DAYTON, Ohio -- Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season. Every year people flock to the water for a variety of water activities. This year many of those people will be kayaking.

More people than ever are strapping on the life jacket and paddling through Ohio’s waterways on kayaks and canoes.

“I don’t have the figures on it but I know that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has seen more canoe and kayak registrations than ever before,” said Tom Helbig, special events coordinator for the Five Rivers MetroParks.

Kayaking is a relatively inexpensive activity people can do close to home.

“We have four good rivers to paddle; The Great Miami, the Stillwater, the Mad River, Twin Creek,” said Helbig. “There’s beautiful scenery. You can fish or picnic on your way down the river.”

People don’t have to have their own kayaks. They can rent them from a number of different liveries along the rivers.

Whitewater Warehouse at 104 Valley St. in Dayton sells and rents kayaks. People can rent them for $15 a day per person, or $40 a weekend. Call 937-222-7020 or visit www.kayakdayton.com for more information.

The Fiver Rivers MetroParks also have a variety of kayaking and canoeing activities. Visit www.metroparks.org to learn more.