Updated: 6:54 PM CDT May 5, 2021 Daji Aswad The COVID-19 pandemic led to an uptick in business last year for kayak rentals. I ve been kayaking around Milwaukee. This is the first time I did as a business, and it s fun to meet people who just enjoy it Brew City Kayak owner Derek Collins said. If people have never been on the Milwaukee River before, in my opinion, it s the best way to see the city. In 2020, the pandemic limited indoor activities and events, and as result, many people headed outdoors, where they were able to have fun safely along the Milwaukee River. This is one of the businesses that actually benefited from the pandemic because a kayak is the best way to socially distance. You can get out on the water. You are away from everyone else. You can take your mask off and enjoy nature, enjoy the city, Collins said.Collins met customers who came from near and far. We saw a lot of tourists, a lot of people from Northern Illinois will come up here,