Boating, an Activity Your Family Will Love

With four children ranging widely in age, it has been difficult to find an activity that all of them can enjoy at the same time. Inevitably, what a three year old might enjoy, the teenagers would scoff at, and vice versa. Boating, however, appeals to every age group and has been an activity that our entire family has enjoyed through the years.

We purchased our boat when our oldest two children were 4 and 7, and bursting with excitement when they went with to bring that boat home.

Handling a boat took some time to get used to, and at first we were very nervous with the boat, but it wasn't long before we could load it in and out of the water like pros. The kids were ecstatic whenever we mentioned the possibility of a trip to the lake.

The first summer, everyone was more than happy just riding around in the boat. By the next summer we had graduated to towing a tube behind the boat. It could easily seat one adult and a child so even the youngest could participate. What fun! Of course, we stressed water safety from the very beginning and life jackets were a must.

As the children grew older, the boat toys grew more and more sophisticated and kneeboards and skis became necessities.

With the addition of two more children to our brood, it's even more fun to take the boat out for nearby weekend excursions as well as on our annual vacation at Shasta Lake in California.

Living in Oregon, we have a huge variety of lakes to take our boat out for a fun filled day in the sun. It only takes a few minutes to load a couple of small coolers with some beverages and sandwiches, pick out a lake with a nice park, and head out for a nice day of boating followed by a picnic lunch or dinner in the park and maybe some a few rounds of Frisbee with the kids before heading home.

Fall Creek Lake, not far from Springfield, Oregon, is a great boating destination. The water is normally very cold as the dam is filled by ice and snow from the nearby mountains melting into the streams that feed the lake. The location is beautiful and the picnic area is easy to access with boats and has roped off areas and a large dock reserved just for swimmers.

Cottage Grove Lake is another lovely get-a-way that is wonderful for an afternoon picnic lunch. The water is much warmer. This recreation area also has a roped off area reserved for swimmers.

Boating is a fun activity for families, and it's easy to encourage friends to meet in groups at a picnic area. Make it a pot-luck and enjoy an afternoon and evening with friends and family. We do.

Some tips to keep in mind:

If you are meeting with a group of friends, ask everyone to bring any life jackets they may have from home. It's always good to have a variety to make sure everyone in the boat has a well fitted life jacket.

Leave the alcohol at home. Or at least have a designated driver.

Whether picnicking or boating, keep an eye on small children.