Inflatable Kayak Blog

by Guest Author, Carole Ann Moleti

Leisure time is crucial for building bonds between family members. Doing things with their parents allows kids to see values in action and learn important lessons about teamwork, cooperation, and sticking together. For couples, freedom from everyday chores and distractions can trigger a spark of romance and allow time for reconnection.

Traditional family activities like movie going, sporting events, and amusement parks bear an onerous price tag. Economic conditions have cut deep into entertainment and travel budgets. Many are planning “staycations”–day or overnight trips to destinations close to home.

With summer in full swing, kids have no homework, the college set is home, and there is no better time to enjoy being out in nature. Spending it in air conditioned malls, or in the house watching television or on the computer is a waste of one of our greatest natural resources: the outdoors.

Being physically active keeps both the body and mind in tip-top condition. Tranquil natural environments soothe jangled, over stimulated nerves and instill respect and reverence for the flora and fauna. If we are to save our ecosystems from degradation, this is a lesson young people must learn from those closest to them.

Some of our most memorable family bonding experiences have occurred when we’ve needed to seek shelter during an unexpected storm, found and helped an injured or lost animal, given aid and assistance to someone stranded, or just enjoyed quiet time exploring new places.

Blending the interests and abilities of all family members can be a challenge. Some outdoor activities are too physically strenuous for younger children (such as mountain biking and hiking). Teenagers really do not want to be anywhere near their parents. Mom and Dad crave couple time.

About.com’s US Parks page is a great source of information about state and national parks in the US and Canada, including discount passes, entry fees, and attractions. There are oodles of public access waterways, either free or low cost, where one can pull in, inflate a kayak, and sit and watch the older ones paddle around. When they’re tired, parents can take it out for a spin, with the younger ones tucked in between them.

In my own family of five, the boys always seem to be able to amuse themselves walking along the shore, flying a kite, fishing, catching and releasing frogs and turtles, and bird watching. They entertain their younger sister, or she comes along with my husband and me for a ride.

My investment in an inflatable Sea Eagle 370 is paying off big time. For the first time in years, the teens are excited about our planned vacations, and they’re asking to take it out on our local New York waterways as well as the kettle ponds and salt marshes (see picture) of Cape Cod.

All I have to pack is a cooler with snacks and drinks, first aid supplies, sunscreen, and insect repellent. My husband loves the fact there is no fiddling with roof racks and tie downs, and we’re hoping to get some time aboard for just the two of us. I’m delighted that we seem to have once again found some common interests and enthusiasm for being outdoors as a family. There are sure to be a lot of laughs, pictures, and happy memories.

I’ll be sharing my experiences here and would love to hear about yours.

Guest Author, Carole Ann Moleti lives in New York City and juggles a full-time job, freelancing, a house, husband, garden, three kids, a big dog, and a very mean cat. She is looking forward to the summer and some quiet time for family bonding.