Kayaking in Boston

I did it, y’all! I went kayaking in Boston for the first time ever. It was scary, sure, but totally worth it. We went on Fourth of July weekend right out of Cambridge and were treated to some of the most beautiful views. Gosh, seeing Boston from the water sure is a sight. We headed out for an afternoon of kayaking with Charles River Canoe and Kayak and oh boy, was it the best. If you’re planning on kayaking anytime soon, here are three helpful tips for your first time out there!

3 Tips for your First Time Kayaking in Boston

1. Wear a bathing suit or athletic clothing. Funny enough, I had no clue what to wear for my first time out kayaking in Boston. Or kayaking at all for that matter. I had to ask T. about four times what to wear, and even then, I still did my research online. Sure, it sounds like a given – you’re going into the water in a small contraption, wear clothing you don’t mind getting wet. But, then it comes down to what kind of shoes do you wear? I didn’t know if I needed to wear nonslip shoes or not. The answer? Flip-flops. For real. Though I would highly suggest keeping them on your feet because in the (somewhat unlikely) case that your kayak flips, you don’t want to be shoeless for the rest of the day. Especially in a city. So if you’re heading out for your first kayaking adventure – wear a bathing suit or athletic clothes, and flip-flops. I opted for shorts and a tank and it was definitely the way to go. My bottoms were soaked by the time I got out.
2. Rent or bring a dry bag. If you want to bring your phone or a camera to take photos while you’re kayaking, you’re going to want to keep it dry…right? Unless you’ve got a foolproof underwater case, I’m assuming you want to keep the river water away from your devices. I knew I wanted to bring my phone to take photos of my first ever kayaking trip, but I was so scared about it getting wet – or worse – falling into the river if we flipped. Luckily, we rented a dry bag and kept everyone’s phones safely tucked away. You know, except for when T. had to fish it out of the bottom of the bag for me to take photos of everyone on the water. #doitforthegram
3. Bring a friend! More specifically, bring a friend, family member, or significant other who has kayaked before. You might think it’s common sense to know how to paddle forward and backward, but there’s a little more to it. Especially where we went – there were tons of boat out on the water and it was super windy, combining to make quite the waves. It’s not as easy as it looks! For some peace of mind, I’d highly suggest bringing someone who’s at least gone out once before to help you navigate slowing down, turning, stopping, etc.

Have you ever been kayaking in Boston? The views make it 100% worth it. If not kayaking, what are some of the other ways you get exercise outdoors? I’ve been trying to get out there as much as possible to find new ways to stay healthy. So far, hiking and kayaking are my new favorites!

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