Family Paddling Outing - Kayaking Minneapolis Chain of Lakes

Family Outings: Paddling Minneapolis Chain of Lakes in a kayak provides unique perspective

We had a less-than-auspicious start to our kayaking paddle trip on the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes.

It was an overcast and blustery day, and just as we steered our kayaks into a pond between Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles, dark clouds blew overhead and it started to rain.

We paddled forward and took shelter under a pedestrian bridge. Our fourth-grader started to complain that he was cold.

"I hate this!" pouted the 3-year-old.

In an effort to stave off mutiny, I dug into our picnic lunch and passed out ginger cookies. We ate them while bobbing and shivering under the bridge, debating whether to turn back.

We had rented our kayaks at Wheel Fun Rentals on the north end of Lake Calhoun. The shop also rents canoes and pedal boats, but we opted for tandem kayaks.

My husband sat in the back of one with our 7-year-old son in front, and I sat in the back of the other with our 9-year-old son in front and the 3-year-old perched on an extra life jacket at my feet.

We had paddled kayaks for the first time during an East Coast vacation last year and fell in love with how easy they are to maneuver. Even our first-grader managed to paddle around the edge of a sheltered bay.

We aren't the only ones who have come to appreciate these imports from the Arctic Circle. Kayaks have surpassed sales of canoes within the past decade at local outdoor retailers, as newer molded polyethylene designs have brought prices down.

These recreational kayaks are designed to take to the ... Read the Rest

Tags: ocean kayak prowler trident, malibu 2, kayak angler, cobra fish dive