As summer slips into fall, Delaware’s waterways take on a different kind of beauty. The days may be getting shorter, but the cooler temperatures can make time on the water especially inviting—and kayaking offers a unique way to experience the state’s bays, rivers, ponds, and marshes from a whole new perspective.
Kayaking is much more than simply gliding across the water. It is an enjoyable form of exercise that combines cardiovascular activity with strength and core training, while also providing an opportunity to slow down and connect with nature. Paddling works the arms, shoulders, chest, and back, while the torso rotation involved in forward strokes engages the abdominal muscles and helps stabilize the spine. Depending on body weight and paddling intensity, kayaking can burn roughly 350 to 500 calories per hour.
There are mental benefits, too. Physical activity can stimulate the release of mood-enhancing chemicals such as endorphins and dopamine, while being surrounded by water and nature can help reduce stress and provide a welcome break from the pace of everyday life.
For Rehoboth Beach resident Stephanie Hoenig, the chance to observe wildlife is one of kayaking’s biggest attractions. Living along Rehoboth Bay, she particularly enjoys paddling into the marshes.
“Kayaking to the marsh area is my favorite for the turtles and bird life,” she said.
Hoenig also enjoys Canalfront Park in Lewes, where the waterways are somewhat protected from the wind, and Trapp Pond, where bald cypress trees create a memorable backdrop. Cape Henlopen State Park is another favorite, particularly the fishing pier, which she appreciates for its views and occasional dolphin sightings.
Milton resident Rosemary Giangiulio, who has been kayaking for about 25 years, also recommends Trapp Pond. Other favorites include Milton’s Broadkill River, Oyster Rocks, and the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in nearby Maryland. For Giangiulio, kayaking is as much about exploring as it is exercise.
There are kayaks designed for nearly every kind of paddling. Recreational kayaks, available in both sit-inside and sit-on-top models, emphasize stability and affordability. Sea kayaks and other touring models tend to be longer and narrower, making them better suited to longer-distance paddling and open-water conditions.
The craft itself has an extraordinary history. Kayaking dates back at least 4,000 years, when Indigenous Inuit peoples developed lightweight, maneuverable boats for hunting and transportation throughout the Arctic and surrounding regions. Traditionally constructed with animal skins stretched over frames of wood or whalebone, each kayak was carefully fitted to its user. The word “kayak” is generally translated as “man’s boat” or “hunter’s boat.”
Today, kayaking is accessible to a much wider audience, and Delaware has a growing paddling community. The Delaware Kayaking Facebook group, with more than 10,000 members, offers a place for local paddlers to share information, ask questions, and connect with others.
Several area businesses can also help newcomers get started or experienced paddlers find new adventures. DelMarVa Board Sport Adventures in Dewey Beach offers outings and programs including sunset yoga. Quest Adventures on Savannah Road in Lewes provides kayak rentals and tours and maintains an equipment outpost behind the Milton Library. Delaware Paddlesports on Coastal Highway offers a wide selection of kayaks for those ready to purchase their own boat and hosts paddling gatherings.
And while kayaking is often thought of as a quintessential summer activity, early fall may be one of the best times to enjoy it. With cooler air, changing foliage, quieter waterways, and wildlife preparing for the season ahead, Delaware’s waterways offer plenty of reasons to keep paddling just a little longer.
By Mary Jo Tarallo, Resident Journalist
Mary Jo Tarallo spent much of her career in public relations with various non-profits and spent 40 years involved with the ski industry as a journalist, public relations director for a national trade association and as executive director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard initiative. Prior to her ski industry involvement she worked for the Maryland International Center in Baltimore and United Way of Central Maryland. She won a Gold Award for TV programming for a United Way simulcast that starred Oprah Winfrey. She has been cited for her work by numerous organizations. Mary Jo grew up in Baltimore, attended the University of Maryland and Towson University, lived in Washington, DC for 21 years and has been a full time resident of Rehoboth Beach and Milton since May 2019.
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