Row, row, row your bod

Photo: Joe Wigdahl

Kayaking Chicago River Canoe & Kayak’s (773-252-3307) four-week-long cardio kayak class kicks off at the beginning of each month now through August. As many as 18 newbies and seasoned kayakers (mostly ladies in their twenties and thirties) paddle up and down the river, gleaning tips on technique from accompanying instructors while taking in glimpses of turtles and beavers and logging an upper-body workout. Launches from Skokie Channel (3220 Oakton St) take place Thursday evenings from 7–8:30pm and Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10–11:30am; city dwellers can launch from the North Side (3400 N Rockwell St) Monday through Thursday evenings from 7–8:30pm. First-timers pay $80; returning participants fork over a $50 one-time fee or $15 per class (just call to reserve a boat ahead of time).

Rowing Join the Chicago River Rowing and Paddling Center by purchasing a package of five one-hour learn-to-row lessons for $150 between the hours of 5:15–8:15am on weekdays and 6–9am on weekends. If the lagoon suits you just fine, sign up for the Lincoln Park Boat Club’s lessons (2341 N Cannon Dr, 866-675-2917), which include nine sessions of training on water and land. The $195 fee includes a class manual, use of equipment and 18 hours of instruction. The next session starts July 13 and runs Monday and Wednesday from 6:30–8:30pm and Saturday at 9am or Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30–8:30pm and Saturday at 11am.

Biking Take in the scenery—birds, parks and bridges—by two-wheeling your way along the North Shore Channel trail. Pick it up at Lawrence Avenue in Albany Park and ride less than ten miles north to Evanston along the paved terrain.

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