Resources

What are the most popular summer activities in America? According to a 2016 survey conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association, the top three are: having a picnic or barbecue, going for a walk or hike, and going to the beach. Hiking to the beach for a barbecue makes for a damn fine summer day, we think. To which we’d like to add: trail running, mountain biking, bouldering, and body surfing, too. More at narpa.org

Building a raft can be made as simple or as complicated as you like, though we’d lean toward the simple. Some foam pontoons, wood crossbeams, and a place to sit are the basics. From there, it’s up to you. The Connecticut River Race, an annual event, publishes a comprehensive guide to homemade raft building. ctriverraftrace.org

Leath Tonino is a frequent contributor to Adventure Journal and is at home wherever the internet cannot reach—though mostly he’s in