Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni Overlooking Lake Como, Italy

Is there anything more mesmerizing than the shimmering blues of a beautiful waterway, be it pool, lake, river, canal, estuary, or sea? We can’t resist the beauty of these watery venues—and have traveled far and wide to capture them in words and images. Here are a few of our favorites.

Old Town Bridge in Lake Lucerne, Switzerland

If the Grimm brothers were still writing their legendary fairytales, they would certainly pen a tale or two about old town Lucerne, Switzerland. Here, the world-famous timber Chapel Bridge and Water tower still link the Lucerne Theatre on the south bank of the River Reuss with St. Peter’s Chapel on Rathausquai. Renward Cysat (1545–1614), spent years studying the history of both ancient Switzerland and Christendom and formulating a concept for the pictorial decorations that adorn the bridge sections. Many were destroyed over the centuries but duplicates now exist to delight tourists and locals alike. We saw live theatre here one summer—sublime.

Ballooning over the Loire River in Western France’s Loire, the Valley of the Kings

We could not resist the regal Loire River west of Paris that wends through the luscious valley beloved by kings and queens, which is now colloquially known as the “Garden of France.” Hot air ballooning is a terrific way to view the castles as well as the shimmering currents of the beguiling Loire.

Washington DC Tidal Basin on a cloudy May day

The Washington DC USA tidal basin is a pretty venue for wandering with the family along cherry-tree lined pathways with the famous landmarks of Washington DC in the distance. Among them are the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument.

Who could resist surfboard yoga in the ultramarine Pacific Ocean off Big Island Hawaii? Not a single one of these lovelies lost their balance during Half Moon, Cobra, or Upward Facing Dog poses at 7 am each morning. Much later the tourists came to slather on suntan lotion and imbibe umbrella drinks till sunset. Then, local fisherman came to cast their nets—no poles—and hauled in wonderful catch they took home to fry for dinner.

Sunset at Australia’s Sydney Harbour with the famous Sydney Opera House in the foreground

We spent three weeks traversing the seas around Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. There is nothing like these waterways within a few thousand miles of Antarctica. Here, the seasons are opposite so they are surfing in bikinis at Christmas time and bundled up for frosty nights in our summer. Water sports are plentiful and everywhere locals have a welcoming smile and a “g’day mate” to offer visitors.

New Zealand is a land where you can find everything from untamed wilderness to quirky culture—even Hobbits! There are towering mountains, undulating seas, mist-cloaked fjords, golden beaches, and verdant vineyards. New friends in small towns with big doses of laid-back charm welcome visitors from all over the globe—and are so pleased to be the backdrop of stellar photography—and wine tasting.

Skulling on the Cam River in Cambridge, England with Mama and Papa Swan with their family of cygnets (babies)

Finally, let’s not forget the quieter water venues like the lovely Cam River near college-town Cambridge where daily we’d find skullers and punters gliding along this pretty English river, while the swans, ducks, and geese slid by, nonplussed.