Shortly after university my good friend and fellow student Anouk Govil and I made the trip from New York to Connecticut to follow the big city dreams which we had long had. Growing up in Connecticut was something which I’ll never forget and it was a very happy life which I had up there. Both myself and Anouk came down to New York because we knew there were plenty of opportunities here, and whilst I love my life here in the Big Apple, I miss home very much. When people here ask me what my favorite thing to do in Connecticut is and without hesitation I always tell them to get involved with some watersports, just like these.
Kayaking
There are so many places where you can go in Connecticut and rent a kayak or a Canadian canoe which you can take out across the river. My favorite place to go is Farmington River in Collinsville where the water is calm and peaceful and you can kayak for hours to clear your head and feel truly relaxed. For the very best experience check out the moonlight paddle options which will see you head out across the water just as the sun sets, bringing it back home as the moon begins to glow.
Brownstone Exploration Park
This is the ultimate place for a waterspouts lover and it is a huge adventure park on water which offers a large array of activities. Here you can go wake boarding and hit some pretty cool jumps, there are snorkeling opportunities and even a water obstacle course. For me I have very fond memories of heading here on a Sunday afternoon with my family, spending hours getting crazy in the water and getting our kicks off those wake boarding ramps.
White Water Rafting
Whilst some parts of the state have calm and peaceful rivers which you can kayak through, we also have some hair-raising spots for white water rafting too. For me the best and most scary experience can be found on the rapids on the Housatonic River in the northwest of the state. The rapids here reach up to Grade V and if you can stomach it you can have a truly amazing and unforgettable experience here.
Tubing
The perfect activity for groups of friends and families is tubing, splashing down the river on a rubber ring as you try your best to stay inside. The Farmington River offers the best place for tubing and the route will take you down 3 miles of river including some crazy rapids which you will need to navigate.
If you are going to Connecticut then I would urge you to get a wetsuit on, grab a life vest and hit the water, there really is no experience like it in the state. If you love water sports, Connecticut is the best place for you to go and enjoy them.
