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Canoeing & Kayaking
Canoeing & kayaking are among some of the most pop-
ular water activities, both for the summer and for out-
door enthusiasts in general. Everyone loves to move
through the water at their own pace, with nothing but
nature’s peaceful background noise to listen to. People
also have their preferences and opinions on which ves-
sel is the better choice. Closed deck? Open Deck? One
blade? Two? When trying to decide which boat suits
your individual needs, it is best to rent both a few times
and see what you like.
The kayak originated from the Eskimo people, but is es-
sentially just a type of canoe. Canoes have been around
for hundreds of years, which therefore leaves room for
trial and error when it comes to designing them. If you
are just starting out, it is suggested that you rent a
canoe or kayak a few times before investing in one or
the other. You may decide that you like kayaks more
than canoes, canoes more than kayaks, or both just as
equally. Whatever your personal preference may be,
you will want to learn that through trial and error in a
rental. Once you’ve established your liking, you can pur-
chase a kayak or canoe and be well on your way to one
of these top seasonal destinations.
Buffalo
National
river
For the ultimate canoe trip, take a journey to Buffalo Na-
tional River, in northern Arkansas. Buffalo River is pro-
tected by the National Park Service, and is over 100
miles long. The river offers a variety of different intensi-
ties, but stay away from the upper sections if you’re a
beginner. The upper sections are very difficult to master,
and are suitable only for experts and guided trips.
Campsites can be seen along the riverbank, and pad-
dlers are welcome to travel the entire length of the river,
making for a remarkable dual camping and canoeing
adventure. To paddle through the entire river would
take nearly ten days, depending on water levels and
personal skillsets.
Another spectacular place to spend time on the water is at the Acadia National Park in Maine. The Maine
Island Trail is over 300 miles long, and it follows the coast of the park. The trail was created in 1993 and
was the first water trail in the United States. All of the trail sites are accessible to watercraft and this is the
perfect place for sea kayaking. Travel along the coast and camp out among the rocks and grassy inlets.