A kayak is a small, narrow boat you sit low in and move with a double-bladed paddle. Recreational kayaks are wide and stable, made for calm lakes, ponds and slow rivers. Sit-on-top kayaks put you on the deck instead of inside the hull, which makes them popular with beginners in warm water, since you can climb back on if you slip off. Longer sea kayaks track straight on open water, and short, nimble whitewater kayaks are built for rapids, which call for real instruction first.

Most people start with a rental or a guided tour from an outfitter on a lake, calm river, bay or harbor. Rentals usually go by the hour or the half day and include a paddle and a life jacket. Tours add a guide who knows the water and the wildlife, and many outfitters offer early-morning and sunset trips. The basic stroke takes minutes to learn. The trick is to rotate your torso instead of pulling only with your arms.

The Date Activity

Kayaking is a great date for an active couple. A tandem kayak seats two, with the person in back doing most of the steering, and it's an honest test of teamwork. There's a reason paddlers jokingly call them divorce boats. Two single kayaks let you each set your own pace while still paddling side by side and talking.

Morning water is usually the calmest. Pack snacks in a dry bag, pull up on a quiet bank or beach and turn the break into a picnic. For a bigger adventure, pair a long paddle with a night of camping at a lakeside or riverside campsite.

On Your Own / With Friends

Groups can book a guided tour together, and on rivers some outfitters run shuttle trips that drop you upstream so you can paddle down to the take-out without fighting the current. It's a good outing for families with older kids, too. Paddling alone is peaceful, but be smart about it: choose calm, sheltered water, stay near shore and tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back.

Good to Know

Wear your life jacket. Having it in the boat isn't enough. Check the wind and weather before you go, since wind can turn a calm lake choppy and paddling home against it is exhausting. Head out into the wind so the return trip is the easy part. Dress for the water temperature, not the air, because cold water is dangerous even on a warm day. Quick-drying clothes work better than cotton, and water shoes or strapped sandals stay on your feet. Bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses with a strap, plenty of water and a dry bag for your phone and keys. Expect to get wet.