Hingham Harbor is the best place to discover paddling or explore some of the Boston Harbor Islands: this area is protected from the ocean by the Hull Peninsula, making it safe for beginners, and yet offers access to enough islands to make you feel you are an eighteenth century explorer.

The Hingham EMS store where you will rent your kayak is about two miles from the Hingham harbor, so that kayaking there is no hassle: just stop at the EMS store on your way down, strap your kayak on the roof (EMS provides the gear), and unload at the Hingham harbor: the beach will be yards away from your car.

Once in the water, you can paddle north to the islands you see dotting the exit of the harbor. The one directly facing you, Button Island, is too small to be worth stopping there.

The first island where you can stop is Sarah: this is at the extreme right of the group: there is a small, narrow beach on its east side. You can also paddle an extra 100 yards north and land at Langlee, which offers a crescent-shaped beach directly facing you. From there, you can cross the Hingham main channel (watch boat traffic) to land on the other side of the harbor at World's End. To get there, paddle northeast to a large rock near the shore. Follow the shore north to reach a small cove. This is the narrowest point of World's End, a landscaped park managed by the Trustees of Reservations: if you land there, you have only a trail to cross to see the Hull peninsula on the other side of the Reservation (since a fee is normally charged for land access to World's End, please land only briefly here).

From this point, you can either continue north and paddle around the tip of World's end, or paddle back to the islands and Crow Point, the marina behind them. You can also try to go to the two islands that appear even further back on the western horizon, Slate and Grape. Note however that they are much farther than they seem. Muscles may start to ache on the way up or back, leaving you in the middle of Hingham Bay with little or no energy left to come back.

Allow about 3 hours for a leisure tour of Sarah, Langlee and World's End, and some exploration on the shore.

Please note that EMS rent kayak without their spray skirts: You should therefore remain in protected waters and/or be able to perform a wet exit. If this is your first time on the water, you have two options:

1. Rent a sit-on-top kayak with open cockpit: rental available at Charles River Canoe & Kayak in Newton: $72 per kayak per day with PFD and gear to strap kayaks on your roof. They do not have many of them, so call in advance to reserve for off-site rental at (617) 965-5110. Open daily April 1–Oct. 31: weekdays 10 am–sunset, weekends 7 holidays 9 am – sunset. See directions below.

2. Learn the basics of sea kayaking first at EMS Kayaking School, also located at Hingham. Call for information at 800-310-4504 or check kayak-ems.com. EMS operates various including a 3 hour-class introduction to coastal kayak touring.

Our suggestion is to rent your canoe for two or three hours – long enough to fully enjoy the experience, and short enough to avoid cramps and pain in the hands and arms.

(Picture courtesy of Charles River Canoe and Kayak)