Coastal Kayak | Fenwick Island

Paddling Adventures on Delaware’s Quiet Coast
Coastal Kayak, located along Coastal Highway just outside Fenwick Island, is one of Delaware’s most beloved outdoor outfitters for exploring the inland bays and waterways that lace the state’s southern shoreline. Since the mid-1990s, it has welcomed visitors eager to trade beach crowds for tranquil paddling routes through salt marshes, tidal creeks, and sheltered coves. With its laid-back coastal charm and deep respect for the environment, Coastal Kayak embodies the slower, more natural side of the Delaware beaches.

Exploring the Inland Bays
The experience begins at the company’s bayside launch, facing Little Assawoman Bay-an area known for calm waters ideal for beginners and families. Here, paddlers can set off on self-guided or guided tours that meander through tall cordgrass and across mirror-like shallows where herons, ospreys, and diamondback terrapins appear with surprising regularity. Morning trips often reveal the bay at its most peaceful, while evening tours bring pastel sunsets that turn the water gold.

Guided Tours and Eco-Adventures
Coastal Kayak offers a range of excursions tailored to different skill levels and interests. The popular Salt Marsh Safari introduces visitors to the region’s ecosystem, focusing on the delicate balance between land and sea. The Assawoman Wildlife Area Tour explores Delaware’s protected habitats, offering close encounters with migratory birds and wild marsh flora. For a more romantic experience, Sunset and Full Moon Paddles provide a serene atmosphere as the light fades and the bay grows quiet except for the distant call of gulls.

More Than Just Kayaks
While kayaking is at its core, Coastal Kayak also rents stand-up paddleboards, sailboats, and catamarans. Lessons in sailing and paddling techniques are offered daily during the summer season, led by friendly instructors who are as knowledgeable about safety as they are about local nature. Families often spend an entire afternoon here, moving between the water and the shaded picnic area, where the rhythm of paddles dipping in the water becomes the day’s soundtrack.

Community and Conservation
What sets Coastal Kayak apart is its commitment to environmental stewardship. The team actively supports bay restoration efforts, educates visitors about native wildlife, and encourages responsible recreation. Their message is simple but lasting: the more people experience Delaware’s wetlands up close, the more they’ll care about protecting them.

A Peaceful Coastal Escape
A day with Coastal Kayak captures the quiet magic of Fenwick Island beyond its beaches-an opportunity to move at the pace of the tide and see the coast as it was before resorts and roads arrived. Whether gliding past egrets under a rising sun or drifting under the moonlight, every paddle stroke feels like an invitation to rediscover the natural soul of Delaware’s shore.