Part of the sport’s popularity comes from the fact that, unlike surfing, you can do stand-up paddle boarding nearly anywhere: Rivers, lakes, or oceans all make suitable grounds for “SUP,” the acronym by which the sport has become known. But as fall gives way to winter and the Charles River turns icy, it’s tempting to find a more hospitable climate for paddling. Here are five experts’ picks on the best places to stand-up paddle.

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  Photograph by Dana Edmunds

  Part of the sport’s popularity comes from the fact that, unlike surfing, you can do it nearly anywhere: Rivers, lakes, and oceans all make suitable grounds for “SUP,” the acronym by which the sport has become known. But as fall gives way to winter and the Charles turns icy, it’s tempting to find a more hospitable climate for paddling. Here are five experts’ picks on the best places to stand-up paddle.
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  Photograph by Dana Edmunds

  Several prime spots for stand-up paddle boarding can be found on Oahu, the third largest Hawaiian island.
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  photograph by Philip Shearer

  Big Blue unlimited offers stand-up paddle boarding lessons on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
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  photograph from Hotel CINCO

  Champion surfer Gerry Lopez shows a more advanced move in Punta Mita, Mexico.
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  photograph by Shelly Swanger

  Consider the area west of Panama City, Florida. (Sorry, boys, but you’ll need shorter paddles.)
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  photograph from Hotel del Coronado

  The Hotel Del Coronado has prime waterfront. “San Diego has some of the best water to paddle in California. There are three main flat-water spots: San Diego Bay, Mission Bay, and Carlsbad Lagoon — and then, obviously, you have the open Pacific Ocean,’’ says Brody Welte, a longtime waterman, a certified personal trainer, and the founder of Stand Up Fitness, a San Diego business that teaches people to incorporate stand-up paddling into a full-body workout.