About Kayak Carolina

About 29 years ago, Kayak Carolina’s founder, Angela Marshall, hopped in a kayak at her home sailing waters of the Calibogue Sound, Hilton Head, South Carolina, and never got out of these perfectly gliding vessels.  In 1998, she and a friend, John, got the wild idea to paddle down the North Carolina coast on the inside of the Outer Banks, starting this idyllic fateful journey at Knotts Island, North Carolina, home to the Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge, down through Manteo, Frisco, Ocracoke, then catching the ferry to Cedar Island. They warded off the 25 knot SW winds all the way down along Masonboro Island, ending at the Carolina Beach Wildlife Ramp, 312 miles of traveling along salt marshes, shallow bays, and sea breezes with only the sounds of the gentle waves and birds calling. 

The very next day, Angela and John, having been already used to waking up and slipping into the kayaks every morning, ran the kayaks down to the Fort Fisher Boating Access Area to paddle the shallow, protected bay of the Zeke’s Island NC Coastal Reserve.  That very day was the start of Kayak Carolina, having talked all along the trip about wanting to show people our special Carolina coast via this perfect vessel, the kayak, and how in a few easy steps you can learn the strokes and basics of paddling and begin your exploration of the Carolina coast.