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You better hold on tight, because you’re in for a rush of a ride on Virginia’s waters. Being home to the Chesapeake Bay, the Dismal Swamp, and bordering the Atlantic Ocean, makes Virginia one of the best spots to ride your jet ski (or rent one!) To catch some waves, speed, and potentially some air, visit these five exciting jet skiing spots in Virginia!
Smith Mountain Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in Virginia, and a water recreation favorite. Permitted watersports include swimming, motor boating, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, parasailing, paddleboarding, fishing, water skiing, and jet skiing. You can rent jet skis at the nearby Bridgewater Marina.
Lake Gaston boasts 350 miles of shoreline and over 20,000 acres of waterways. It straddles the border between North Carolina and Virginia, and is a popular water sport destination. Visitors can expect to see swimmers, motor boaters, sailors, anglers, water skiers, paddlers, kayakers and jet skiers enjoying the serene locale.
Lake Anna State Park is totally family friendly, and is one of Virginia’s most popular lakes for children and the disabled. The lake sits on 200 miles of shoreline and covers 13,000 acres of water. It is a year-round fishing destination, and jet skiers can expect to share the water with swimmers, boats, sailors, water skiers, and paddleboarders.
Claytor Lake State Park is a 4,500-acre lake, popular with families and among sport anglers. Nearby, the historic Howe House educates visitors as to the ecology of the lake. Jet skiers can expect to find lots of fishermen, swimmers, motor boaters, canoers, paddleboarders, water skiers, and sailors, in addition to other jet skiers. Rent your het ski at Claytor Lake Water Sports, and consider booking a tour with Greasy Creek Outfitters.
The Virginia Beach Oceanfront is one of the heaviest-visited areas on the East Coast during warmer months, but Rudee Inlet is the perfect encapsulation of everything Virginia Beach has to offer. The official Virginia Beach website describes Rudee Inlet as thus: “A tourist and local’s favorite, Rudee Inlet is a great place to meander around the docks and watch the fishing and sport boats coming and going.” Rudee Inlet offers fishing charters, boat rentals, parasailing and paddleboarding, as well as jet ski rentals. Enjoy the harbor as you zip around on the back of a new jet ski.