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Archive for the ‘Kayaking’ Category

Kayakers who want to add to their sea kayaking adventures and explorations will find many destinations to choose from in sea kayaking guide books. Here are a few of the those available.

Guide to Sea Kayaking Central & Northern California

Authors Roger Schumann and Jan Shriner included over 40 sea kayaking trips with over 100 alternative routes. Created for beginners as well as expert sea kayakers, the book includes mile by mile descriptions of routes, prominent landmarks, maps, and interesting sights.

Sea Kayaking Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay: Day Trips on the Tidal Tributaries and Coastlines of the Western and Eastern Shore
Written by Michael Savario and Andrea Nolan, this is billed as the first and only kayaking guide to the Chesapeake Bay region. The book covers over 30 trips.

The Chesapeake watershed covers over 64,000 square miles and drains part of six states in addition to Washington, D.C. The tidal shoreline is 4,600 miles long. There are over 400 rivers and creeks.
This guide covers trips in the Bay, in tributaries and along both East and West shores. Information includes put-ins, put-outs, winds, currents, equipment, safety, and paddling. Sidebars note salt marsh ecology, wildlife and social and maritime history.

Low-impact paddling techniques are discussed along with hypo/hyperthermia, and more.

Sea Kayaking Along the Mid-Atlantic Coast: Coastal Paddling Adventures From New York to Chesapeake Bay

Veteran coast paddler Tamsin Venn chose 30 kayaking trips along the mid-Atlantic shoreline to include in this guide book. Detailed route descriptions are provided, along with local history, wildlife, ecology, maps and NOAA chart references, access, parking, launching and landing, trip mileage, harbor information, tidal ranges, currents, weather, equipment and more.

Scottish Canoe Classics

Eddy Palmer chose his favorite 25 inland touring routes and included them here. Numerous photos and specially commissioned maps provide detail. Routes are suitable for open canoe and touring kayaks. There’s plenty of variety. The journeys take place on inland lochs, sheltered sea lochs and rivers of up to Grade 2.
Sea Kayaking (Outside Adventure Travels)

Veteran kayaker Jonathan Hanson details 25 coastlines spanning seven seas from Northwest Territories to Baja, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Everglades, from the Greek Isles to Tierra del Fuego, from the Red Sea to Fiji. Readers will find out how to see the powerful Orcas (killer whales) off the coast of British Columbia, dolphins racing in the Sea of Cortez off  Baja, beluga whales cruising the Arctic and gray seals and puffins on the cliffs of Scotland’s Hebrides.
Wild Coast (The)

Volume 1: A Kayaking, Hiking and Recreational Guide for North and West Vancouver Island
John Kimantas covers the geography, ecology, history and attractions of North and West Vancouver Island with dozens of color photos and maps. Eleven chapters are included. Each describes a distinct island area with amenities, attractions, ecology, history, place names, landing sites, campsites and general trivia. This guidebook allows the reader to plan and get the most from exploring this spectacular coast.

From the United States to the Great Barrier Reef to Vancouver Island, these guide books offer sea kayaking trips for beginners and experts alike.

Kayaking Hawaii can be as peaceful as a solitary paddle trip along a tranquil river or as wild as a rough ocean adventure. Popular kayaking destinations can be found on Kauai, Maui and Molokai. Some of the most beautiful areas in Hawaii are extremely difficult to access via land but kayaking gives paddlers immediate access to appreciate and enjoy nature’s beauty.

Kauai is the only Hawaiian island with a river suitable river for kayaking. Wailua River on the eastern side of the island is a favored destination. The right side of the river is reserved for kayaking.

Wailua River Valley was once reserved for royalty. It is still considered sacred and special by many. The river is typically gentle with little current.

Lush tropical foliage, beautiful exotic blooming flowers, ancient ruins, sacred waterfalls, old Hawaiian villages, pristine canyons and tropical rain forests are just a portion of the scenic beauty kayakers can experience.
Several tour companies operate in the region. Single, double, and triple kayaks are available for rent. The Secret Falls and Fern Grotto are popular Hawaii kayaking destinations.

There are times when access to one or more areas (such as the grotto) is restricted but there’s so much more to see that kayakers aren’t left with time on their hands.

Maui kayaking tours include beginner tours, Makena tours and Honolua Bay tours. Kayak surfing tours are available and at least one tour company welcomes physically challenged kayakers.

Kayaking Makena Landing gives paddlers the opportunity to see turtles, eels, octopus, reef sharks, tropical fish and
occasionally whales or dolphins.

The secluded and beautiful Pali Sea Cliff area features rugged shoreline, sharp sea cliffs and stunning coral reefs. Hawaiian green sea turtles are a highlight of kayaking Makena Bay.

Honolua Bay is a marine reserve. The coral reef teems with fish. Kayaking here does require paddling into moderately strong trade winds.

Kayaking Hawaii’s Molokini Crater allows kayakers to access areas powerboats can get to. Some of the island’s most spectacular sea life is said to be found here.

Molokai is best reserved for experienced kayakers. Ocean swells and rough waves make paddling too difficult and dangerous for beginners. The island’s undeveloped north shore may be paddled from east to west but kayakers rarely paddle the return route. Ten mile-per-hour winds make the trip a rough one.

Kayaking Hawaii’s Kona coast gives paddlers the opportunity to explore Kealakekua Bay, Keahou, Ho’okena, Honaunau and Kailua.

Kealakekua Bay is the most protected deep water bay and is designated a Marine Life Conservation District. The Bay was the home of many Hawaiian Chiefs and is where Captain Cook landed. A Captain Cook monument stands there today.
Across the bay, kayakers will find pristine reefs where over 250 species of fish have been identified. Glass kayaks can be rented in Kona, making kayaking Hawaii a truly amazing and different experience.

Keahuou Bay, birthplace of Kamehameha the great, boasts calm waters. Kayakers paddling along the south cliffs will pass sea caves. One of the sea caves can often be entered by kayak, making for a unique Hawaiian kayaking experience.

Kayaking Hawaii can be a tranquil experience or an adrenalin rush. From tropical waterfalls to rushing rapids, from sea caves to historical ruins, paddlers can choose the perfect kayak trip.

Alaska is a beautiful state that longs to be explored. With beautiful mountain scenery, breathtaking landscapes, and crystal clear lakes and streams, it’s no wonder that Alaska has become a top vacation spot in the United States. Alaska also provides the perfect opportunity to experience kayaking, particularly in the area of Seward. You are not likely to find a better place for kayaking anywhere in the world! Here you will find everything you only dreamed of seeing as you paddle through the calm and tranquil waters of Seward on your kayaking journey.

Lowell Point, located inside the magnificent Resurrection Bay, is a prime location in Seward for great kayaking. Here you will find abundant wildlife and aquatic animals along the shoreline of Caines Head State Recreation Area. You’re likely to spot bald eagles soaring overhead, sea lions perched atop the jagged rocks that peek up from under the water, and grizzly bears as they feast on the leaping salmon inhibiting the creeks and streams of Lowell Point.

Another common location for kayaking in Seward is Fox Island. Fox Island is said to be one of the best sea kayaking locations in the world, and for very good reason. Located about 14 miles from Seward, Fox Island is an area of natural beauty and wonder. This is an area you thought you would only see on the discovery channel! You’ll find long, sandy beaches that stretch for miles, an inhibited rainforest, and picture-perfect cliffs and coves along the shoreline. Fox Island is famous for catching glimpses of a whale, as the peek out from beneath the water to say hello to fellow kayakers. Falcons and puffins soar in the clear skies, setting the perfect scene for photography.

Kenai Fjords National Park provides the ultimate kayaking experience for those looking to view natural Alaskan glaciers or get in some whale watching. Whales are known to live just beneath the glaciers in the tranquil water, and often jump between the waves as if to put on a show for the kayakers. The surrounding glaciers provide the perfect pedestal for sea otters, sea lions, beavers, and other wildlife residing in the area. They never seem to be bothered by the passing kayaks, so be sure to snap a picture of these magnificent creatures while you have the chance. Kenai Fjords is the perfect location for a kayaking trip if you are only visiting Seward for a short time, as it can easily be explored by kayak in one day.

A simple search of the internet will provide you with a list of Seward kayak tour companies and their rates. The average cost of a one-day kayaking excursion through Seward is around $125. Most tours will include everything you need for your kayaking adventure, as well as lunch or dinner included in the price. Be sure to find a tour that will accommodate your level of physical ability. While most everyone of any skill level can participate in the kayaking tours, some of the waters of Seward tend to be rough and harder to paddle through. Keep this mind when choosing your tour and location.

Generally speaking, kayaking is something everyone can do. It does not require any previous knowledge or experience, and as long as you’re in average shape, you can participate in this easy-going, tranquil experience out on the water. Another popular water activity is whitewater rafting. This on the other hand isn’t so calm and relaxing, but more exciting and thrilling. You don’t need any experience to try your luck at whitewater rafting, but you do need to be in good shape and be able to swim. Extreme kayaking is a sport that combines these two popular water sports, and is typically reserved for those with experience and confidence in raging waters.

Extreme kayaking can be done in many ways, but most experienced kayakers prefer to slide down the face of a waterfall and land into the busy waters below. Therefore, the equipment used in extreme kayaking differs greatly from that in classic kayaking. Extreme kayaks are built to withstand the rugged waters and speed. The most popular materials used to make these boats are fiberglass and Kevlar, making for a durable surface if scratched or damaged in any way. The boats range in size for extreme kayaking, from big enough to hold one person to twelve feet or longer.

The International Scale of River Difficulty places the difficulty of rivers into classifications. This is how to decide where the best conditions are for extreme kayaking. Typical kayaking is done on rivers with a Class I grade, being the smoothest and tranquil waters. Extreme kayaking is done on Class III-IV grades, which are recommended for advanced kayakers only. There are different types of extreme kayaking and not all of them involve plunging down a waterfall into a flowing stream of rugged water. If you’re comfortable with your ability to handle rough water but not yet ready to take a 45 foot plunge, you can try out river running. This is a form of extreme kayaking that promises bumps, twists, and turns down rocky waters, but doesn’t involve kayaking off any cliffs or down great distances. An extension of this is called “creeking”, where extreme kayakers can experience a little more excitement by closely riding the ledges and creeks and dropping down shorter waterfalls.

Freestyle extreme kayaking doesn’t involve making your way from one point to another, but rather staying in one spot as you work against the current and using various maneuvers to stay above water. This is sure to be a physical challenge and should only be attempted by expert extreme kayakers.

Asheville, North Carolina is a popular spot for extreme kayaking. Asheville offers three different classes of river difficulty, making it ideal for beginners and expert extreme kayakers. The most famous creek for whitewater creek is Big Creek, and is used daily by extreme kayakers. You can also find rapid waters ideal for extreme kayaking in areas of Oregon and Colorado. A search of the internet will provide you a list of ideal locations nearby and all across the country.