Travel and Adventures

Many people enjoy their holiday where they not only have a chance to relax, but also would like to have fun and try exhilarating activities on their vacation, unlike anything they would find at home. Sea kayaking satisfies all of these desires, often offering the best way of exploring and enjoying some of the wildest and most beautiful places in the World. Here are some great places for you who want to try this experience.

The Na Pali coast is the most popular of the kayak destinations in Hawaii. Located on the north coast of the island of Kaua'i, this trip is considered the best and one of the safest for beginner or intermediate paddlers. Permits are required. Obtain your permits well in advance due to the popularity of the coast. Get county park camping permits for Ha'ena beach park, from county parks dept., and state permits for camping at Kalalau valley, landing permits for Nu'alolo Kai, camping permits for Miloli'i from the D.L.N.R. While paddling from Ha'enna to Kalalau, you can explore sea caves and cliffs along the way. Landings and launching at the beaches can be somewhat rough. Plan to have the experienced paddlers land first to assist inexperienced. Most kayakers camp in a large dry cave at Kalalau beach. There are also forested camping spots as well. Hiking in the valley is a great activity for the day. You will find fruit trees, waterfalls and swimming holes. Plan to spend a day at least to explore. 

The San Juan Islands of Washington State represent a blend of wilderness and civilization in dynamic balance. This is a place where a paddler can be negotiating a tide rip of monster proportions in the shadow of a multi-million dollar mansion on the bluff above. These islands are simultaneously many things: playground, home, place of business, and living natural history museum.

There are many excellent trips in the San Juans, but one three-day outing in particular allows the adventurous paddler a feeling of remoteness and varied terrain, rocky chunks of islands, sandy beaches, big water, high viewpoints, and cozy camps. The trip from the town of Anacortes to Strawberry Island and Clark Island never fails to deliver both a workout and an adventure. 

Mexico's Rosarito Beach is a local favorite among Californians and college students, but as a kayaking destination it is one of the area's best-kept secrets. Rosarito Beach offers perfect waters and picturesque scenery for a fun and relaxing kayaking vacation, while its close proximity to Baja, California makes it perfect for a weekend - or longer - getaway.

One of Rosarito Beach's highlights is its population of grey whales. Kayakers are most likely to spot the whales during the morning hours. Sightings of sea lions, manatee, and tropical birds are also common. Those who choose to do so can fish around the Coronado Islands; other popular activities include surfing, water skiing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

This archipelago has a warm and sunny microclimate far removed from the rest of the UK. The inner parts of the Scillies lie within a sheltered, shallow lagoon in which it is possible to paddle in most weather conditions. In favourable weather, thrill seekers will be tempted to engage the Atlantic swell and the dramatic reefs that adorn the outer ramparts. A visit to St Martins will be rewarded with the chance to devour an enormous and wholesome Cornish pasty from the celebrated St Martins bakery. 

With its islands and sea lochs this is the honey pot of European sea kayaking destinations. The western isles of Jura and Islay, with distilleries at Craighouse Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain, form part of a kayaker's whisky trail. Deep sheltered sea lochs provide endless days of adventure when inclement weather makes paddling on the open sea too difficult. Remote deserted beaches with white sands make for perfect lunch stops. The perfect getaway for sea kayaking enthusiasts from the world over.  

Located about 14 miles from Seward, Alaska, Fox Island may well be one of the best kayaking destinations in the world. Fox Island is known for its scenic views and unspoiled natural beauty. Kayakers are often graced with sightings of local wildlife, such as sea lions and sea otters, whales, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles. The backdrop is nothing to sneeze at, either: Fox Island offers many miles of beautiful pebbled beaches, rainforests, cliffs, and coves, so don't forget to bring a waterproof disposable camera!

Island hopping along endless chains of sparsely populated island coasts. The shores of Croatia are largely steep and rugged with pine forests. But it is the chains of offshore islands with limestone cliffs, deserted beaches and iridescent waters that have distinctive appeal. Sea kayaking adventures can begin conveniently close to, and include unique views of, the historic the city of Dubrovnik. 

Prince William Sound is located at the northernmost end of the Gulf of Alaska. Almost completely surrounded by rugged mountains, glaciers, and barrier islands, the cove offers breathtaking scenery combined with sheltered waters that makes kayaking easy for beginners.

Prince William Sound offers plenty of opportunity for exploration, both in the kayak and out. The cove boasts a white sand beach, the Seventeen-Mile Beach, which is a rare occurrence in Canada, while nearby Bull's Head is home to a sea lion colony. Columbia Glacier - North America's second-largest tidewater glacier - and the Chugach Mountains and provide a picturesque backdrop for wildlife such as bald eagles, kittiwakes, and brown bears.

Pictured Rocks Lakeshore is a national park that stretches along 43 miles of Lake Superior's southern shore. With white sand beaches, waterfalls, and sandstone cliffs that range from 50 to 200 feet in height, this kayaking destination is just as picturesque as its name indicates. Explore the park's caves and coves via kayak, and take the opportunity to camp and hike in the park.

All of the drama of the UK coastlines but warmer, with fine wines and sumptuous seafood. What could be more satisfying than picking a bag full of mussels from a rocky shore and taking them to a nearby sheltered sandy beach to seer them in butter and garlic over a portable stove? Be sure to wash this delicacy down with a glug of white wine kept cool in the bottom of your kayak. Brittany is most suited to taking your car. If the weather is bad in the north along the Cote de la Granit Rose, head south for the sheltered waters of Le Golfe du Morbihan.