I am so ready for summer! What about you? I am looking for some fun on the water! We don’t have our boat yet, so we’re gonna do the next best thing – canoeing! I love canoeing, especially when I have my husband with me who will do all the rowing.
Our family did a canoe trip down the Kankakee River in Illinois several years ago. I loved it! Not only does canoeing get you on the water (when you’re waiting for your boat) but depending on where you decide to canoe you can almost imagine you were discovering America for the first time. That’s how it was on our family canoe trip.
From the very start we saw nature from such a different angle. There were reeds on the river. Don’t really see those from the street. There was a family of ducks walking (not floating or swimming) in the river because of the low water level. And the things you wouldn’t normally discover! We came upon an island in the middle of the river that had…shells on it! Talk about getting our imagination going! Shells in Illinois? Where’d they come from? Were they dragged down by the glaciers? It made for great conversation on the way back.
Have I peaked your interest? You can pretty much canoe wherever there is water. Find a river, lake or pond. If you don’t have your own canoe maybe you have a friend who does. If not, many water recreational facilities have rentals at pretty decent rates. (Years ago, ours was only $56 for the four of us for four hours.)
I wouldn’t be a good mom if I didn’t tell you to be careful. Please wear life jackets. Don’t play in the canoes. Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t interact with wildlife. Obey all signs on the waterways. Canoeing is fun and exciting, so get some friends, get out there and get paddling!