outstanding experience... lovely people, lovely place. i felt very safe and comfortable with my fellow scholars and instructors. all the participants were fun - loving and gracious! the leaders and staff went above and beyond to be accomodating to any special needs and anticipated so many little things !!! how do you make a bad weather day educational and fun??? that's a gift!!! my sister and i love our new friends from Germany to CT, MN to WV!!! recommend highly!!

I highly recommend "Kayak the Lowcountry" -- the scenery, the kayaking, the accomodations, and especially the two leaders: April Childess and Jody Tinsley. April and Jody's enthusiasm and love of both kayaking and the low country of South Carolina were infectious. Their leadership styles complimented one another - educational, fun, and adaptable to the group's needs and desires.

Kayaking the Low Country of South Carolina is a wonderful course. The instructors, equipment, and accommodations are outstanding. Being on the water and a part of the environment is a great way to spend a week.

This is a wonderful trip for those who really want to experience the waterways from a kayaker's view. The leaders are warm and personable and very willing to share their wealth of knowledge. It is by far the best all around active trip I have been on with RS. Your skills will definitely be refined as the week goes on.

This is a great trip for those who love energetic days on the water, great accommodations and meals, and outstanding leaders. I've done it 3 times, and am already planning an encore visit.

This was a wonderful, introduction to kayaking for me. The setting was serene, the daily paddles were varied, the participants were friendly, and the leaders were outstanding in every way.

We had never been to South Carolina, nor had we ever had kayak experience. The wonderful instructors were able to teach and demonstrate to all of us various ways of handling our paddles and the kayaks. We were all able to master the material so that we could enjoy the mix of water types that they presented to us: ocean bays, rice patties' canals, swamps of tupelo and cypress, and estuaries along the South Carolina Coast. The history, geography, geology, and foods of the area were discussed, making the experience even more enjoyable. I would recommend this trip to anyone who had decent physical stature. There is no need to have any kayaking experience, as you will be taught in an easy manner by the two excellent man and wife guides.

This is a wonderful program with well organized and helpful leaders, good accommodations and food, and a good pace. I recommend it to people who want to learn to paddle well and want to enjoy doing it.

Kayaking with the Road Scholar Group based at Palm Key SC was delightful. Our instructors were welcoming, knowledgeable and well organized. Food was fabulous and served with lots of smiles. Participants were friendly -- I would definitely recommend this trip.

It was a wonderful week--well organized, lots of activity, great leaders, fun group, delicious food. The variety of venues for kahyaking made each day a pleasant surprise.
Nancy

I marked a 10 because it exceeded my expectations. I learned about different styles of Kayaks, safety and rescue in the water, kayaked in salt water, fresh water, and brackish water, kayaked on a wide river, on a creek, in a marsh, and in a swamp. The cottages were the best accommodations, and Christopher and Jan did an excellent job of preparing meals that represent low country cooking. Jody and April were just delightful, their leadership, their enthusiasm, their love of the out of doors was very contagious. They engaged us in many outdoor activities in addition to kayaking, such as early morning hikes to watch birds, dolphins, identify trees, grasses, and plants. The sky at night is also a star gazers’ paradise.

This is the first time I have written a review of a Road Scholar program, but I feel I must share that we absolutely agree with all of the other reviews. This is an excellent program and compliments need to be made to Jody, April, Christopher and Jan for providing us with a delightful week.

We just returned from a wonderful week of kayaking in the lowcountry of South Carolina. It was a great experience, even for a novice kayaker. In addition to kayaking, we enjoyed the food, history, and culture of the area. We highly recommend this trip! Kathy and Don W.

If you read all the reviews already posted here, you will know what I would have said--near perfection. This will set the standard by which I will judge all future Road Scholar programs.

This was a wonderful program led by an amazing couple with lots of local knowledge along with expert kayaking skills. They shared their interest in the Lowcountry with us in such a way that I certainly came away with an increased appreciation of the area. Though the weather was less than ideal Jody and April always came up with a seemingly appropriate choice for kayaking or alternate venues -- we were challenged sometimes beyond the comfort zones of some of us, but we all came away better paddlers. All the while we had superb food and excellent accommodations overlooking the marshes.

I agree with Sharon in heartily recommending the "Kayak More" program. In addition to excellent organization by Jan, outstanding cooking from Christopher, and awesome marsh views from our comfortable cottage accommodations, April and Jody made the kayaking experience memorable for my husband and myself. We greatly improved our skills (I think) and appreciated the opportunities to try out different designs of kayaks and paddles as we glided through black water swamps, tidal creeks and estuaries. Occasionally, of course, we were challenged by wind and current, but our instructors chose the routes wisely and guided us through every set of obstacles safely, building both our skills and our confidence. South Carolina's Low Country has much to recommend it, and you will hopefully learn to appreciate its unique beauty and the need for continuing and increased conservation.

I did the "kayak more" program and it was great. Good variety of paddling which sometimes stretched the limits of what I thought I could do, but was never impossible. I have usually found the Road Scholar kayak trips to be a bit light in kayaking, so it was good to be with more advanced paddlers and spending more time in the boats. The weather did not always cooperate, but the leaders always had a great Plan B and C, so we got out every day. This trip comes highly recommended.

Great program! The accommodations were amazing; the food, with a focus on regional fare, was delicious & plentiful; and our skilled & talented leaders, April & Jody ensured that our days were filled with adventure. Their engaging personalities & "people skills" provided a safe and relaxed feeling for our group. We had an opportunity to improve our individual kayak skills under their instruction. The equipment used was top quality--we appreciated being able to try different kayaks & paddles each day. Finally, it was fun to learn local history & lore; environmental science; and regional geography while we paddled & during our evening programs.

Outstanding experience overall. Great kayaking, superb tour leaders, great lodging facilities, and excellent food throughout. I'd do it again.

This is a great program for moderately experienced to experienced kayakers. A great opportunity to try different boats and paddles, learn new kayaking skills, all while paddling the beautiful and fascinating, flora and fauna rich, low country of SC with knowledgeable, fun, and experienced program managers.

A great program! The guides, April and Elizabeth, were wonderful teachers and leaders. I found myself becoming a more competent and confident kayaker as each day passed. April and Elizabeth were also very flexible, adjusting the trips to meet weather conditions and the needs of the participants. The variety of the venues we kayaked was surprising, ranging from wide open salt marshes to tree covered blackwater streams. A high spot was exploring the canals of an old rice plantation and learning how they flooded and drained the rice fields without the need for pumps. The accommodations and meals were excellent - just what was needed when you are on an active program like this! The evening activities were relevant to the historic and natural environment we were in, which made them very interesting.

This was one of the best organized and well run Road Scholar programs I have participated in (I have attended about 13 Road Scholar programs). There was a couple who came back for a second time because they enjoyed their first experience so much.
The accommodations were certainly the best I have ever experienced on a Road Scholar program - comfortable and quiet. Night sky was black and the stars were spectacular. All food was home cooked by Jan and Christopher. They did an amazing job of preparing a great breakfast and a delicious dinner each evening. Lunches were packed in the morning and taken with us in the kayaks. Road Scholar doesn't get any better than this if you are looking for an active program with fun people.

Great program. Beautiful scenery as we paddled in meandering rivers, marshes, and old rice plantations surounded by beautiful birds and an occasional aligator. Instructors were very good. They kept us challenged yet safe.The whole group's paddling skills improved daily. I look forward to future kayak adventures.

The program is very well designed for more active seniors. I felt challenged and rewarded by the waters we paddled. The instructors did a great job to meet the desires of all the participants with regard to level. The grounds are lovely and the food absolutely wonderful. It was one of the best programs we have been on.

Outstanding program for beginners or near-beginners at kayaking. Perfect mixture of on-shore information and on-the-water practice and guidance. Just enough instruction before starting out so that all the field trips were rewarding and gave feeling of increasing confidence. The variety of waterways made it constantly interesting and beautiful - including salt-water marsh at high tide, meandering tree-lined stream, broad placid river, and old rice paddies. Excellent equipment, instructors encouraged trying out different types of boats and paddles each day to gain experience and find out what suits each of us best. Instructors are warm and encouraging, with amazing ability to help find just what works for each person. They are safety conscious, never put us in dangerous situations, but still gave us challenges and experiences that were fun for all of us.

Kayaking the Low Country was one of the best programs I have participated in (and there have been many good ones!) I was unsure of my physical ability, and there were many more able kayakers among us, but the leaders were able to accommodate our diverse skill levels and everyone learned a lot and had a marvelous time. Elizabeth and April are superb instructors and Palm Key is a paradise with great accommodations and fabulous food. I am planning my next trip there already!

Came away with a greater appreciation for the beauty of the low country seeing it from a kayak. It's not just a grassy marsh but its has a texture that is filled with an abundance of flowers and wildlife.

This is one of the best Kayak trips that Road Scholar offers and we have done a lot of them. The accommodations are first class with food to match, the program leaders are congenial and knowledgeable, the paddles are diverse and adjusted for wind and tide, and the boats are single and various enough to suite most paddlers. John and Elizabeth Collins

This was our first Road Scholar experience and it was exceptional. Jody and April are exceptional kayak guides with wonderful warm personalities. The kayaking was excellent and when the wind was uncooperative they found an amazing alternative. We totally enjoyed this trip and would recommend it to anyone without hesitation. Thanks to Jan, Scott and Chris of LifeTides Institute for hosting our Road Scolar program. They truly made us feel welcome.

The program consisted of a wonderful variety of waterways to paddle with memorable sights of birds such as yellow-crowned night heron, osprey, little blue herons and painted buntings. Paddling close to dolphins was a delight and thrill. What made the program so special were the people involved. Jody eagerly shared his love and knowledge of nature and the sport of kayaking. April helped us settled into the perfect kayak and created a CD of pics from the week. Jan worked behind the scenes to make the program “happen.” Scott created wonderful meals and sent popsicles for a picnic lunch. My fellow paddlers were a wonderful group of folks who made the week a special experience. Thanks to all!

Had a great kayaking experience last week. Well organized, well run trip lead by knowledgeable, pleasant guides. Equipment was of good quality, kayaks well maintained, accommadations superb and the food was excellent. Nancy and Gay Trepanier

Wonderful setting, accommodations, and food. Great kayaking in a small group that permitted personal instruction. Leaders were knowledgeable and dedicated. Staff, welcoming. Take this trip!

April and Jody- top notch. Very caring, interesting, knowledgeable in area history and so much more along with kayaking. They were able to see our abilities and give us instruction from all levels. (We came with a wide span of abilities.) They kept us moving, laughing, enjoying. We became a well-oiled machine getting in and out of the water. It was a fantastic week.

One of the best programs we have attended - had a marvelous time - the paddles were perfect - went from easy to more difficult - the group was perfect - the leaders and support personnel were friendly and helpful and fun - we, like the others in the group are ready to 'go again' !

We had a great time. Jody and April were great instructors/ guides. They were knowledgeable of the area and are good people. The kayaking was different each day. The accommodations were comfortable and beautiful. We want to go back.

This was an excellent program. You were able to try a different kayak each day. Jodi & April took you to a variety of rivers with various conditions. They were very supportive. It certainly has built my confidence. The accomadations were unbelievable. Jan and her husband were wonderful hosts. Scott made us delicious meals.Some of the things I had never eaten. Just got home and ready to try them myself.I can't think of any that could have been better.

Wow! An experience of a lifetime, and I already want to do it again. Extraordinary instructors, paddling scenic rivers which were both comfortable and challenging, beautiful and well-appointed accommodations, plus delicious and healthful meals.

Being from Maine, my exposure to South Carolina was limited to driving through the state on I-95. What a unique opportunity this program gave us to learn about and experience thie intriguing geography and varied waterways of South Carolina's Low Country. Well paced paddles through marshland, swamps, various river types provided a close-up view of beautiful area. Great facility as well.

Kayaking was a delightfully invigorating way to see our natural marshlands, swamps and estuaries. Stimulating discussions, athletic outings, and good food! A hit!

Excellent program! Small group of 12 was perfect. Jody and April are fantastic as are all of the other "family" members at Palm Key. We were treated so well. Jan, Scott, Judy, Christopher, and Em bent over backwards to accommodate our food challenges. Fun paddles, hikes, and night programs. Charming, comfortable cottages; gorgeous Lowcountry and Beaufort's charm and friendliness. We would all do it again and perhaps we will!

This was overall a terrific program tailored to an active group. I not only learned a lot I experienced mother nature at her best in a location and environment that was new to me. It left me with warm feelings about people, the guides and fellow participants who, as usual, enhanced the learning experience through their own backgrounds and life long learning commitments.

This program was delightful! The accommodations were spacious and very clean. At Palm Key, each bedroom had two queen beds, and large private bathrooms. Many of the rooms had private porches that overlooked the river. For my husband and me, having a washer and dryer in the “cottage” (it had five bedrooms!) was terrific, since we had been traveling for over a week by the time we got there. And the food was the best we have ever had on a domestic Road Scholar program! The menus were imaginative, food was plentiful and tasty, and individual dietary needs were easily accommodated.

Everyone involved in running this program was thoughtful and eager to make sure that all participants were happy with the way things were going. Each morning we had an optional walk for an hour; it was great to have a bit of exercise to earn our breakfast. Our guides, Jody and April, were knowledgeable and very competent, and the rental equipment was in good condition and suitable for the waterways we paddled on. The kayaks and life jackets were all good quality. Everything was well organized. In particular, it was refreshing to see the guides open to changing the original schedule when the participants indicated that they were eager to be on another river, rather than paddling out in the harbor area near Beaufort.

This is an excellent program for people who are just getting into kayaking. For my husband and me, the level of activity was not quite enough, since we usually paddle about 100 days per year. In our case, the advanced session would have been better, but it just didn’t fit our personal schedule. However, we still enjoyed the camaraderie, and learned a lot about the Low Country area. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn how to kayak in a safe and fun environment.

The setting for this program is Palm Key, with brightly colored cottages around a pond, set in beautiful landscaping. Our cottage was lovely, with hardwood floors, a modern kitchen with granite counter tops and lots of windows with a great view of the sunrise. Jody and April make a terrific team. Jody taught the techniques and safety of kayaking not only with skill, but with a great sense of humor. His wife, April, kept things running smoothly with her organizational skills and very charming personality. Scott and Em provided us with delicious meals and Jan and Chris of the LifeTides Institute were often there to provide a cheerful helping hand wherever it was needed. There were interesting evening programs and some time for us to explore the area on our own. Jody and April are very flexible about adjusting the program to the fitness and expertise level of the group participants. We would strongly recommend this program for your consideration.

This was a wonderful program! The kayaking was great fun. The accommodations were spacious and welcoming. The meals were excellent and included touches of Southern cuisine.

The other participants were very companionable and I loved the small number – just 13 of us! Leaders Jody and April made the program interesting and educational as well as enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this program.