Seriously? Can this look any more wonderful? I don’t think so.

Whether you are taking a romantic sail beneath the moonlight, a solo trip around the world or an afternoon excursion with the entire family, it’s hard to beat a day of wind and water.

Not to be a downer, but there are some important things to keep in mind, especially if children are involved: Safety vests/approved flotation devices should be worn by kids at all times (and any adult that isn’t that strong of a swimmer), sunscreen saves skin and lives (plus it usually smells pretty good), know what you’re doing and where you are — this last one may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many three hour tours end badly. That said, sailing (and boating in general) is a great way to spend a family summer vacation. Have fun!

This post is part of our Friday Family Series.

Photo: crlbvi via Flickr

Sea of Cortez, Baja, Mexico

A ride in a kayak can be one of the most peaceful – or death-defying, depending on where you are – experiences of a lifetime. I prefer the peaceful kind.  Settled at water-level, your body is on the same plane as the water creatures who come to the surface to check you out.  Without a motor propelling your vessel, the only sound you need hear is the paddle hitting the water, and *sploosh* as you scoop your way forward.

For families and groups, a guided kayak tour can be a great way to get started.  Sea Kayak Adventures offers a variety of trips for different skill levels, length of trip, or type of activity.  You can kayak in the Sea of Cortez or off the coast of Alaska, stay in lodges every night or on a yacht, mosey down the coastline or help out with nature conservation efforts.  Whichever trip you choose, you’re bound to be sucked in by the breathtaking photos on the site.

Tour guides are all certified kayakers or experienced local fishermen and boat captains.  The company is licensed to traverse all of the waterways where they conduct tours, and they place special emphasis on conserving the environments in which they travel.  Ask them about the kayak porta potties!

Check out the special offers page to get a jump on next year’s schedule.  Prices include lodging and meals during the trip, and are worth saving up for.

[photo by Gary Luhm, with permission]

It’s time for another rousing edition of Travel Around the Internet! Brace yourself.

Here are just a few of the items that have shuffled across our inbox lately:

Disney Cruise specials and kids sail free!

Marriott wants to Twitter, email and Facebook you to Hawai’i! By all means, let them!

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This summer, we finally took a trip to the Rockies. I had been talking about doing this for years; my family lives in Omaha, Nebraska, and the idea was to meet halfway and have a joint vacation, the bonus being the shortened trip, the kids (my sis has three, I have two) wrecking someone else’s place instead of our own, and maid service and restaurants to clean everything up and keep everyone refueled. We managed two out of three, landing a very nice, very inexpensive condo just outside of Dillon, Colorado. My wife and I debated: fly? Drive? If we drive, which car? We drove the Audi A4 (small, but it fit all of our luggage, the kids were actually pretty comfortable, and best of all the car kept up an average speed of 90 mph and cornered like it was on rails in the twisty mountain sections of I-15 and I-70; road trips are much more when taken in cars built to perform on the Autobahn), and the drive from San Diego took us two days.

The I-70 through the Rockies: a driver's-eye view.

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