Kayaking

Half a day on the Batsto River in the Pine Barrens: 6 miles of tea-colored water, tight bends through the pines, and a finish on Batsto Lake.

The Batsto is a narrow forest river in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, less than an hour from Philadelphia. The water is the color of strong tea, the banks are all pine and quiet, and every bend shows you something new.

How the day goes: we meet at Pinelands Adventures in Shamong, NJ, ride their shuttle with the boats to the Quaker Bridge launch, and paddle about 6 miles (10 km) down to Batsto Lake. That is 4–5 hours on the water, with breaks to rest and snack. At the finish the outfitter drives us back to the cars. Everyone signs the outfitter’s online waiver before the trip; we send the link.

Effort: the current is gentle and no experience is needed, but the river twists, and there are fallen trees and shallow spots, so you will actually paddle and feel it in your arms by evening. A great first kayak trip and a good one for a group of friends, as long as you don’t mind getting a little wet.