# Your preferred "body" of water for summer fun? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438 "2011-06-22T15:27:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/21 "2011-06-22T18:58:30Z")
The pool in my backyard get’s most of the traffic by my family, but we try and spend at least one week at a beach somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![geneb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e4f/32.png) [@geneb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geneb)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/22 "2011-06-22T19:01:19Z")
You couldn’t pay me to go to a water park and pools are at the very bottom of the list. My preference would be ocean, followed by lake, followed by river. I love spending hours at a time swimming in the ocean. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/23 "2011-06-22T19:16:53Z")
> [@filling\_pages](#): > > I’m in north Florida, so any and all of those are acceptable and within easy reach, but my favorites are sinkholes and springs. Deep, clear, and cold - perfect. I voted beach, but I have fond memories of the Itchetuckny. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/24 "2011-06-22T19:34:30Z")
being a diver, i voted first for the ocean, natch. preferably somewhere in the lower bahamas. second would be a private pool. not keen on sharing a public pool with eleventy-gazillion screaming rugrats. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/25 "2011-06-22T19:51:50Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I voted beach, but I have fond memories of the Itchetuckny. I hate to do this, but if anyone wants to look that up, it’s the Ichetucknee. And yes, it is truly beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/26 "2011-06-22T20:10:28Z")
I love snorkling in the ocean when the water, fauna and flora cooperate, like in Hawaii, the Caribbean and the Aegean. Lakes are okay for skiing but most around here are too murky for swimming. Rivers I like for tubing (Guadalupe), rafting (Colorado) or fly fishing (Idaho). We spend a whole lot of time in our clean, private, well maintained and landscaped backyard pool. Public pools = shared bathwater. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/27 "2011-06-22T20:22:13Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I love snorkling in the ocean when the water, fauna and flora cooperate, like in Hawaii, the Caribbean and the Aegean. That’s a good point – I like snorkeling too, I just wish I could do it in fresh water. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/28 "2011-06-22T20:55:53Z")
I adore rivers. The water is fresh, clear and not salty. No evil sharks or rip tides. Just cool and relaxing water. Unfortunately I live in Tucson which is hundreds of miles from the nearest clear river. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/29 "2011-06-22T21:01:19Z")
I chose Lakes but Rivers are a close second. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/30 "2011-06-22T21:02:50Z")
For Other - the Chesapeake Bay. We like to go for a day sail or cruise from place to place over a week or two. If there are no jellyfish, we like to swim off the boat. Unfortunately, we can’t do that often. Honestly, the only ones I don’t prefer are pools and water parks. My absolute favorite would be on the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida panhandle - such beautiful beaches there! ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/31 "2011-06-22T21:31:08Z")
I prefer a private pool, but that’s not in the budget. I usually end up swimming at the lake. I hate walking in lakes, though. Weeds, muck, and sharp rocks. I row or paddle one of our floating chairs out to the swimming platform and I’m a happy camper. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/32 "2011-06-22T21:46:28Z")
Water activities? I’m a “take-it-or-leave-it” kind of person about water, I don’t go out of my way for any of that stuff anymore. However, I prefer the beach or a pool over the others for swimming. I don’t care for boating. If I go “bank fishing” a pond or stream is fine. I do go to water aerobics three times a week, but that’s work, not fun. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/33 "2011-06-22T22:36:44Z")
Definitely a pool. Beaches would be fine if it wasn’t for all that sand and salt. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/34 "2011-06-22T22:42:20Z")
Pools are great for basic water fun, and creeks are great for fishing and stuff. Why not the others? Because only creeks and rivers are local. Spending more than a few bucks on a trip is the worst way for me to be able to relax. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/35 "2011-06-22T23:22:16Z")
I love the ocean. I love the sand too. I like to jump in the surf, even when all the other surf jumpers are half my age. But I really love the ocean off the west coast of Barbados where I can actually swim. And swimming in salt water is really easy because it holds you up. And I love taking long walks on a sandy beach. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/36 "2011-06-23T02:23:52Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > …creeks are great for fishing and stuff In the right season (and with a proper safety attitude ) there are rivers and creeks in the southwest that are great for hiking\*. Places like [Aravaipa Canyon](http://www.arizonahikingtrails.com/hikingpages/aravaipa.html) and the western end of the Narrows in Zion are awesome when the water levels are down in late summer. \*or what I call “creek whomping” ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/37 "2011-06-23T02:28:28Z")
I’m a whitewater kayaker so I’m going with a river or creek. Preferably with rocks and plenty of gradient. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/38 "2011-06-23T03:17:08Z")
River or creek in the deep woods in the mountains. ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/39 "2011-06-23T09:44:31Z")
I like streams. Shallow enough to get warm even in Oregon, a current to play in, occasional deep spots for rope swings, and interesting things to look at on the bottom (a mix of rocks and sand is best). Plus nostalgia! ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438/40 "2011-06-23T10:26:12Z")
Since we’re avid boaters and waterskiers, I picked “Lake”. Neither our boat or trailer are capable of handling salt water. I suspect the entire rig would fizz like an Alka-Seltzer and dissolve if I launched into the sea. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-body-of-water-for-summer-fun/586438.md?page=3)