Disneyland vacations are boring. How many times can you ride the same rollercoaster, and who wants to walk ten miles a day in the hot sun?Don’t settle for status quo vacations. When your family loves to be on the water, make your next vacation one of the following boating adventures:
Great Blue Hole
The Great Blue Hole is one of the most beautiful destinations in Belize. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, the Great Blue Hole is a scuba diver’s paradise. Thanks to Jacques Cousteau, who popularized this magnificent destination, it’s available as a vacation spot under one condition: it’s hard to get to, so you have to find a boat charter for the entire day.
A tranquil cabin by the lake
Whether your family likes to swim, fish, or just chill out by the water, heading out to a lakeside cabin is one of the most relaxing vacations you could take.
Lakeside cabins are perfect for rowboats or motorboats, and sometimes kayaks and innertubes. Unlike a kayak, you can enjoy an innertube without going anywhere by tying it to a tree with a rope. Sit in the tube, dangle your feet in the water, and watch the birds and fish for a quiet evening.
If you’re traveling to an area you’ve never been before, be sure to bring equipment for all types of weather for both your family and your boat. Pack an all-weather boat cover to protect your vessel from rain and UV rays from the sun, especially if you haven’t applied any protective coating to your boat. If you don’t have a boat cover, check out Savvy Boater for some great options.
Remember to bring warm clothes, and also a tent. If you get tired of being inside, camping outside is an option.
A family-friendly cruise
A kid-friendly cruise will take you and your kids on adventures in and out of the water. Most kid-friendly cruises are facilitated by small ships for many reasons, including safety. The environment on a small ship is more controlled and smaller ships can travel safely to remote locations. Some cruise ships will take you and your family right up to a glacier where you can get into a small boat and paddle around. Other fun advantages of a small ship include being able to visit remote beaches, and island villages.
A cruise is a good way to pack in multiple adventures for your family including hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, and observing wildlife.The best part is, family-friendly cruises are scheduled to depart during summer, winter, and spring break so you don’t have to pull your kids out of school.
Boat over to a nearby city
If you happen to live in an area where another harbor is easily accessible via the water, go on an adventure to have dinner in that city and stay in the marina overnight. In California, for example, it’s common for boaters to sail from Santa Cruz to Monterey, spend the night, and head back the next day. The cost to dock for the night is usually around $45 per person per night – about the same price as a decent hotel.
Hidden Beach in the Marieta Islands
This beautiful spot is a small, secluded beach filled with pristine, white sand believed to have formed as a result of weapons testing by the military. Legend has it, the beach formed when its stone roof collapsed from being shot at in the 1900s. We can thank Jacques Cousteau for his efforts to make it illegal to fish and hunt in the area.
Not as far from the U.S. as other destinations, Hidden Beach is a great place to visit if you don’t want to spend a fortune on your family vacation.
Getting to the Marieta Islands in Mexico requires chartering a boat that has a special permit, and you’ll need to go with a guide. The guides are familiar with the area, and they’ll take you on a tour of the area at low tide so you can see everything. The boat ride to the beach will be just as eventful as your time on the beach.
Entertain your family with nature
Who needs cartoon characters and rollercoasters when you can entertain your family with nature? Take a vacation in nature and your kids will appreciate the opportunity to explore the world in ways they never dreamed possible.
What’s your favorite water adventure?
Kim Marks 
Nina Smith