How To Pick a Touring SUP

Crystal Dominquez

There are so many different types of stand up paddle boards how do you pick the best one suitable for long tours?

Well, there are three major categories of stand-up paddleboards, these are the All-Around SUP, the Surf SUP and finally the boards that are designed for racing and touring.

The All-Around Stand Up Paddleboard

An All Arounder is like a quiver of one. These are going to be the most versatile types of paddleboards around. They can do a little bit of everything, but don’t do any one thing particularly well. And All Arounder is usually thick and wide making them very stable and long.

All around paddle boards tend to do well and flat-water situations, where they don’t do as well in choppy situations with large waves like surfing.

The next category is a Surfing Paddleboard

Stand up paddleboarding is an offshoot of the sport of surfing so this is a very important category. A sub that is designed primarily for surfing will have a sharp nose a tapered tail and is generally going to be shorter in length than something like an all-around her. The reason for this shorter more nimble design is so the sup can paddle faster and turn sharper both of which qualities are needed to successfully catch and ride waves.

You can learn more about surfing SUPs by reading this Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standup_paddleboarding

Because surfing sups have a more agile design oh, they’re not the size of a dinner plate, they are not going to be as stable as something like all-around sup. This also means surfing subs are for more advanced paddlers usually not a good fit for beginners. and it goes without saying if you don’t live in an area that has waves that you can serve, surfing sup is not your best choice.

Racing and Touring SUP

The easy way to tell a touring paddle board is it begins to take on the characteristics of a boat. The front end is angular more in the shape of a v and you can see the whole rise up in the shape of a v as well. The body of the board is generally narrower 2 mm width of 28 in wide. And a touring board is generally going to be at least 14 ft long.

Also as is the case with a surfing SUP, a touring sup is a more advanced profile and shape. This means that it is for more intermediate to advanced level paddlers and not a good choice for beginners

Materials and Construction Methods

When it comes time to picking the right paddle board for you, you need to think about how much you weigh in relation to the size of the board you need to purchase.

A general rule of thumb to remember is the larger the board the more surface area it will have, therefore making it less responsive and harder to turn. The trade-off is that it’s easier to balance on and more stable.

Some of the materials that are used to make a stand up paddleboard can be epoxy fiberglass, carbon fiber, foam, plastic, and military-grade PVC material used in inflatable SUPs.

So how do you pick a touring board that will fit you the best?

The best thing you can do is to go and try several different ones. just like buying a new car, you need to go out and take many different boards for a test paddle.

What is SUP Touring?

At its essence sup touring is about going on an adventure, exploring new places, and just getting out there and seeing what’s around the corner.

How long should your SUP tour be?

As always it depends. How long are you trying to go out for it? It also depends on the gear that you have. If you are able to pack a lot of supplies like a cooler, water, food, and even camping gear on to your paddleboard and you can go for overnight and even multi-day touring trips. or maybe you want something smaller and simpler and simply want to take a water bottle and be out on the water exploring for just a few hours.

Let your spirit of adventure determine how long your trip will be.

A good rule of thumb, the longer the tour the more equipment you will need to take with you. The more equipment the harder it will be to paddle, so longer trips equal a greater difficulty.

What skill level do you need for SUP touring?

This is very similar to the question of how long a tour should be. All skill levels can go on a tour. but the longer that you were the more advanced you will need to be as well as the more athletic and in shape you will need to be in.

On a shorter tour of saying our just about anyone even a beginner skill level can do that.

Water conditions:

Different types of water present many different types of risks and challenges. And you must prepare accordingly. For example, the gear you will need on a summertime sub trip at the beach is very different than the gear you would need paddling down a river.

For longer tours on open water, you’ll need to be aware of dangers such as wins tides and ocean currents.

Don’t be fooled by inland waterways and canals. Each different body of water presents different risks. And you need to be prepared to stay safe and to take care of yourself in all water conditions.

Where should you go on tours?

Well, that depends on where you live. It’s always good to start out on lakes.

After that, it’s fun to advance to more difficult and challenging terrains like rivers. To find out good places to go for longer tours get on the internet and look for some of the stand up paddleboard forums these are generally great locations to exchange other ideas with experienced paddlers almost guaranteed they can put you on to a great tour that is nearby your house.

The Travel Channel wrote a good article on places to go on a SUP adventure: https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/outdoors-and-adventure/photos/worlds-best-standup-paddleboarding

A few of the first challenges you’ll face when going on a tour are fitness and endurance. After that, it’s finding the right board and paddle that is not only comfortable but also see your ability.

Planning the route you take in addition to understanding the risks of the weather and the water type you will be traveling on, are the most challenging aspects of preparing for your trip.

We hope you’ve found this article informative and also entertaining. Please stay tuned and come back to the blog for more updates and How-To instructions about stand-up paddleboarding.

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Things To See And Do In Seattle

Crystal Dominquez

Something has to be in the air of Seattle to be the birthplace of successful companies such as Microsoft or Starbucks, and musical groups such as Nirvana. Will it be the Pacific breeze? Who knows, just in case we have breathed its air in full lungs to try to spread its entrepreneurial spirit, now we have to wait for it to take effect. Leaving aside its more material side, Seattle is a versatile and dynamic city, underground and at the same time hooked to trends, with a vintage touch aligned with the most contemporary hipsterism.

The first thing that attracts attention is the silhouette of the Space Needle, the most peculiar tower, and symbol par excellence of Seattle (if you have seen Grey’s Anatomy, you know what we are talking about). Compared to other towers of the continent such as the Toronto Tower, it does not have a remarkable height (“only” 184 meters), although it was a feat in 1962, the year it was built. You can climb to the observation deck and contemplate the city from above, and get scared in the glass floor areas. Admission costs between $ 32.50 and $ 37.50 (depending on visiting hours), and you can buy them online or at the box office.

Near there, in the alley of Post Alley, you will find the Gum Wall, a very colorful wall for the simple fact that it is full of gum! The tradition of sticking the gum on these bricks began in the 90s when people waited to enter the Market Theater, and it has ended up becoming one of Seattle’s most disgusting attractions.

One of Seattle’s most interesting and personality neighborhoods is Capitol Hill, the neighborhood that hosts the city’s largest LGBT community. If you like to wander around, stop for a beer and go shopping… you have to stop by. And also why not to cultivate a little, here is The Elliott Bay Book Company, a bookstore with more than 150,000 new and second-hand titles.

And the Pioneer Square area also has to be included in your plans: full of brick buildings, trendy premises, and ambiance, especially at lunchtime.

The Columbia Center is another building that will delight those who are eager to fly: from its viewpoint ( Sky View Observatory ), you can see the city too much (yes, including the Space Needle). We did not go for lack of time, but they told us that it is very cool. This is the tallest building in the state of Washington, with 284 meters, and the entrance costs $ 22.

We found the Seattle Central Library a curious stop: it is a steel and glass building that is a very photogenic place. Also, on the 10th floor, there is a free-viewpoint that will give you a curious view of the city.

Did you know that Seattle is the first Starbucks in the world? It was founded in 1971 and, since then, to know how many liters of coffees were drunk in the streets of Seattle (and the world!). And yes, entering even to know this historic place is a must. Peeeero, if there is a Starbucks that drives everyone who visits it (especially Instagram) is The Seattle Roastery. Of course, do not forget to try other coffees, because Seattle is one of the cities with more coffee culture in the world, going alone to Starbucks would be like eating at a Domino’s Pizza in Naples. Some of Seattle’s best coffee shops are Milstead and Co. and La Marzocco Café.

Amazon headquarters is also one of the best things to see in Seattle, especially thanks to its glass domes. There is also good news for geeks: tours can be made to get to know the offices of this famous company (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am and 2 pm).

In 1889 Seattle was destroyed because of a huge fire. To know its history and to see places that were buried under the ruins, there is a very popular excursion called Underground Tour. You will walk through tunnels and passages while your guide tells you all about the past of this ghost town. Curiosity: apparently, the fire started when an apprentice Swedish carpenter, became the Swede (sorry, bad joke) and forgot hot glue next to some wooden chips.

If you have time and you feel like a moment of tranquility, we recommend you approach one of these two parks: the Olympic Sculpture Park, it is an urban park that, as you have already imagined, is characterized by being dotted with statues.

The Seattle cultural scene is versatile and always evolving, but there are a handful of museums that you should keep in mind. One is the Museum of Pop Culture (the MoPOP), created by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. Here you can surround yourself with personal objects of great music, such as Kurt Cobain de Nirvana, David Bowie, or Jimy Hendrix himself.

Another is Chihuly Garden and Glass, an almost unreal world where you will be surrounded by colorful, immense, and somewhat crazy glass sculptures. It is a tribute to the artist Dale Chihuly, a must in Seattle.

The Seattle Art Museum is also worth it, especially if you are passionate about ethnic art. Eye: it has different locations, so if you decide to go, you must plan your visit well.

Are you more numbers than letters? Then surely you are more interested in visiting the Pacific Science Center, entirely dedicated to science. It will please both small and not so small!

We are not done with the neighborhoods of Seattle; Fremont is one of the most fashionable now. Here you will find endless shops, restaurants, and a craft brewery that you have to visit: we talk about the Fremont Brewing. The pints cost about 5-6 $, and there is also the possibility of tasting several beers. Eye: they do not sell food, so if you want, you can bring something to eat yourself, what they do give free are apples and mini-pretzels hehe.

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Best Seattle City Tour

Crystal Dominquez

Feel The Best Tour Of The City With Never More Than 14 Fellows

Seattle is a social mecca where technology, nature & the arts intersect to create a rich fabric of experiences. We’ve organized the archetypal Seattle adventure into an unconventional tour that’ll explore the diverse groups that have built the city from its inception. Your helpful guide will keep you inspired and informed with stories, events, popular places, and so much more. Relish this tour early on in your Seattle visit to help from all the knowledge and suggestions!

Tour Details

  • General Pick-up at a central downtown Seattle neighborhood near Westlake Center
  • Limited seats open with pick-up from several Downtown Seattle hotels for 9 am and 10 am tours particularly. Drop-off after at the same place after the tour and some routine drop-offs will be available upon demand.

Tour Itinerary

The tour will start in Seattle’s bustling downtown center highlighting the Seattle Art Museum, Pike Place Market, Shopping District, & World’s First Starbucks Ever.

Pioneer Square & Stadium District

Seattle’s primary downtown is now a 35 square district packed with a shift of the century Romanesque building, art exhibits & trendy restaurants, all of which join the sports arenas for the Seahawks, Sounders, and Mariners.

The Mariners have a new and state-of-the-art ballpark which is worth a visit all on it’s own.  You can go to this website to learn more about it.

International District & Waterfront

House to Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, Korea, and Hmong regions, this town persists in offering a role in Seattle’s multicultural personality. Seattle’s waterfront adds the aquarium, ferris wheel, excellent seafood restaurants, unusual souvenir shops, well-known piers and ferry, and water taxi terminals.

Ducks of Seattle

Ride the Ducks is the most unique way to tour the City.  Why?  Because these interesting vessels take you on a tour of the land and the water.

The boats multi task by driving on the land and of course by cruising on the waters of Lake Union.  You will definitely want to check out this experience with the whole family.

Seattle Center & Queen Anne View Point

Being the site of the 1962 World’s Fair, the Seattle Center is a 72-acre township park, which is also the birthplace of the Space Needle, Paul Allen’s Life Music Project, Dale Chihuly’s Garden, Pacific Science Center and Glass exhibition.

Ballard Locks & Fremont Neighborhood

Inaugurated in 1917, the lock system and ship canal combine the freshwater of lakes Union and Washington with the saltwater of the Pacific

in Puget Sound. It’s a big destination for seeing boats navigating within the two waterways, and it also highlights a fish ladder for watching the seasonal emigration of salmon.

Fremont neighborhood, renowned for its outdoor art and nude bicyclists in the Summer Solstice ceremony, is also a microcosm of the difficulties Seattle faces as it wrestles with growth. This formerly quirky, bohemian artist colony is now converting into a high tech substation with offices for Google, Tableau, and Adobe while prevailing true to its artsy origins.

Walking Tour

A bit less popular in the United States of America, because every one is lazy and would prefer to take a tour on a machine like a Segway, is a walking tour.  Walking tours are awesome because you get a real feel for the city.

You can visit all the nooks and crannies that make Seattle the unique spot in the Pacific Northwest.  Another benenfit of a walking tour is food.  That’s right.  When you are walking around it’s much easier to stop in and get a great cup of coffee (duh!).

The next stop might be that boutique little bakery where you can get the best sourdough on the planet.  After that you might need to satisfy your sweet tooth by stopping at specialty chocolate shop.  There are several high end chocolate shops in and around Pikes Place Market.

And another benefit of a walking tour is that you get fresh air mixed with a little bit of exercise.  You won’t feel so bad indulging in bread and chocolates because you are actually earning some of those calories.

Museum of Pop Culture

Located in a stunning Frank Gehry-designed house, Seattle’s Museum of Pop culture AKA MoPop, heretofore the EMP Museum, is a pop-culture buff’s fantasy come true. You will adore the many exhibits narrating everything from horror cinema, science fiction literature, and

video games to show costumes and rock music. The interactive world of many shows will make you feel like you are smack dab in the center of your favorite action movie! Full of technological marvels – befitting a foundation that was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen – the gallery also highlights one of the largest LED screens in the world.

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A Note To The Community

Crystal Dominquez
A reminder to the Community‎ about the Public Eco-Cruises
The Watahatchee Lake Floating Classroom offers weekly and “special event” public cruise programs throughout the season. Our goal is help everyone develop an understanding of Watahatchee Lake, and the role it plays in our communities.
“Get to Know Watahatchee” Eco-cruises are offered weekly.
Spring & Fall: Sundays Only, 2:30-4:30pm
July – August: Thursdays & Sundays, 4:00-6:00pm
Guest presentations by local artists and experts are matched with hands-on activities for people of all ages. Our goal is to make sure that everyone is well-acquainted with our Lake. Great for visitors and residents alike. As we say… “It’s Your Lake, Get to Know It!”
Complete Schedule is available on the Cruise Calendar
Fares: $20/adults ; $18/seniors ; $15/children (5-12). Community Access coupons are available for Watershed Residents- see below!
“Special Event” Eco-cruises are offered in conjunction with festivals and events around Watahatchee Lake. Fares and daily schedules vary depending on the event. If you would like to engage the Floating Classroom for an event that is not already listed on the Cruise Calendar, please contact us!
“Community Access” Coupons
Our goal is to make our Community Eco-Cruises financially sustainable and yet affordable for everyone. With support from the Park Foundation, we offer free cruise coupons – available upon request through Fun Family ticket office, or neighborhood community centers, including GIAC, Big Easy Community Center and the Village At Baytown.
Please use responsibly and remember to have fun.
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Fun Family Tours Is An Independant Company

Crystal Dominquez
Fun Family Tours is an independent branch of Cambria Wooden Earthenworks Inc., a waterfront business specializing in boatbuilding and restoration and currently operating from two locations on Cambria Lake, New York.
Fun Family Tours will offer daily historical narrated lake tours originating from both our home dock at 435 Old East Side Dr. and from the  Cherokee Farmers Market  at Tugboat Landing. See schedule or call toll free 1-555-892-4568 for information and reservations.
Fun Family Tours hopes to raise public awareness of water quality issues affecting beautiful Cambria Lake.  With this in mind, we are committed to keeping our own impact on the lake to a minimum while providing as much opportunity for hands on education with the least impact on the lake as possible.
Our efforts towards this goal include using bio-diesel fuel made from a mixture of diesel and plant oils.
Fun Family Tours works closely with schools and organizations and has developed a set of educational, research and commercial programs which strongly encourage the use of the vessel as a platform from which groups or individuals can launch their own research projects.  Fun Family Tours also  offers the floating classroom and eco-tours as an interesting option for tourists and visitors.

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