A couple of decades ago there were two to three models of Kayaks available. Don"t be surprised if today you go in the market to find 50 different ultra specialized Kayaks.

The obvious first question is what type of kayaking will you do? Basically there is river, lake, and sea kayaking. River kayaks are very short and tough boats meant for maneuverability and the abuse of whitewater rapids. Sea kayaks are sleek and light and are designed for cruising. Then there are general kayaks that can be used on sea lakes.

There are three basic types of kayaks as far as structure and materials are concerned.

Rigid kayaks are made of plastic, wood or carbon fiber. These are usually the most affordable and are they are the most popular too. Plastic boats are tough and reliable but once damaged can be very difficult to repair. Fiberglass boats are more expensive than plastic but damage is easily repaired, they are also quite light.

For kayak enthusiasts who appreciate aesthetics and beauty, you might want to look at some wooden boats; they are carefully crafted and very beautiful kayaks. There are kits available for folks who are prepared to build their own.

A folding kayak is usually made of wood or aluminum. Their prices are usually high, but they tend to last longer, and are also quite easy to store.

Inflatable boats provide good portability and storage space. They are generally the least expensive kayaks you can buy. Kayak enthusiasts for whom storage and transportation is a major issue will find a good option in these boats.

Another choice to ponder is whether to choose a single-passenger or double-passenger kayak. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. For a fun family adventure, the double kayak is perfect. It is fast and stable but lacks the maneuverability of a single Kayak.

After deciding on the style of kayak you want to purchase, price becomes a big factor in determining exactly which model to buy. A basic entry-level plastic kayak can be found for as low as $250. Fiberglass boats can cost from anywhere around $900 to $2500. Other plastic models can run as high as $1700. If you want to go for the more exotic kayaks they would cost you a little more. Inflatable boats start at about $125 and go up to about $2000. Folding boats have a huge Price variation, in them and they can cost anywhere between $1500 to $5000.

Jake Blackman at http://www-kayaks.info gives you the inside scoop on kayaking. You"ll learn what makes a good kayak and how to prepare for a kayaking trip, and much more.

To any sports fan, a hall of fame is the quintessential celebration of a sport and tribute to the athletes who participate in that sport. Many a sports fan will make pilgrimages to the hall of fame of their favorite sport to "soak up" the history and traditions of that sport.

In North America there are over thirty halls of fame to various sports and sporting events. As one would expect, these include halls dedicated to the major sports such as baseball, basketball, hockey, and football (here "major" refers to those sports that attract the largest fan base in North America). Also included in this number are halls that pay tribute to sports such as bowling, cycling, fishing, gymnastics, lacrosse, motor sports, skating, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, trapshooting, volleyball, wrestling, and even snowmobiling.

In addition, there are numerous other state or college specific halls of fame, as well as online or virtual halls of fame.

There are seventeen states that host at least one hall of fame. There are three halls of fame in Canada, all of which are in Ontario. The most famous Canadian hall of fame is the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum in Toronto. Some interesting hall of fame statistics include:

• New York is the state with the most halls of fame, with five, including the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum in Oneonta, and the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in New York City.
• There are four states that host three halls of fame. These are:
• Colorado with the Colorado Ski Museum/Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in Vail, the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in Crested Butte, and the World Skating Museum and Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs
• Florida with the International Game Fishing Association Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Dania Beach, the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Ft. Lauderdale, and the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine.
• Ohio with the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and the Trapshooting Hall of Fame in Vandalia.
• Oklahoma with the Amateur Softball Association of America: Hall of Fame and Museum in Oklahoma City, the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater.
• Oklahoma City is the only city with more than one hall of fame.
• Three other states, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Wisconsin have two halls of fame.
• The sport with the most halls of fame dedicated to it is motor sports with five, the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame & Museum, the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and Museum, and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum.
• Football (American Football) has three halls of fame dedicated to it, and baseball, basketball, cycling, fishing, horse racing, hockey, and skiing each have two.

The halls of fame for the major North American spectator sports include:

• The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York
• The Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts
• The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio
• The World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida
• The Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum in Oneonta, New York
• The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island

Rob Pirozzi is a contract writer for CityTownInfo.com. CityTownInfo is a quick reference web site that provides statistics and indexes on thousands of cities and towns across the US, as well as articles, comments from local residents, and more. The web site may be found at: http://www.citytowninfo.com.