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Water enthusiasts are taking this luxury pursuit standing up. Consider these beautiful places to travel and traverse the ocean by paddleboard.
In recent years, paddleboarding, particularly the stand-up variety known as SUP (stand up paddleboarding), has caught fire. And why not? Floating across the water in a stunning setting is relaxing, rejuvenating and fun. Even better, it provides an amazing core workout. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie addicted to outdoor adventure, an avid downhill skier searching for the next cliff drop or a serenity-seeking traveler curious for culture, paddleboarding is an inclusive sport that can be done in ocean waves and ultra-chill waters. To celebrate this recreational phenomenon, we’ve rounded up some of the best places to paddleboard in the world, from the Bahamas to British Columbia.
Paddleboarding is an inclusive sport that can be done in ocean waves and ultra-chill waters.
Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa
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DEVIL’S THUMB RANCH RESORT & SPA | Tabernash, CO
Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa has something for everyone. It is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, where guests can have a blast mountain biking, fly-fishing, hiking, zip lining, horseback riding and stand up paddleboarding. The breathtakingly beautiful resort offers SUP classes to visitors of all ability levels. Beginners can learn important balance and stroke techniques, and more experienced guests can learn to master SUP yoga moves on a pristine, peaceful pond. After an exhilarating day of some of the best paddleboarding, dining at the resort’s exclusive Ranch House Restaurant & Saloon is a must. The eatery offers delectable items that can be made both gluten-free and dairy-free, along with the carnivore’s choices of tasty roasted cauliflower steak and blue lump crab cake.
Lake Powell offers one of the best places to paddleboard with 96 spectacular red-rock canyons, surreal blue waters and numerous caves and inlets.
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LAKE POWELL RESORT | Page, AZ
Lake Powell offers one of the best places to paddleboard with 96 spectacular red-rock canyons, surreal blue waters and numerous caves and inlets. With all of this natural beauty, it’s the perfect place to paddleboard. When visiting this location where scenes from Gravity and Planet of the Apes were filmed, consider staying at Lake Powell Resort, with triple-sheet bedding, down-alternative pillows, and eco-friendly toiletries, so guests can enjoy all the comforts of home while on an outdoor paddleboarding adventure.
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The Ritz-Carlton at Lake Tahoe
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THE RITZ-CARLTON AT LAKE TAHOE | Truckee, CA
One of the premier vacation destinations in the world, Lake Tahoe is famous for its towering pines, sandy beaches, pristine golf courses, mountains and granite peaks. Due to the amazingly clean water, visitors to Emerald Bay can see many feet below them while out for a paddle. When traveling to Lake Tahoe, the most luxurious place to stay is The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe as it is the crème de la crème of resort’s in the region and the first AAA Five Diamond mountain resort in California. Guests to The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe can engage in invigorating water sports mere steps from their doors. After a day of epic paddleboarding at one of the best places, visitors can soothe sore muscles in exclusive ladies’ and gentleman’s lounge areas consisting of a sauna, steam room and whirlpool.
Photo by Khairil Azhar Junos / Shutterstock
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THE ATLANTIC HOTEL & SPA | Fort Lauderdale, FL
Paddleboarding options are plentiful in gorgeous Fort Lauderdale. When guests stay at the impressive Atlantic Hotel & Spa, they can access the sandy ocean beach across from the resort and the famous Hugh Taylor Birch Park is just nearby. Visitors to the peaceful park can see beautiful local flora and fauna while hiking along a well-maintained trail or opt for paddling out to the mile-long freshwater lagoon. At the end of an active day, the Atlantic Hotel & Spa’s guests can wash beach sand off in the establishment’s large marble bathrooms to round out their elegant stay.
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While on this tranquil journey, visitors may get a sneak peek at dolphins, turtles and sturgeon fish.
Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort
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OUTRIGGER KONOTTA MALDIVES RESORT | Huvadhoo Atoll, Maldives
When visiting the Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort in Huvadhoo Atoll, Maldives, guests get the thrilling opportunity to paddleboard along a stunning barrier reef. While on this tranquil journey, visitors may get a sneak peek at dolphins, turtles and sturgeon fish. The resort’s spa includes an indoor swimming pool, relaxation lounges, a hydrotherapy facility and signature therapies for all its guests’ relaxation and rejuvenation needs. After paddleboarding at one of the best places in the world, indulge in their Maldivian Romantic Journey treatment that consists of a floral foot ritual, a coconut scrub, a coconut wrap, a balancing milky bath and refreshment.
Abaco Beach Resort
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ABACO BEACH RESORT | Great Abaco Island, Bahamas
With calm, clear water, Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas is a wonderful location to paddleboard at. As travelers skim over the magnificent blue-green ocean, they’re often treated with glimpses of colorful reef, sea turtles, and parrotfish. To make their trip to this sought-after location even more special, visitors should consider staying at the Abaco Beach Resort. The resort’s Bedroom Deluxe Penthouse Residences boasts high ceilings, porcelain floors, granite countertops, large bathrooms, elevators, and fabulous views of one of the most beautiful places to travel to.
Sundial Boutique Hotel
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SUNDIAL BOUTIQUE HOTEL | Whistler, BC, Canada
In the cold-weather months, travelers clamor to the resort town of Whistler in Canada’s beautiful British Columbia to ski. However, after the snow melts on the ski slopes, visitors to this scenic location can try their hand at paddleboarding. Pristine blue lakes such as Alpha Lake and Alta Lake are great spots for SUP. Visitors to this Canadian hideaway can stay at the Sundial Boutique Hotel, which boasts a relaxing rooftop hot tub. Besides rewarding guests with splendid views, its spacious suites come equipped with gas fireplaces and gourmet kitchens. But, guests to the hotel need not worry about having to cook as the resort consists of three on-site restaurants worth indulging in after a long day on the water.