Fun Afloat: Where to Try Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Kayaking and Sailing With Kids
![Family canoeing in lake](/sites/default/files/styles/1180x660_scaled_cropped/public/2018-07/family%20canoeing%20istock.jpg?itok=hyP5MuXG)
Where to try canoeing as a family
Why do it: Canoeing is one of the easiest, most affordable and safest ways to introduce kids to water sports.
Recommended age: Almost any age can start. Very young children can sit in the middle of a canoe and ride along as adults paddle. Kids in their own canoe should be strong swimmers and everyone should wear a life jacket.
Where to try it: The University of Washington’s Waterfront Activities Center in Seattle is a popular option for exploring nearby waterways of the Washington Park Arboretum, where you can glimpse birds, turtles and other wildlife. Kids must be a minimum of 25 pounds, able to walk and fit in one of the center’s life jackets, and must ride with an adult. On the Eastside, Cascade Canoe and Kayak offers canoe rentals at the Enatai Beach Boathouse in Bellevue.
Fun day trip: From May to late August, on Saturdays and Sundays, the Bellevue Parks and Community Services offers a ranger-guided canoe tours of fascinating Mercer Slough. Tours leave from Enatai Beach Park; book in advance. Along the way you may spot otters, herons and turtles. Children as young as five may participate but prior canoeing experience is required and an adult must ride with a child.