As we turn the corner from winter towards spring, it’s time to start thinking about your first kayaking or canoeing trips of the season. We’re here to help with a few great places for kayaking near Philadelphia. One of the best ways to flee the busy city is to one of the many creeks, rivers, lakes, or bays that surround the area. Read on for a short list filled with some of the best kayaking spots in and around Philadelphia.
Portsmouth is a port city on the Piscataqua River in New Hampshire. It’s located about an hour north of Boston. Portsmouth is one of New England’s most popular port towns with its interesting shops, wonderful places to eat, and a rich history to explore. And being located right on the Piscataqua River, the city is also a very attractive paddling destination for both local kayakers and visitors.
Hamilton is a township in Mercer County, New Jersey. It is It is part of the New York metro, directly bordering Trenton as well as the Philadelphia metro. But despite its rather urban location, it offers many great kayaking and canoeing destinations that offer a quiet escape from the busy city life. Grab your paddle and come along as we explore a few of the best kayaking and canoeing destinations located near Hamilton, NJ.
There’s no shortage of adventure waiting for you on the water near Palmetto, Florida. This charming old Florida town is filled with charisma, quiet charm, and natural splendor. Practically surrounded by water on all sides, there are so many splendid options for kayakers of all skill levels to get out and enjoy the beautiful Florida waters near Palmetto. From thrilling to tranquil, freshwater to saltwater, mangrove forest to dolphins, Palmetto has it all.
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.
