C&O Canal by Canoe: Historic Waterways and Potomac River Access
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park offers short paddling routes along watered canal sections and access to the Potomac River, each with different safety demands.
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Floating the Chattahoochee: A Small-Boat Day Out Near Atlanta
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area offers rafting, canoeing and kayaking over approximately 48 miles near Atlanta, with important daylight and dam-flow considerations.
Timucuan by Kayak: Exploring Jacksonville's Salt Marshes with the Tides
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve offers saltwater paddling in tidal creeks and marshes near Jacksonville, where understanding the tides is central to a safe visit.
Cumberland Island by Private Boat: Docking and Kayaking Rules for a Day Visit
Cumberland Island National Seashore allows private boating and kayaking, with day-use docking rules and important tidal considerations for paddlers.
Padre Island's Laguna Madre: Small-Boat Access Without Damaging Seagrass
Padre Island National Seashore provides access to the shallow Laguna Madre, where careful boat handling protects seagrass and prevents grounding.
Cape Hatteras by Kayak: Soundside Routes Beyond the Surf
Cape Hatteras National Seashore offers kayaking on the Pamlico Sound side of North Carolina's Outer Banks, with several launch options and changing tidal conditions.
Gauley River's Autumn Whitewater Season: What Visitors Should Understand
Gauley River National Recreation Area offers highly demanding autumn whitewater rafting in West Virginia, with scheduled dam releases and specialist guide services.
Niobrara River Floating: A Nebraska Canoe Holiday Beyond Summer Weekends
The Niobrara National Scenic River offers family paddling and tubing in Nebraska, with quieter weekday options and choices between rental outfitters and private equipment.
Big Bend by Canoe: How to Plan a Responsible Rio Grande River Trip
The Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park offers canyon scenery and wilderness paddling, but visitors need to plan around river levels, permits and the realities of a remote border …
Glacier National Park Boating: Inspection Rules and Cold Mountain Water
Boating on Glacier National Park lakes in Montana requires advance knowledge of inspection, permit and motor restrictions, with cold water an important risk even in summer.
Whiskeytown Lake: A Calm-Water Paddle That Demands Careful Planning
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area offers paddling in northern California, but changing winds, lake levels and restricted water near Carr Powerhouse require careful preparation.
A First Summer of Sailing Shows Why Small Beginnings Matter
A personal account published by American Sailing looks back on a transformative first summer learning to sail and the confidence that grows from simple experiences afloat.
Five Different Sailing Waters Offer Five Lessons in Seamanship
American Sailing's Five Waters, Five Lessons explores how sailing on contrasting bodies of water can deepen understanding of wind, teamwork and practical seamanship.
Seven Practical Lessons Experienced Cruising Sailors Learn Afloat
American Sailing's feature on lessons experienced sailors learn provides a starting point for practical considerations that make modest recreational cruises safer and more enjoyable.
Kira Maixner Wins Pacific Cup Division on 37-Foot Dorado
American Sailing profiles Kira Maixner, part of the five-person crew aboard the Express 37 Dorado that won its ORR4 class in the 2026 Pacific Cup to Hawaii.
Skipper's Remedy Makes Coffee and Tea Part of the Cruising Routine
Coffee brand Skipper's Remedy is promoting specialty coffee and tea for cruising sailors, with American Sailing discussing brewing and provisioning in compact galleys.
How to Use a Chartplotter Without Losing Your Navigation Skills
American Sailing examines whether modern GPS and chartplotters can distract skippers from visual navigation, using lessons from Captain Rick Robey's training.
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