Come down to the docks at The Floathouse Petaluma for a gentle guided kayak tour exploring the river that made Petaluma. Long before roads and railroads, the Petaluma River served as the region’s saltwater highway, powering local farms, waterfront businesses, and industries, and connecting Petaluma to San Francisco, Gold Rush miners, and markets around the world.

Designed and led by a Petaluman, actor, and former history teacher, this immersive tour brings Petaluma’s fascinating past to life. Enhanced by costumed actors on shore, this history is told from the perspectives of long-ago Petalumans: young workers, entrepreneurs, and colorful characters whose daily lives shaped and were shaped by our tidal slough.

Paddle in stable sit-on-top kayaks while gaining a deeper appreciation for the ingenuity and community spirit that built our city. Visitors and locals alike are often surprised by how much they learn, and many return to bring friends.

No paddle experience necessary.