One of our favorite pastimes is to get out onto the water and paddle on the rivers and lakes of Jackson County on a stand-up-paddle-board (SUP). Have you ever thought about trying SUP, but thought it might be too hard? Trust us, if we can do it, you can, too!
Oh how we love paddle boarding! Let us count the ways! You can get outside, on the water and soak up some vitamin D. You get some great exercise and build core strength. You can paddle with a friend and share a snack. You can see the lakeside or riverside view of our beautiful community while glimpsing plenty of wildlife along the way.
One of our favorite paddles is to put-in at Vandercook Lake County Park and head to the south-end of the lake where you can go into the Grand River and follow it for a long way. We usually turn around at Hague Road, which doesn’t seem too far, but with all those twists and turns ends up being about a five-mile paddle, out and back.
Compared to owning a “real” boat, SUP is a relatively affordable way to get out on the water and we prefer it to kayaking because by standing up, you get the aforementioned core workout and it gives you the perspective to see that wildlife that you might otherwise miss. An easy way to try SUP without having to buy a board is to rent one for a few hours. Quiet World Sports which is located at Vandercook Lake County Park offers paddleboards for a very reasonable cost of $15 - $20 for four hours. Believe us, four hours will give you plenty of time to find your paddle boarding “legs”.
We hope to see you out there somewhere this summer!
Written by Steven Trosin & Monica Moser
