Pandemic paddleboarding: Escape at thrilling locales
Part kayaking part surfing, standup paddleboarding is the perfect way to check out marine life and get a totalbody workout at the same time, all while social distancing. We’ve chosen a few rad places to paddleboard from Hawaii to Barbados.
Vail, Colorado
Try paddleboarding your way down Gore Creek, which runs through Vail Village. Trying to remain standing while making your way through the whitewater is a thrill. Alpine Quest Sports rents boards.
Pro tip: Paddle down the creek during the GoPro Mountain Games (scheduled for June 2021) and, chances are, the crowd will cheer you on.
San Diego
San Diego has 70 miles of coastline to choose from, so there are a lot of options when it comes to picturesque locations to put your board in the water. You can’t go wrong with La Jolla Shores. Thanks to prevailing winds in the cove, it makes for a safe place to SUP.
Rent a board from Everyday California and make your way through the La Jolla Ecological Reserve. As you pass through its four microhabitats, you’ll see amazing kelp forests, shovelnose guitarfish, dolphins, bright-orange Garibaldi fish – and if you go from July through September, you may see leopard sharks. During that time of year, these gorgeous waters attract the largest annual aggregation of leopard sharks in the world. Don’t worry, though: They are about four feet long, harmless and quite beautiful.
Merritt Island, Florida
Florida’s Space Coast, located about 45 minutes north of Orlando, is ideal for paddleboarding. The waves tend to be friendly and small and you’ve got your choice of the ocean or rivers. Go on an eco tour with Sobe Surf in Merritt Island.
You’ll paddle along the Banana River Aquatic Preserve, where it’s not uncommon to spot manatees, pelicans and mullet that sometimes jump onto your board. In the summertime, you can also sign up for a nighttime tour to witness the bioluminescent phenomenon. As your paddle glides through the water, it stirs up glow-in-the-dark dinoflagellates. It’s a sight to see.
Pebbles Beach, Bridgetown, Barbados
Try a SUP yoga class on Carlisle Bay with Paddle Barbados on the island’s west side, known as the Platinum Coast. Sun salutations, backbends and eagle pose are even more rewarding when you’re balancing on a paddle board. The possibility of falling into the water just adds to the fun. Afterward, hang out on Pebbles Beach, which is rarely crowded.
Sand Hollow State Park, Utah
Sand Hollow Reservoir is known for its beautiful red sand and it sure does make a gorgeous backdrop. If you still have energy after your SUP sesh, the reservoir also has underwater wrecks you can scuba dive to and even an old Volkswagen bus and a Cessna 320-twin engine plane. The sprawling 20,000acre park is also home to Sand Mountain, which has 16,000 acres of perfectly sculpted dunes. In other words, it’s impossible to get bored.
Makena Beach, Maui, Hawaii
This one will have to wait until Hawaii ends its quarantine rule for out-ofstate visitors but the SUPing at Makena Beach is too good to leave off the list. Hawaiian Paddle Sports offers group or private lessons.
Thanks to the clear turquoise waters, it’s easy to get a great view of green sea turtles from your board. It’s not uncommon to also see red pencil sea urchins, butterfly fish and moray eels.
Keep in mind: Do not get close to the sea turtles and especially don’t swim above them. They need to be able to come up for air. It’s illegal to pet, chase or ride them. If you visit during whale season, be ready for a show. Humpback whales flock here from mid-December through March.