Herbert Hoover won America's hearts and votes when he promised a college-educated chicken in every pot and a kayak in every garage. Get a taste of the American dream with today's Groupon: for $20, you get a two-hour stand-up paddleboard or tandem kayak rental at Paddle Sports of Santa Barbara (up to a $40 value).

Aiming to keep paddlers amused without disrupting the natural environment, Paddle Sports of Santa Barbara outfits water enthusiasts with quality equipment so they can safely enjoy a salty frolic in the waves. Customers who’ve made it to the age of 12 can rent a standard stand-up paddleboard, which comes with a high-performance paddle, a wetsuit, and a leash to make sure boards don’t waste time sniffing other paddleboards (demo boards can be rented for an additional $10).

If you’d prefer to surf sitting down, pick a partner, grab a life jacket, and saddle up a kayak—regular paddle-equipped models are available from Ocean and Wilderness Systems, and Hobie provides a pedal-powered option. For two hours, kayak conductors can enjoy paddling circles around the harbor or venture along the coast until their time runs out or they reach the Panama Canal.

Reviews

Paddle Sports of Santa Barbara was named the 2nd Place Human Power winner at the 2010 Parade of Lights, and SantaBarbara.com positively reviewed it. Nine Yelpers give it a 4.5-star average, and TripAdvisors give it a perfect average of five owl eyes.

• It was only 20 minutes between the time we arrived at and the moment we hit the water. We were even offered a quick kayaking lesson, demonstrating the correct way to use a paddle. – John Dickson, Santa Barbara Visitors Guide
• Remarkably knowledgeable and fun staff. We were very well taken care of and felt safe at all times, which was paramount because we had several novices in our group. Beautiful sights and we can't wait to go again. – Crystalave, TripAdvisor