Discover Boating and Bond With Your Family! #DiscoverBoating

Guess which Florida gal is a brand new ambassador for Discover Boating? Me!

While Chris and I don't own our own boat, that has never stopped us from enjoying the high seas! Between my dad, Chris's friend down the street and our neighbor all having boats, there seems to be an endless supply of invitations to go out on the boat on hot summer days. Our long, hot summer days in Miami present so many opportunities to go outside, connect with our friends and loved ones and create priceless memories with the entire family on the water.

According to a 2012 Discover Boating survey, 58% of Americans surveyed said that boating is a great way to bond with family. I totally agree with that! Not only is boating a great way to bond with your kids, but it presents a wonderful opportunity for your children to bond with nature.

Getting your kids out on the water, learning about sea life - or lake life if you're not near the ocean! - is a wonderful way to instill in your children an appreciation for mother nature. Not to mention all of the fun activities your kids can enjoy out on the water: fishing, riding jet skis, swimming, water skiing, the possibilities are endless. And technology-less. That's right; get your kids out on the water and they're forced to leave their cell phones, iPhones and iPads behind!

Whether it's going out fishing in Key Largo, or heading to the sandbar with our fun neighbors, there's no better way to enjoy a summer day in Miami than on the boat!

Of course, we don't just hang out on the boat at home here in Miami! It seems that we're drawn to the water no matter where we are - even on vacation in upstate New York!

For those of you who have never been out boating, DiscoverBoating.com is a fantastic online resource to explore the enjoyment and accessibility of the boating lifestyle.

DiscoverBoating.com is packed with easy, interactive features that you can use to familiarize yourself with all aspects of life on the water, complete with a boat selector guide, cost comparison tool, renting options, favorite boating destinations and links to education courses.

There's even nautical lingo and how-to videos to look through so that you're an old pro for your first time on the water!

Discover Boating is a nonprofit program supported by the U.S. recreational boating industry, created with the sole purpose of helping people get on the water to experience the fun of boating! According to the National Marine Manufacturer's Association, over 88 million people went boating in 2012, so you can imagine how fun and exciting boating is. Down here in Miami, we have a popular bumper sticker that reads SALT LIFE. Going out on the water isn't just something we do, it really is a way of life!

Are you a water bug too? Do you have photos of fun times out on the water with your dad or grandpa? If so, you  can submit your best boating photos with your dad in the Discover Boating June Facebook Photo Contest!

The best photo will win a Visa gift card, and you can enter at facebook.com/discoverboating!