Marietta is a lively city, just northwest of Atlanta, Georgia with a rich history and vibrant future. It is perhaps best known for its charming turn-of-the-century square, quaint shops, beautiful parks, hiking trails, theaters and museums, but the city is also centrally located near some of Georgia’s best kayaking destinations. Here we’ve outlined a few of the most popular places to paddle near Marietta, Georgia.
On the picturesque shores of Grand Traverse Bay in the northern reaches of Lower Michigan sits Traverse City, a kayaker’s paradise. The area is home to hundreds of quiet forest lakes as well as streams and rivers that flow into Grand Traverse Bay and its adjacent waters. Uninhabited islands, picturesque fishing villages, innumerable coves and bays, secluded beaches and 400-foot golden sand dunes line the shorelines of Grand Traverse Bay and the nearby Manitou Passage make the city is one of the nation’s premier kayaking destinations.
The Potomac River creates the border between Virginia and Maryland, flowing from Jennings Randolph Lake high in the Blue Ridge Mountains all the way to the Chesapeake Bay. With over 300 miles of the 355 mile river recognized as a National Recreation Trail, the trail is rich in both American history and recreational opportunities.
Cape Cod is an amazingly diverse body of water that offers some really unique kayaking opportunities not far from Boston. There are islands, harbors, coves, ponds and rivers, which offer more than 60 different kayaking routes. Some are excellent options for kayakers of all skill, levels, other like the South Shore beaches which offer surf kayaking, are best left for the more advanced kayaker. Kayaking around The Cape is also an excellent way to see wildlife in their natural habitats.
The Hudson River is a kayaker’s dream, extending over 300 miles from northern Saratoga County in the Adirondacks all the way down to Battery Park in Manhattan. It’s a wonderful choice for reconnecting with nature and escaping the hustle and bustle of New York City and there’s no better time to experience it than during peak of fall color change.
While many kayakers think of summer as the ideal paddling season with its long days and warmer weather, fall can be just as good. Especially if your goal is to glimpse the beautiful fall foliage. Leaf-peeping from your kayak or canoe is the perfect way to enjoy the brilliant autumn colors. So, if you’re in no rush to store your kayak and want to experience the vivid colors of fall’s foliage from the water, check out a few of our favorite places for in Minnesota and Wisconsin for fall color paddling.
With their famous sea caves, the Apostle Islands offer some of the best kayaking in the world and among them is Madeline Island.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a 22-island archipelago with more than 500 square miles of Lake Superior and the shoreline. Some of the islands are commercialized and some remain uninhabited, but it’s the islands sea caves that most people come to see.
If you love being out on the water kayaking or canoeing and have a dog, it’s time to bring your two loves together. Paddling with your pup can be a fun bonding experience, especially for dogs who enjoy the water. Even if your dog doesn’t enjoy swimming, they may just enjoy being with you and taking in all the sights, sounds and smells of being out on the water.
If they do like to swim, then kayaking is not only a great workout for you, but also a great cross training workout that’s easy on the joints for them. Break up your walk routine and kayak with your dog.
The Pocomoke River is another must paddle for many kayakers and canoers. The Chesapeake area river runs for about 66 miles from southern Delaware through southeastern Maryland. A favorite kayaking trail is the four winding water miles from Porters Crossing to the rural village of Snow Hill.
Grain field, drainage ditches and chicken houses dominate much of the landscape that was once home to a huge refuge of black bears. But the Pocomoke retains much of the region’s natural forests.
No matter when you are kayaking, whether it’s in the warm summer months or cooler fall and winter, you should always dress for submersion. There’s always a chance that you may end up in the water so you should dress for it. That means two things. You need to dress for the temperature of the water, not the air, and dress in clothing that can get wet and you can swim in if needed.
If you are kayaking in the summer, protection from the sun will also be important. That may mean slathering on the SPF or sporting a long-sleeved rash guard and hat. But no matter what you wear, make sure it’s comfortable and allows freedom of movement.
