[Kaspian]

I love kayaking, though almost all of my experience is with lake/ocean kayaking, not whitewater. Not only do I have one friend that tries to go every weekend during the summer, but I've got another group of friends that's gone on three overnight kayaking trips. We love it! My husband and I bought kits for building our own wooden kayaks, but haven't had a chance to assemble them yet.

I enjoy the rhythm of paddling, being out on the water, watching the land/scenery go by, and striving to paddle more efficiently. In a way, it's a lot like hiking, but it's a full-body workout over water instead of a leg workout on land. Exploring a rocky shoreline looking for starfish, crabs, and other critters can be a lot of fun, too.

As for getting started, definitely rent one and try it out a few times before committing more money to buying equipment. Kayak rental places will almost always give you a 5-10 minute basic lesson as part of the rental. Many places offer classes, too. We took a 3-hour course in bracing and rescue, for instance.

Good luck!