Kayaking: More Room for Fun than You Think

The first time I saw someone in a kayak, I thought, no way that would be fun for me. I’m too tall to fit my legs in something like that comfortably. Especially for any length of time and especially when paddling. Still, I thought I’d give it a try one time when there was a calm lake and with no obligations to paddle out too far or stay out too long. And it was something close to a revelation. First, it was easier to move through the water and turn in the water than I had imagined. My back seemed to loosen up even as the side of my thigh and hip started to ache against the spare oar riding alongside me in the boat. There was such control and yet such proximity to the water, the shore, and all the sights, sounds, and smells of being on a lake.

It’s still not my favorite recreational activity of all time, but when I do get a chance, on a river trip or at someone’s lake house, I typically jump at the chance whether it’s a hard-sided kayak or a soft-sided ducky. Definitely worth a try for anyone who hasn’t been initiated. I haven’t been to all these places, but along with one amazing summer in Colorado, I’ve collected this list of places from the southeastern U.S. that I would recommend for kayaking.