Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals at Three Belles Marina
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If you’re looking to enjoy a day out on the water in Niantic, look no further than Three Belles Marina. The marina is situated along Smith Cove, which is a part of the Niantic River. This marina has been in business for two decades, and it’s a great place to get a rental to explore Niantic and Waterford from the water.
About Three Belles Marina
Three Belles Marina is a private, full-service marina on Smith Cove in Niantic, Connecticut. The small, quiet cove offers easy access to the Niantic River, which offers access to Niantic Bay and Long Island Sound.
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While Three Belles Marina is a private marina, they welcome the public for rentals and to dine at their on-site restaurant, Three Belles Café. Three Belles Café is a casual waterfront restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While downtown Niantic offers plenty of great dining options, this café offers a quieter dining experience without having to sacrifice food quality. My boyfriend and I love going to the café for breakfast.
In the summer months, they also offer Music on the Cove, where they have live music that the public can enjoy. This marina truly has a lot to offer for both its members, and the public.
Rentals From Three Belles Marina
Three Belles Marina offers various rentals to take out on the Niantic River. They offer:
- Paddle Kayak Rentals
- Pedal Kayak Rentals
- Stand-Up-Paddleboards (SUP) Rentals
- Hobie Eclipse Rentals
- Sailing Kayak Rentals
When my boyfriend and I went, he went with a SUP, and I went with a kayak. It was his first time paddle boarding, and the manager gave him tips on how to stay balanced while out on the water. I went with a regular ole paddle kayak because that’s what I’m most comfortable with, especially because I was going out with my camera.
In addition to regular rentals where you can go out on your own, they also have special excursions. Some unique experiences they offer are:
- Sunset Paddle with Dinner
- Glow Paddle
- Paddleboard Yoga
- Intro to Salt-Water Kayak Fishing
- Eco Tours with Lunch Included
As you can see, there’s no shortage of offerings from this marina. The rentals and excursions are great for both locals and travelers.
Rentals and excursions can easily be booked ahead of time. Simply head to their website to see offerings and to book.
My Experience With Rentals
While it’s probably best to book a rental ahead of time, especially during peak summer, my boyfriend and I walked in the day of. I knew that I could do this because on their Instagram page, I saw one of their captions said that reservations are required for parties of four or more.
Since it was just two of us, we chanced it and walked in instead of making an actual reservation. We had no issues getting the rentals by walking in, but we did go on a gloomy day. I intentionally was waiting for a gloomy day because I didn’t want to be overheating and sweating out on the water on a sunny day. But, that’s just my quirky preference.
I didn’t think to take any photos of where we launched the kayaks from, but we boarded our kayak and paddleboard from a floating dock. The manager held the kayak for me so I could safely get into it without it pushing away from the dock as I got in.
When my boyfriend got on the paddleboard, the manager noticed that my boyfriend wasn’t standing on the paddleboard as he should be. He kindly gave him some tips because with the way he was standing, there was a good chance he was going to lose his balance and fall off.
We went out on the water for an hour. We paddled out into the Niantic River and then headed back to paddle around Smith Cove by the marina. Below are some photos I took while we were out paddling.
Is Three Belles Worth A Visit?
I sure think so! This marina is located in a beautiful spot and they have a lot to offer from activities and events to great food. What more could you want? While I have only done the rentals and dined at the restaurant, I’d love to check out one of the excursions they offer in the future.
I’ve lived in southeastern Connecticut my entire life, and I’m shocked that I’d never been to this marina before this year. I honestly think that has a lot to do with the fact that most marinas in Connecticut are private and don’t allow the public to come to them. I’ve known about the marina, but I had just assumed it was like most of the other private marinas in the area. I’m glad it’s not!
