Most people meet Napa from a car window or a tasting bar. Justin Perkins meets it from a kayak, at water level, where the valley's river, wildlife, and older, rougher history are still running underneath the wine country image.
Perkins grew up in Napa and spent his childhood outdoors. He founded Napa Kayak in 2013, folding a growing interest in local history into the paddling, and his History Tour now launches close to downtown. We asked him about the river he grew up on, how he reads a morning before a launch, and what he wants visitors to understand about this valley once they have seen it from the water.
What was the Napa River to you as a kid, and when did it become the main character?
Growing up in Napa, I spent a lot of time outdoors: hiking the hills, exploring, and swimming. Downtown was very different then. The downtown river was heavily polluted when I was a kid, so we went up Valley to swim near Yountville, at what's officially called the Napa River Ecological Reserve. That was the peaceful, beautiful river we knew. I remember catching big tadpoles there.
My connection to Napa's waterways goes back to childhood. Turning that connection into a business came much later, when kayaking and my growing interest in local history came together. It gave me a way to share a place I'd known all my life and help other people discover it for themselves.
What was the idea behind starting the History Tour in 2013?
I started the business in 2013. I had been helping a friend with his outdoor company, and when he stepped away, I decided to carry that forward and do something different.
I started with kayaking, bicycling, and hiking, but the phone calls kept coming in for kayaks. So that's what I nurtured. At the same time, I was getting more interested in local history, and combining the two felt natural. I wanted to give people an experience that brought together outdoor adventure and the stories of the place they were visiting. You could enjoy a paddle, hear some unexpected history, and discover how much Napa has beyond wine. It also gave locals a fresh way to experience their own town.
Courtesy of Napa KayakPaddle me through a History Tour. Where does downtown Napa's past show itself?
We launch close to downtown Napa, but from a kayak, you're part of the river's world. Wildlife can become part of the experience: a bird flying past or an otter surfacing nearby. You never know what might show up, and that possibility makes every paddle exciting.
Along the way, I share stories that reveal another side of Napa. People know the wine country image. They're often surprised by the rougher, Wild West history, the characters and events they wouldn't expect in the town they see today. That combination is what I love about the tour. You're hearing about Napa's past while experiencing the living river around you. You might come for the kayaking or the stories, but I want you to leave excited that you discovered a whole other Napa.
What makes the river's wildlife, and an otter sighting in particular, so special?
An otter surfacing nearby is a very different experience from seeing one in a photograph. You're out there sharing its world for a little while, and suddenly there's something happening that nobody could have planned. That possibility is part of the excitement of being on the river. There's the history we've come to explore, and then there's whatever the wildlife brings to the day. I want people to enjoy those encounters and appreciate that this is the animals' home. We can plan a tour, but we can't script the wildlife.
Courtesy of Napa KayakHow do you read a morning, and what is the hardest call before heading out?
I'm thinking about the whole trip, including the return. What are the tide and water level doing? What is the wind expected to do while we're out? And who's joining us: experienced paddlers or people picking up a paddle for the first time?
The hardest call is changing or canceling an outing someone has been looking forward to. I understand that disappointment, but looking after people comes first. A good experience starts with making the right decision before anyone gets in a kayak. The river changes, so the plan has to work with it.
What is different about the river in the last hour of light?
What I love is the contrast between the energy of downtown Napa and the quieter stretches upriver. You can be close to town and still experience a peaceful side of the valley that people often miss. In the evening, the changing light becomes part of the outing. It's a chance to slow down, enjoy being on the water, and see Napa from a different perspective. For someone spending the day exploring the valley, a sunset paddle is a lovely way to take a breath and enjoy where they are.
Courtesy of Napa KayakWhat would you say to someone who has never kayaked before?
Beginners are welcome. You don't need kayaking experience to join us. We provide instruction and cover the safety basics before heading out. You bring your curiosity, and we'll help you get started. One practical tip: secure your phone. A lanyard can save you from leaving an expensive souvenir at the bottom of the river.
What do you want visitors to understand about Napa afterward?
I want them to leave curious about Napa, and excited to explore more of it. The vineyards are part of the valley, but so are the river, the wildlife, the local stories, and the quiet places you can pass right by without realizing they're there.
A kayak puts you in the middle of that. You're outdoors, moving at a pace where you can notice things, with the possibility of a wildlife encounter and a story you'll want to tell afterward. If someone leaves saying they had no idea Napa had this, that captures what I want to share.
Napa Kayak runs its History Tour, rentals, and Sunset Tour on the Napa River. Plan a paddle at NapaKayak.com.
