Beware of calving glaciers in the West Arm.
U.S. National Park Service

Sea kayaking and canoeing may not bring the same adrenaline rush as a whitewater run, but the potential for jaw-dropping expeditions is still there.

In fact, when you have a little more time to take in the view -- and the luxury of resting your arms for a few moments -- certain areas of the country seem like they were made for cruising with a paddle.

Here are five spots we wouldn't mind paddling over and over.

THE WEST ARM, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

On our more pessimistic days, we'd suggest making this trip just to see glaciers before they all melt. But Glacier Bay is in good shape -- in fact, the Johns Hopkins Glacier is one of the few rivers of ice that's advancing, not retreating.

While the views are beautiful, the adrenaline quotient is relatively high. That's what happens when you've got icebergs bobbing around you, and the booming crackle of calving glaciers. So keep at least one eye on your route as you're checking out the Fairweather Mountain Range looming overhead.

Bartlett Cove is a great place to start, especially if you don't want to haul your own kayak from home. Glacier Bay Sea Kayaks rents them for $35 a day.

Russell Island and Composite Island are good camping spots, allowing you to keep a leisurely pace instead of trying to cover too much in one day. Just make sure to pick up a backcountry permit at the park office in Bartlett Cove -- they're free for the taking.

PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE, Lake Superior, Michigan

This trip ranks so high not only due to the beauty of the brightly colored 200-foot cliffs, but because the best way to view these cliffs is from a kayak. For 15 breathtaking miles, you can check out what 500 million years of seeping freshwater can do to a rock face.

The Hiawatha Water Trail encompasses this entire stretch, and with plenty of backcountry campsites and put-ins, you can make it a multi-day trip. You don't have to be a geologist to realize how special this area is.

CEDAR CREEK CANOE TRAIL, Congaree National Park, South Carolina

Who knew a swamp could be so attractive? You can get a gator's-eye view of some of the nation's oldest trees and take in the eerie silence of the newest national park in the Eastern U.S.

The trail from Bannisters Bridge to State Route 601 is 16 miles, but it's easy to believe you've traveled back in time when you're in the thick of this trip.

If you want to canoe this stretch instead of kayak, Adventure Carolina in the town of Cayce rents canoes for $30 a day.

CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK, California

If you love animals, this destination should probably be ranked number one. The islands of Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara are home to animal species found nowhere else on earth. They're also home to the largest breeding colonies of seabirds in southern California.

Santa Cruz Island alone has more than 100 sea caves on its north side, including a 1,200 foot-long monster considered to be the world's largest. And, of course, the best way to explore them is with a sea kayak.

At times this stretch of ocean can feel like a marine animal highway, as migrating whales and schools of fish pass through on their way to less crowded destinations. But don't skimp on cold-weather gear; this slice of SoCal has a decidedly cooler climate than many visitors expect.

OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC WATERWAYS, Missouri

Yeah, okay, it's a river expedition -- but whitewater it ain't. These calm waterways are fed by southern Missouri's limestone-filtered springs, making for some of the clearest water you'll ever dip a paddle into.

Overhead, you can check out the bluffs lining the Jacks Fork river and Current River. There are more than 130 miles of river routes to choose from, so check out a map at www.nps.gov/ozar and plan your trip. Just don't expect to shoot many rapids along the way.