A Guide to Kayaking for Beginners
Let’s say you’ve had it with screens. The buzzing, the beeping, the endless scrolling. You’re ready to trade in blue light for blue skies and do something real. Something with water. Something that gets you outside but doesn’t require a gym membership, two sherpas, and a liability waiver signed in blood.
Enter: kayaking.
Now, before you picture whitewater stunts and GoPro montages, pump the brakes. I’m talking about the easy stuff—the kind of paddling you can do on a lazy river with a sandwich in the cooler and your feet dangling off the side. North and South Carolina are full of this kind of water. Calm, quiet, scenic—ideal for first-timers, the mildly curious, or anyone with a functioning set of arms and a need for a little peace and quiet.
The best way to explore Hilton Head Island is by kayak!
You don’t need much to get started. A kayak (obviously), a paddle, a life jacket, and a willingness to get a little wet. And maybe a friend who’s been once or twice and won’t laugh too hard when you paddle in circles. Stick to flatwater your first time out—places like the Dan River (plenty of rental options), parts of the Haw (rentals), the Catawba (even more rentals), or the Edisto (did I mention rentals?). They’re friendly. Forgiving. No judgment. And have plenty of outfitters that will rent kayaks.
Eventually, when you’ve figured out how to steer without spinning like a rotisserie chicken, you can graduate to more exciting stuff: the French Broad near Asheville, the Waccamaw in South Carolina, or even the tidal creeks along the coast.
But—and this is important—check the weather.
Wind is sneaky. “Down here at the coast one of the biggest safety tips that you can follow is to be aware of the winds and the impact the winds have on your kayaking experience,” said Don Harty, an expert kayak guide with Mahanaim Adventures. When the wind speed is over 15 miles per hour it can become dangerous for beginners.
Also wear clothes that dry fast (leave the cotton underwear at home), tell someone where you’re going, and for the love of buoyancy, wear your life jacket. You’re not cooler without it. You’re just more likely to end up on the evening news.
The Carolinas are loaded with good water. Blackwater creeks. Mountain-fed rivers. Salt marshes where the only traffic jam is a curious egret. And if you don’t have your own gear, no problem—there are outfitters all over the place who’ll rent you what you need and even show you how to use it.
So grab a paddle. Slide into something floaty. And push off from the bank. You don’t need to be an athlete or an adrenaline junkie. You just need to want something a little quieter than the world you left behind.
And hey—if you’re lucky, you might even stay dry.
