It's more stable. Canoes are a little tipsier, but they go faster, and your kids can help paddle. If you live anywhere near a free flowing river, there's probably a canoeing or rafting outfitter in your area. A professional guide will provide transportation, equipment and instructions. You bring your sense of adventure.
Trips can range from a few hours to a few weeks.
You'll need to ask about age limits, because these trips are too rough for very young children. Tubing down a slow-flowing river is another ideal way to while away a summer afternoon. Then we drove a few miles upstream, hopped in our tubes, and floated down to our bikes. When we got there, we swapped the tubes for the bikes and rode back up to the car. Even on a hot summer day, hypothermia is something that experienced boaters always think about.