Adventure Vacations Beach Shop and Boat/Kayak Tours is a family-owned and friend operated business which provides high quality Apostle Island sea cave boat and kayak tours. Our Beach Shop is found on Madeline Island in Lake Superior, located adjacent to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. We offer a wide variety of clothing, souvenirs, water toys and much more for sale in our shop! Whether you’re new to outdoor adventure or a seasoned pro, we love to share our enthusiasm, knowledge and experience of these islands. Our goal is to expand your horizon of what ‘mother nature’ has to offer!
Meet Our Crew:
Major, Our Mascot
Rosco, Shop Keeper
Natalie, Manager / Kayak Guide
Natalie has worked on and off at Adventure Vacations for eight years. She grew up in this beautiful Chequamegon Bay area and considers it home. When Natalie isn’t working, you will find her enjoying time with her two pet lizards who love the camper life! Natalie grew up on Lake Superior and loves getting out on the water whether by boat, kayak, or paddle board. She lives in St. Paul, MN during the off season but you can often find her traveling the globe.
Anastasia, Tour Reservations Specialist
Anastasia grew up in the Chequamegon Bay area (with Natalie above! They’re sisters!). She has been working for Adventure Vacations since 2017 in various capacities over the years and has recently settled into remote work as a Reservations Specialist. She is currently living in New Mexico as she completes her graduate degree, but she misses home and loves being part of a crew that connects people to the beautiful lake she calls home. Anastasia has a bearded dragon who is very critical of her ukulele playing skills.
Captain Chas, Boat Captain
Captain Chas is an ASA Sailing Instructor who’s coming back for his fourth season with Adventure Vacations. He loves spending time on the water and with his good friends, owner’s Brad and Karen. Chas is a sailing instructor during the off season in sunny Melbourne, Florida. He’s quite the traveler, too! He once sailed to Cuba with Captain Nick and was an EMT with Search and Rescue in Colorado. He’s an adrenaline junkie and the extreme weather of Lake Superior is always exciting!
Jessica, Shop Clerk
Jessica has been with Adventure Vacations for 13 years and is our longest standing employee!! During the winter months she lives in Jackson, Ohio where she is a high school science teacher. She has two daughters, Fern and Phoebe, and her husband, Justin, also works at Adventure Vacations! Jessica enjoys talking to visitors about the best spots on Madeline Island and helping them plan their trips throughout the Apostles. The beautiful sunsets are one reason Jessica loves Madeline Island.
Captain Justin, Boat Captain & Kayak Guide
Justin has been with Adventure Vacations for 10 years. He is our longest standing kayak guide and one of our newest Boat Captains! When he’s not out on the water, he spends time with his two daughters, Phoebe and Fern, and wife, Jessica, who also works as Adventure Vacations! He’s a middle school science teacher in Jackson, Ohio during the winter months. Justin is well known at Adventure Vacations for kayaking in the rain! If it’s a “rain day”, you may be able to spot Justin paddling in the sea caves at the State Park.
Frances, Kayak Guide and Shop Clerk
This is Frances’ fifth summer working for Adventure Vacations and her 17th summer on Madeline Island! Frances just finished her fourth year at Grinnell College in Iowa where she’s majoring in biological chemistry. She loves the outdoors regardless of the season and enjoys kayaking, hiking, cross -country skiing, and making snow people. Her favorite part of working for Adventure Vacations is getting to know clients and being around an awesome and supportive crew!
Captain Neal, Boat Captain
Neal is one of our beloved Boat Captains. 2023 will be his fourth season with Adventure Vacations. He loves boats so much that he lives in a boathouse on Madeline Island during the summer. Event Pro is Neal’s sound production company that does sound for a bunch of really exciting events, including the 4th of July fireworks on Madeline Island! During the winter months Neal lives in Hastings, MN where he runs a farm and green house and enjoys skiing. If you see Neal around this summer wave at him and his golden retriever, Ivy!
Captain Lauren / Loz / LD, Boat Captain / Kayak Guide / Boat Mechanic
Captain Lauren (Loz / LD) will be returning in 2023 for her fourth season with Adventure Vacations. Lauren loves everything water related! She’s kayaks, she Captains, and she swims even if there’s ice on the water’s surface. In her free time Loz practices Brazillian Jiu-jitsu so watch out, she’s the strongest of the crew! She’s well known for her hilarious nature and her famous quote, “it’ll buff out!” She loves taking people on Boat & Kayak tours out to Devils Island. So don’t pass up the chance to explore the Apostle Islands with this powerhouse!
Captain Will, Boat Captain
Captain KT, Boat Captain
Captain John, Boat Captain & Kayak Guide
