The annual Progressive Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow kicks off each year at the Kentucky Exposition Center around the end of January, but you don’t have to wait until then to get into the boating spirit or enjoy the best boating lakes in Kentucky. They’re open all year round, with plenty of fun to offer boaters of all kinds.

If you own a boat (or have access long-term boat rentals), consider planning a mini-vacation on-demand or an extended weekend aboard, which can include the best of safe social distancing. It may be slightly different and it may take a bit more planning, but a boating break may be just what you need right now. Review the following, make a plan and then have a great weekend getaway on the water.

Whether you’re headed to the lake for a long weekend of boating fun, or you’re launching your boat for an offshore fishing adventure—whatever the case may be, it can be hard when Mother Nature is uncooperative. Picture this: You wake up in the morning ready to run to your boat after a tough week of work, only to find the weather has changed. The sunny skies the weatherman promised a few days ago are replaced with gloomy clouds. So much for a perfect boating day, right? Well, actually, all is not necessarily lost.

We would argue that there’s never a bad time to buy a boat, but right now might be a particularly good time to get out on the water. As we all adjust to a new lifestyle that may include social distancing, a great way to get out into the world in a safe and responsible way is with a family boat. Don’t believe us? Here are five reasons now is a great time to buy a boat (or rent a boat) and get out on the water.

If you just bought a new boat or you’re thinking about buying one for the first time, or if you’re renting a boat for the day or tagging along on a friend’s boat, we have some good news for you: on top of being flat-out fun, research has proven that boating is good for your health and mind. But like any new experience, someone who’s not an experienced boater may have a bit of anxiety over casting off the lines for the first time. Never fear, dear new-to-boating boater—we’re here to help.

Remember the old rhyme “no more pencils, no more books, no more teacher’s dirty looks”? It brings back fond memories of flying out the school doors and flinging our backpacks into the corner, forgotten until summer’s end. Now that we’re grown up, we know ongoing learning is not only good, but also enjoyable.

Governors in all 50 states have declared boating a safe social distancing activity—and this is music to the ears of legions of boaters. Ordinarily, there’s nothing like enjoying the fresh air and calming influence of the water. And it’s even more important now. Still, though, there are certain precautions to keep in mind—and you can learn more in our guide, Boating During COVID-19: Tips for Safe Social Distancing.

Two of the most popular boat styles—the pontoon boat and the bowrider—would seem to have very little in common. One is aluminum, the other fiberglass. One is shaped like a floating patio, while the other is shaped like, well, a boat.

Boating has always been about community—the common bonds and shared experiences that create a sense of fellowship for those of us who enjoy spending time on the water.

Our Boat Loan Calculator makes it easy to figure out just how much boat you can afford, and our Boat Finder will help you narrow the field to a particular type of boat. But it can be much more difficult to identify the specific models that fit both your budget and your desires.