This business started from a passing comment by a little girl named Erin. She told her dad that if she had money… she would buy him a canoeing company.
In 1997 that wish became a reality… Jamie and Lisa Kent opened “Grand Experiences” a canoe & kayak outfitting company. A taxi, a jeep and a few canoes is how it all started.
The company is located in Paris, Ontario. Paris is European in appearance. A picturesque town of cobblestone… nestled in a steep valley... broken by two rivers. An old iron railway bridge spans the valley… overlooking numerous shops below an ancient milldam. Whether you canoe or not… Paris itself is worth the visit.
The Carolinian Forest of the Grand River Valley is our mainstay. It is a beautiful wilderness with over 300 kms of Southern Ontario paddling. We also do expeditions to the Nith River, Big Creek and Long Point Marsh. Trips from 3-hours to 7-day adventures.
We host numerous groups… from 150 people to the unique sum of two!
We offer many adventure combinations with an outdoor experience. One can travel through the Grand Valley by canoe, kayak, bike, hike, raft or 12-man Voyageur canoes.
Besides the regular trips people can experience… moonlight-paddles, aboriginal longhouse nights, wild edible plants, bike & canoe, fast water kayaking, delicious steak & chicken barbeques … & Breakfasts… even a spa.
We are fully insured on the road and the water. We have lifeguards and first aid/CPR staff. The Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association (ORCA) certifies our wilderness guides and instructors. We have risk management plans in place to accommodate school and corporate groups. Our safety record is excellent.
But what makes us special is: “that you can get up in the morning… paddle the day …and be in your own at night.”
