For most paddling lovers, a dream home would involve a backyard looking over a beautiful body of water with a nice private dock for launching a kayak, canoe, or SUP board. Unfortunately, this is not a feasible reality for most people, paddling lovers or not.
In fact, many water sports enthusiasts live in more urban environments, where jobs are plentiful and modern conveniences are everywhere. This might seem less than ideal, especially for those who want to spend every day on the open water, firmly gripping a paddle. But if you live in certain cities, you might actually be able to have the best of both worlds.
Urban paddling is common in many American cities, especially as SUP boarding and kayaking grow in popularity. From the west coast to the eastern seaboard, there are cities where a paddling lifestyle is not only possible – it’s incredible. Below are 10 such cities in the United States that are worth visiting, and might even be worth moving to if your love of kayaking or SUP boarding is strong enough.
1. Washington D.C.
The nation’s capital is known for its iconic monuments, historic buildings, and plentiful museums. But museums and monuments are not the only things Washington D.C. has a plethora of. The nation’s capitol has several rivers, and several of them are an absolute joy to paddle in, including the Potomac, Anacostia, and Rock Creek rivers.
The most popular river in D.C. is the Potomac, which stretches more than 400 miles before ending just outside D.C. There is a lovely scenic stretch of the river near the charming Georgetown neighborhood, which is fantastic for kayaking in SUP boarding.
