Adventures by the Sea
Adventures by the Sea is a family-owned recreational rental and guided-tour operator on California's Monterey Peninsula, serving leisure tourists, hotel guests, and corporate groups across six locations with bikes, kayaks, and tours.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersMonterey, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Adventures by the Sea does
Adventures by the Sea is a privately held recreational rental and guided-tour operator founded in 1987 on the Monterey Peninsula in California. The company rents bikes (conventional and GenZe Bluetooth-connected e-bikes), kayaks, and related equipment, and runs guided tours including kayaking and seasonal whale-watching excursions. Its customers are predominantly leisure visitors to the Monterey/Carmel/Pacific Grove/Santa Cruz/Moss Landing corridor, supplemented by corporate groups purchasing team-building packages for 15–400 participants and referrals from nine partner hotels.
The business operates six physical retail locations across the Monterey Peninsula, which function as both rental counters and tour departure points. Bookings are processed through the third-party FareHarbor reservation platform; there is no proprietary mobile app or public API. Equipment fleet composition and tour route design reflect the coastal geography, with kayak tours and scenic bike rides along the Pacific Coast Highway serving as the core offerings. The GenZe e-bike line introduces Bluetooth app connectivity for end users, but the underlying technology is sourced from an OEM rather than developed in-house.
Revenue mechanics combine per-unit rental fees, per-person guided-tour pricing, and corporate group contracts. Distribution is split between walk-in retail, hotel concierge referrals, online booking via FareHarbor, and direct corporate/group sales. The company has been family-owned since its 2018 transition from founder Frank Knight to current owners Kyle and Liz Wareham, and remains privately held with no institutional investment or publicly disclosed financial information.
Adventures by the Sea firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Adventures by the Sea
- Legal name
- Adventures by the Sea
- Website
- https://adventuresbythesea.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Adventures by the Sea is a family-owned recreational rental and guided-tour operator on California's Monterey Peninsula, serving leisure tourists, hotel guests, and corporate groups across six locations with bikes, kayaks, and tours.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Adventures by the Sea industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recreational Equipment Rentals & Guided Tours
- NAICS
- Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dive & Snorkel Equipment Rental, Retail & Boat Services (compressors, gear hire) (THAAAIAL), Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters) (THAJAJAB)
Keywords
Where Adventures by the Sea is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Monterey
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Adventures by the Sea business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Equipment Rentals: Hourly, half-day, and full-day rentals of kayaks, traditional bikes, electric bikes, surreys (family four-wheel bikes), and stand-up paddle boards. Duration-based pricing with rates varying by equipment type.
- Guided Tours: Guided kayak tours, e-bike tours of 17-Mile Drive, bicycle tours, hiking tours, and private/custom tours. Priced per person with duration ranging from 2-2.5 hours.
- Lessons and Instruction: Stand-up paddle board lessons, kayak lessons, and instructional tours with experienced guides. Includes equipment and safety orientation.
- Team Building Programs: Corporate group events including scavenger hunts, bike build for charity, Beach Olympics, Challenge by the Sea, and custom team experiences. Sales team handles bookings for groups of 15-400.
- Gift Cards: Digital gift cards available for purchase, delivered via email to recipients for giving as gifts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kayak Rentals - Single Kayak |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kayak Rentals - Tandem Kayak |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Electric Bike Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Traditional Bicycle Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Surrey Rental - Small |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Surrey Rental - Large |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paddle Board Rentals and Lessons |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Electric Bicycle Tour 17-Mile Drive |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Kayak Tours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Lovers Point Kayak Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lovers Point Surrey Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lovers Point Kayak Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Public Cannery Row Kayak Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Family Bicycle Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lovers Point Equipment Rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pebble Beach Paddle Board Lesson & Tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Snorkel Gear Rental |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Adventures by the Sea product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Recreational equipment rental and guided outdoor tour company operating on California's Monterey Peninsula. Rents traditional, electric, and surrey bikes, kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkel gear, and operates guided kayak, bike, and e-bike tours, along with corporate team-building programs, across six physical locations.
Product overview
Adventures by the Sea is a recreational rental and tour company operating five locations throughout the Monterey Peninsula (Cannery Row, Breakwater Cove, Lovers Point, Stillwater Cove, Portola Hotel, and Steinbeck Plaza). The company offers a diverse portfolio of land and water recreational equipment rentals and guided tours. On land, offerings include traditional bicycles, electric bikes (e-bikes), and four-wheel surrey (family) bikes. On water, the company provides single and tandem sea kayaks, stand-up paddle boards (SUP), and snorkel gear. Guided experiences encompass kayak tours (public and private), electric bicycle tours of 17-Mile Drive, family bicycle tours, and paddle board lessons. The company also operates a team building programs division for corporate groups. Founded in 1987, the business was acquired by Kyle and Liz Wareham in 2018, who expanded the fleet to include electric bikes and opened a Family Super Center at Steinbeck Plaza in 2021.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bike Rentals
Quantifiable outcome
- 35+ years in operation as Monterey Peninsula outdoor recreation leader
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Adventures by the Sea
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Adventures by the Sea technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
Adventures by the Sea partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Asilomar Conference GroundsminorPartner hotel at 800 Asilomar Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 offering bike rentals for hotel guests through Adventures by the Sea.
- Casa Munras Hotel & SpaminorPartner hotel at 700 Munras Ave, Monterey, CA 93940 providing bike rental access for guests.
- Centrella Inn 1889minorNational Historic Landmark boutique hotel at 612 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 with on-site bike rental services.
- Hotel PacificminorPartner hotel at 300 Pacific St, Monterey, CA 93940 offering bike rentals for guests.
- Lighthouse Lodge and CottagesminorPartner property at 1150 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 with bike rental services for guests.
- Monterey Beach Resort | Best WesternminorBest Western Plus property at 2600 Sand Dunes Dr, Monterey, CA 93940 offering bike rentals for guests.
- Pebble Beach LodgeminorLuxury property at 1700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA offering bike rentals including access to 17-Mile Drive for hotel guests.
- Spanish Bay Tennis ClubminorPebble Beach resort amenity at 2700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953 offering bike rental services to members and guests.
- Best Western The Inn & Suites Pacific GroveminorBest Western property at 660 Dennett St, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 with bike rental access for hotel guests.
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey CountyminorCharitable partner for Bike Build for Charity team building program where completed bikes are donated to local youth organizations.
- The Salvation ArmyminorCharitable partner for Bike Build for Charity team building program where completed bikes are donated.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Adventures by the Sea competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Monterey Bay Kayaks: Monterey-based kayak and water-sport outfitter offering rentals, tours, and lessons on Monterey Bay. Directly competes with Adventures by the Sea in the same geography and product category (sea kayaks, guided wildlife tours).
- Wheel Fun Rentals: National franchise specializing in surreys, bicycles, and unique rentals at tourist destinations and boardwalks. Directly comparable to Adventures by the Sea's surrey and bike rental line at premium leisure locations.
- Bike and Roll: City-based bike tour and rental operator serving major tourist destinations with guided and self-guided experiences. Closely mirrors Adventures by the Sea's e-bike and bike tour model (e.g., 17-Mile Drive tour).
- Trek Travel: Premium guided bicycle tour operator running multi-day and day-trip e-bike tours in scenic destinations. Closely comparable to Adventures by the Sea's premium guided e-bike tour on 17-Mile Drive in terms of customer experience and pricing.
- La Jolla Kayak: Southern California kayak rental, tour, and lesson provider with on-site retail and guided wildlife tours. Operates in the same product category as Adventures by the Sea (sea kayaks, snorkel gear, lessons) for California coastal visitors.
- Catalina Adventure Tours: California island-based kayak, snorkel, and eco-tour outfitter offering rentals, guided trips, and lessons. Comparable operating model to Adventures by the Sea's water-based tours and instruction business.
Broad incumbents
- Viator: Largest online marketplace for tours, activities, and experiential bookings. Functions as a distribution channel that surfaces comparable Monterey kayak, bike, and SUP tours alongside Adventures by the Sea's own bookings.
- REI Co-op Adventures: National outdoor recreation giant offering guided adventures, classes, and rentals across many U.S. destinations. Overlaps with Adventures by the Sea's guided tours and lessons as part of a much broader outdoor retail and experience portfolio.
- Airbnb Experiences: Global online marketplace for hosted local experiences including water sports, bike tours, and guided outdoor activities. Competes for tourist mindshare and bookings against Adventures by the Sea's guided tour offerings.
Regional players
- Big Sur Kayaks: Kayak rental and guided tour operator along the Big Sur coast. Comparable in product (sea kayak tours, lessons) and customer segment (California coastal tourists), but based in a neighboring geography north of Monterey.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Adventures by the Sea social profiles
Digital presenceAdventures by the Sea compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Adventures by the Sea financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Adventures by the Sea leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Adventures by the Sea funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Adventures by the Sea M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Adventures by the Sea
What does Adventures by the Sea do?
Recreational equipment rental and guided outdoor tour company operating on California's Monterey Peninsula. Rents traditional, electric, and surrey bikes, kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkel gear, and operates guided kayak, bike, and e-bike tours, along with corporate team-building programs, across six physical locations.
Is Adventures by the Sea a public or private company?
Adventures by the Sea is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Adventures by the Sea founded?
Adventures by the Sea was founded in 1987. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Adventures by the Sea based?
Adventures by the Sea is headquartered in Monterey, United States, in the North America region.
How does Adventures by the Sea make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rentals are the primary driver. The others are guided Tours, lessons and Instruction, team Building Programs and gift Cards.
Who are Adventures by the Sea's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Monterey Bay Kayaks, Wheel Fun Rentals, Bike and Roll, Trek Travel, La Jolla Kayak and Catalina Adventure Tours. Broad incumbents are Viator, REI Co-op Adventures and Airbnb Experiences. Big Sur Kayaks is listed as a regional player.
Does Adventures by the Sea have an API?
No public API is recorded for Adventures by the Sea.
What industry is Adventures by the Sea in?
Adventures by the Sea's product category is Recreational Equipment Rentals & Guided Tours. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAALAB, Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing), with a secondary code of THAAAIAL, Dive & Snorkel Equipment Rental, Retail & Boat Services (compressors, gear hire). Its NAICS code is 532284 and its SIC code is 7900.