The morning mist was still clinging to the New River Gorge when I launched my kayak at Sandstone Falls last June. Within minutes, I'd spotted three bald eagles, navigated my first Class II rapid of the day, and remembered exactly why West Virginia had stolen my heart five years earlier. After paddling over 300 miles […]

I'll never forget the morning I first paddled out onto Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills. The granite spires reflected in the crystal-clear water looked like something straight out of a fantasy novel. After 15 years of kayaking in South Dakota, I've discovered this state holds some of the best-kept paddling secrets in the Midwest […]

The first time I paddled into Emerald Cave at La Jolla, I knew San Diego had ruined me for kayaking anywhere else. Where else can you spot leopard sharks in the morning, grab fish tacos for lunch, and finish the day surfing your kayak back through gentle waves? After spending the last decade exploring every […]

Last March, I watched a manatee surface three feet from my kayak in the crystal-clear waters of Silver Springs. The gentle giant's whiskers broke the surface as it munched on eelgrass, completely unbothered by my presence. That moment – paddling through 72-degree spring water so clear I could count individual scales on bass swimming beneath […]

The first time I paddled through the Naples canals in Long Beach, I couldn't believe this slice of Italy existed just 20 miles from downtown LA. My rental kayak glided past million-dollar homes while moon jellies drifted beneath me like underwater ghosts. A gondolier serenaded his passengers under an arched bridge, and I thought - […]

Last summer, I packed my trusty 12-foot touring kayak and spent three weeks exploring every paddleable waterway Arkansas had to offer. What I discovered completely changed my perspective on Southern paddling destinations. While everyone talks about the Buffalo River (and rightfully so), I found hidden gems tucked into the Ouachita Mountains and pristine lakes that […]

I never expected Nebraska to blow me away as a kayaking destination until I found myself gliding through the crystal-clear waters of the Niobrara River last summer. With over 79,000 miles of rivers and 10 designated water trails covering approximately 518 miles, the Cornhusker State has transformed from a "drive-through state" into my favorite Midwest […]

Last March, I watched a family of four struggle to load their brand-new kayaks at Lake Ivanhoe, clearly overwhelmed by Orlando's endless paddling options. "Where should we even start?" the dad asked, holding a crumpled tourist map. That moment stuck with me because I'd been there myself - Orlando has so many incredible kayaking spots […]

The first time I paddled through the morning mist on Windermere, watching the sun burn through the fog to reveal the Lakeland fells, I knew I was hooked. That was fifteen years ago, and since then I've explored waterways from the Scottish sea lochs to the Cornish coast, discovering that the UK offers some of […]

I'll never forget the morning I launched my kayak into Lake Superior near Munising. The water was so clear I could see 30 feet down to the rocky bottom, and ahead of me, the Pictured Rocks cliffs rose like ancient castles from the water. That day changed everything - what started as a casual paddle […]