Adventures by the Sea

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.

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

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

• Beach equipment rentals
• Guided kayak tours
• Bike rental services
• Water sports rentals
• Outdoor recreation tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Monterey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Lessons and Instruction: Stand-up paddle board lessons, kayak lessons, and instructional tours with experienced guides. Includes equipment and safety orientation.
4. 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.
5. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards available for purchase, delivered via email to recipients for giving as gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Asilomar Conference GroundsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hotel at 800 Asilomar Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 offering bike rentals for hotel guests through Adventures by the Sea.
• Casa Munras Hotel & SpaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hotel at 700 Munras Ave, Monterey, CA 93940 providing bike rental access for guests.
• Centrella Inn 1889minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational Historic Landmark boutique hotel at 612 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 with on-site bike rental services.
• Hotel PacificminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hotel at 300 Pacific St, Monterey, CA 93940 offering bike rentals for guests.
• Lighthouse Lodge and CottagesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner property at 1150 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 with bike rental services for guests.
• Monterey Beach Resort | Best WesternminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBest Western Plus property at 2600 Sand Dunes Dr, Monterey, CA 93940 offering bike rentals for guests.
• Pebble Beach LodgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury property at 1700 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA offering bike rentals including access to 17-Mile Drive for hotel guests.
• Spanish Bay Tennis ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPebble 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 GroveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBest Western property at 660 Dennett St, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 with bike rental access for hotel guests.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner for Bike Build for Charity team building program where completed bikes are donated to local youth organizations.
• The Salvation ArmyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner for Bike Build for Charity team building program where completed bikes are donated.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYeSPH8a3APvyebaWDoSu3Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/AdventuresbytheSea
• Instagraminstagram.com/adventuresbythesea
• Xx.com/abts_monterey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adventures-by-the-sea

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Adventures by the Sea