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Sea Kayaking Virginia

By Andrea J. Nolan. 311 pages. Veteran paddling guide Andrea Nolan offers her favorite routes, island sweet spots, and paddling insights in this indispensable guidebook. Gleaned from years of experience on open water and intimate tributaries, coverage spans the length of Virginia's coastal plain, including the Chesapeake Bay's tidal tributaries, the eastern shore, and the blackwater cypress swamps of the south.

Route descriptions take you beyond the access points and paddling notes to include estuarine ecology, social and natural history; and sidebars that cover a variety of topics from gear to wildlife sightings to local highlights.

Kayakers of all levels, from greenhorns to old salts, will appreciate the depth of information, including geographical, wind, weather, tidal, and safety issues. A brief introduction to other area trips effectively doubles the number of trip locations to pursue.