The sister duo behind Family Tide Rentals had their big eureka moment just by watching their kids play in the water—or run away from it, rather. When they saw the look of delight on their children's faces quickly transform into shivering expressions of pain after setting foot in freezing Lake Huron, they decided to find an out-of-the-box solution that would allow for accessible fun on the water no matter what the thermostat says. So they got to work brainstorming and traveling the world, eventually discovering a product that what would become the foundation for their rental business: Hydrobikes.

Combining the sturdy buoyancy of a boat with the comfort and maneuverability of a sit-down bike, these unique water crafts allow riders of any age to pedal their way across the lake's water at nice-and-easy speeds of up to 12.9 km per hour. And since they're designed to keep anyone on the seat relatively dry, riders can traverse the waves in anything from their bathing suits to their black-tie attire. Their sturdiness in water also makes Hydrobikes great for near-shore fishing, as well as for getting an effective non-traditional workout. In fact, studies from the University of Massachusetts showed that water cycling burns 8% more calories than outdoor road biking—just another reason to hit the lake, temperature be darned.