52 Romantic Outings in Greater Cleveland 2nd Edition

Excerpts from

Outing 4

On the Water

Season: Spring/Summer/FallTime: 3–5 hours Location: SouthIntimacy level: Cost: $Advance Planning: Some

What You'll Do

Rent a tandem kayak.

Paddle around Hinckley Lake

Gliding on the water can be a mystical experience. Even just a few feet from shore you'll notice that the workaday world starts to slip away. Traffic noises give way to the sounds of gently lapping waves, while your visual landscape is reduced to water and horizon with a receding shoreline in the background for reference. Fish swimming silently under the water are suddenly the most interesting sight to behold.

Kayaking is among the most intimate ways to experience the water without swimming in it. Small and efficient, kayaks allow you to skim through the water with ease—with a little help from your own upper-body strength. Acquire a kayaking habit and you'll enjoy a sport that allows a quick getaway from land to water without the hassle of an expensive sailboat or a cumbersome canoe. A kayak is easy to load onto a car or truck, light and handy to transport to the water, and provides an impromptu escape whenever the mood strikes you. If you don't own a kayak, try renting one at the Hinckley Reservation Boathouse to test-drive the sport. Rent a single kayak and compete to see who gets the hang of it first, or ask for a tandem kayak that will have you working together for an afternoon of paddling fun.

3 p.m. Arrive at the Hinckley Lake Boathouse ready to paddle. The boathouse, located in the Hinckley Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks just off State Road in Hinckley Township, offers kayak rentals from April to October. In the summer, late afternoon is a good time to kayak, as the sun's harmful rays are beginning to ebb but its light is still strong. Wear a bathing suit or light clothing that you don't mind getting wet, and don a pair of rubbery beach shoes if you have them, or at least protect your feet with light, rubber-soled shoes. Of course, use plenty of sunscreen and bring a pair of sports sunglasses to fend off the sun's harmful rays and its reflection off the water.

Rent a kayak. Rentals begin at $11 an hour, and you'll need a driver's license and cash or credit card to seal the deal. The boathouse staff will supply you with everything else you need: life jackets, paddles, and instruction on safe operation of the kayak. If you're completely new to the sport, consider renting a sit-on-top kayak that doesn't make you feel “strapped in”; this way you'll fall off the kayak if it tips, rather than rolling over with it. But on the calm waters of Hinckley Lake, you don't run a very big risk of rolling over to begin with.

Stay near the boathouse until you feel you've really got the hang of kayaking, then begin to explore the lake. It can be a busy place, with fishermen, swimmers, and other boaters about, so find a spot that's all your own. Many kayakers enjoy the sport because it keeps them so close to the water. Your face is only a few feet from the water's surface, affording you an easy view of the creatures just underneath. Because a kayak's hull doesn't dip very deeply into the water, you can also stick close to the shore, getting a great view of trees and birds along the shoreline. (Do you have a pair of binoculars that float? Birdwatchers should bring them along.)

4 p.m. After an hour or so, you'll be tired. It takes quite a bit of effort to paddle a kayak across a lake. Return the kayak to the boathouse and rejuvenate for a few minutes, then give your legs a stretch.

4:30 p.m. Hinckley Reservation is said to be one of the most diverse landscapes in the Metroparks system. Take a short walk for a closer look at Whipp's Ledges. Extending more than 350 feet over the lake, the ledges cut a dramatic figure against the green foliage in summertime and are a favorite spot for area rock climbers, who must first get permission to climb from park officers. Climbers or no, Whipp's Ledges are one of Northeast Ohio's more pleasant sights.

Variations:

Super Size It: Turn an afternoon paddle into a weekend getaway. Throughout the summer, paddlers at Put-in-Bay get the best of all worlds—a party on the bay at night, and an opportunity to paddle away from the rabble-rousers by day. Exploring the island on a kayak keeps you away from the busy docks and throngs of touristy crowds, giving you an opportunity to really explore the island's shoreline. The Ohio State Fish Hatchery and Oak Point State Park are just at the other end of the bay, each offering an interesting look at the other side of life on the island. Rent a kayak or learn about launching from Squaw Harbor Marina, and visit www.put-in-bay.com for information about lodging and campsites.

If you enjoy kayaking, consider buying a kayak and joining up with a “ride,” or club. Two organizations in town are very active on the kayaking scene, hosting “paddles” on rivers, during sunsets, and through North Coast Harbor, where you can get an up-close view of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from a truly nautical perspective. 41¡ North is so-named for Cleveland's position on the map. This group works hard to teach kayakers the skills they'll need to progress from an afternoon paddle on a quiet lake to taking on whitewater rivers or big lake and ocean waves. Teaching classes and hosting events all over town and throughout the region, 41¡ North is a fabulous resource for those interested in expanding their kayaking expertise. www.kayak41north.com.

The folks at Bradstreet Kayakers also host paddles and learning sessions. Become comfortable with the kayakers “roll”—the art of rolling upside down into the water while still strapped in your kayak and coming back up unscathed—and other safety skills during lessons hosted by the group and, once you're ready, join them for a paddle. Bradstreet Kayakers meet most often at their namesake launching point, Bradstreet Landing in Rocky River, but like their good friends at 41¡ North, they like to paddle all over town. For more information, visit www.seakayaker.org.

Directory:

Hinckley Lake Boathouse

910 Bellus Rd., Hinckley

330-278-3132

Hours/availability:

Apr-Nov daily 8 a.m. –8 p.m.; may open during unseasonably warm weather in winter months; call ahead.

Squaw Harbor Marina

760 Bayview Ave., Put-in-Bay

419-285-3036

Hours/availability:

Call ahead to reserve kayak