It's that time of year again. The days are getting shorter. The weather is getting colder. The kids are back in school. Though some of us may have a few weeks left out on the water, the end of the boating season is within sight.

It's the perfect time to plan a vacation.

Rather than riding out the winter by reading boating magazines and working on minor projects, why not go someplace else and actually get wet. An enterprising captain can find all sorts of adventures that provide time on the water. And make no mistakes: it is nice to ride on someone else's boat for awhile. When these trips are done, you get off the boat without a look back. No maintenance. No hassles.

It is with this in mind that we offer our seven-day series: Take a Vacation From Your Boat. For the next week, we will offer seven stories that detail water-based adventures all over the globe, from sailing in the Greek islands to steaming up Brazil's Rio Negro. The series is not so much a recommendation to visit these specific places. Rather, it is meant to offer inspiration to those who might want to try something new.

While they are certainly exotic, not all of these vacations need be expensive. Many can be done on a modest budget if you start planning early - and that means now. Doing research in advance gives you time to shop for bargains, secure theright amount of time off and prepare properly for the experience. When you do find the right destination and price, you can lock it in early and have something to look forward to as the days grow colder.