Sandcastles. Cotton candy on the boardwalk. Flying a kite as you ran down the shoreline. Asking five thousand times, “are we there yet?” Who could forget your parents telling you to watch out for the undertow? And how about when you got closer to the beach, smelling that ocean breeze for the first time since the summer before? Paddling down a river or taking a ride in someone's boat on a pristine lake. There are so many reasons to love water-related vacations, and as many options to choose from. If you have a water destination like a major river or ocean in your backyard or at least within drive time, which is typically five hours or less, you probably already have a favorite place to enjoy water activities. But if not, there are several worth traveling to — whether it takes a couple of days to drive there, or even if you have to fly.