Canoeing or Kayaking in Milford or near area (Ann Arbor, Brighton: rental, homes)

[jcMoving]

Just moved to Milford (from middle Georgia) about a month or so ago and have friends coming up to visit this weekend (about a four day visit) I want to show them a good time and thought a canoe trip may be a fun family activity - we will have 2 six year olds and a seven year old with us.
I see canoes either leaving or arriving at Central Park in downtown Milford, and I know that Kensington is great as well...but maybe for Kayaking around the lake not necessarily a canoe trip. Anyway who has a recommendation for a good route and service (livery) to provide the canoes, pickups, etc? Thank you for taking time to answer!
Also if you want to add any other info about fun areas nearby (like within an hour so) I would love to hear about them - thank you!

[zthatzmanz28]

Might check with Summit Sports in Brighton. They do a lot of kayaking and paddle boarding.

Summit Sports

[jcMoving]

Thanks! I went on the site and see that they let you test out the kayaks from time to time - very cool - great info!

[jackmichigan]

You're in luck. Heavner Canoe and Kayak Rental is right in Milford. Check them out at Heavner Canoe & Kayak Rental

[Coldjensens]

You can rent canoes at the boat rental in Kensington Metropark. There is a heavenor in Proud lake State park (I think, I always mix up the names, just call heavenor) and you cna canoe from there to the milford location. It is a decent trip.

Nicer is Hudson Mills to Delhi metroparks. You can stop at a cider mill for doughnuts and cider (if they have any - no apples this year). The no longer allow you to run the rapids at Delhi in rental canoes : (

The rapids are nto much of a "rapids" but it is all we got around here and pretty fun. It can be dangerous though. We snapped a wood/canvas kayak in half there and the riders got pretty bruised up.

You can rent Canoes in Ann Arbor as well. I do not rememebr the take out location.

More than a one day trip can be fun. You can go all the way to lake Erie if you have supplies, good planning and are a decent canoer. You used to be able to camp on Canoe island in Kensington if you made prior arrangements. There are other camping locaitons along the way. Some of them can be a lot of work to make in one day, but it is doable. THe rental places can probably help you with planning a multi day trip.

I really like the Huron. It is wide and clear of obstructions. It varies a great deal. Shallow, deep, slow fast, lakes, parks, rural, suburban, cities. It is pretty neat. Not as wildernessy as up north and the sections of undeveloped areas keep getting smaller, but it is still nice, and i like the variety. Look at wildlive a while, look at some nice riverfront homes, get out and stroll around a city, back to wilderness (ish) , etc.

[jcMoving]

Great information! Thank you very much.