the staff were phenomenal…helpful, kind and FUN. Ray was our guide and he was celebrating his birthday. His crew sang to him the morning of the rafting and there were shouts of Happy Birthday throughout the day. Caring people on this river! By the time we left, my husband wanted to be Ray. Such a great job! All in all, a great deal to get out and enjoy the land. With four kiddos we don’t get away enough and this was definitely worth the trip! Great memories...