One of my husband’s all time passions is boating.  When I met him, he ignited my passion for it as well.  And now that we have kids, they are quickly falling in love!  In fact, one of my favorite memories is taking my girls out on the boat for the first time!  They squealed and screamed as we sped up, facing the spray and drinking in the sun!  And when we told them they could swim in the water, the laughed and played and embedded memories for a lifetime!

Boating is a logical summer vacation or staycation!  90 percent of Americans live within an hour’s drive of a navigable body of water!  We live near several!  And 69 percent of boaters say boating brings their families closer together, according to a Discover Boating survey.  It really does ours!

But despite the fact that we have a family boat that we share and head out often, there is always something new to learn about boating, in my opinion.  And my number one resource for all things boating is DiscoverBoating,com.  If you have never been to the site then get ready to get bitten by the boating bug!  Especially after you order your FREE Get Started in Boating DVD from them!

Discover Boating is a nonprofit program supported by the U.S. recreational boating industry to help people get on the water to experience the fun of boating. For those looking to get their feet wet, DiscoverBoating.com is the unbiased online resource to explore the enjoyment and accessibility of the boating lifestyle. Packed with easy, interactive features to familiarize people with all aspects of life on the water, DiscoverBoating.com has a boat selector guide, cost comparison tool, renting options, destination section, boating courses –even nautical lingo and how-to videos. Plus, the website offers tools and information for experienced boaters looking to learn more.

Did you know that you can Rent a Boat before you own?  I did not and am now getting the itch to rent a houseboat for the weekend for my family!  I have always wanted to do that!  If you rented and now want to own then affordable boating is more accessible that you think!  You might be surprised at what you can afford!  Use the interactive Loan Calculator and search the Financing Options to see if you can fit this awesome summer activity into you kids memories!

My favorite part of the website, however, is the Just for Kids page!  Not only does it have important safety facts about boating safety that every kid (and parent) should know, it has a fun fishing game and a variety of books and DVD’s that will help your kids learn even more about boating!  There is also a comprehensive list of Youth Boating Organizatons that can help your young sailor or boater hone his or her skills!

So, plan you summer vacation and include boating as a fun, family activity!  After you dock and get dried off, take a moment to LIKE Discover Boating on Facebook and create a fun Welcome to the Water Movie for your friends and family to see!  I need to find our photos hidden deep in my external hard drive and do this too!  How fun is that to share?

Take some time to Discover Boating, find new places to boat and use the interactive tools that the website boasts!  And then come back and let’s talk about your favorite thing about boating!

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I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Discover Boating and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.