Spring signals a fresh start on the water, and across the coastlines of the U.S., the Bahamas, and the Caribbean, 2026 is shaping up to be a season packed with momentum. From new rooftop dining in Deerfield Beach and milestone seafood festivals on Amelia Island to major in-water boat shows on the Chesapeake Bay and Lake Erie, waterfront communities are welcoming boaters back in style. Add in a star-powered food and wine festival in Nassau and an iconic open-water swim between Nevis and St. Kitts, and there’s no shortage of reasons to plot a course for adventure this spring.
- Deerfield Beach’s First Rooftop Bar
- Lucky Lou’s Raw Bar
- Apparel Launch During PBIBS 2026
- 10th Annual Fish to Fork
- Bay Bridge Boat Show 2026
- Catawba Island Boat Show 2026
- Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival
- Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim 2026
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South Florida Travel & Dining News March 2026
Deerfield Beach’s First Rooftop Bar Debuts Near the Fishing Pier
Deerfield Beach is having a moment, thanks to breezy new restaurants and its first rooftop bar, The Break House Kitchen + Beach Bar. The vibe: Come as you are, from the beach or boat. Situated next to the newly revamped Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier, you’ll find three distinct concepts under one roof: a counter-service restaurant, a grab-and-go cafe, and a rooftop bar with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. The all-day menus are guided by James Beard–nominated Dean Max. Look for sweet or savory toasts at breakfast, share the Ginger Glow Guac, and dive into one of their bowls with tuna poke or butter chicken. Favorite sips with tropical vibes are the Pomegranate Martini and Beachy Lychee. thebreakhouse.com
Lucky Lou’s Raw Bar Brings Floribbean Flavor to Deerfield Beach
Another laid-back new opening in Deerfield Beach one block from the Pier is Lucky Lou’s Raw Bar. (Your best bet is to dock at nearby The Cove Marina.) The tide-to-table restaurant is helmed by Executive Chef Amanda Currie of Hell’s Kitchen Season 23, who flexes with her signature Floribbean flair. Oysters are served 10 ways, and top dishes include the Dirty Grouper Reuben made with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, slaw and Thousand Island dressing, the Seafood Fra Diavolo, and steaks and salads for non-seafood lovers. Don’t miss their Oyster Happy Hour to snag $1 oysters (weekdays 4-7 p.m. and 11 p.m. to midnight) and enjoy live music on the covered patio starting at 6 p.m. luckylousrawbar.com
Palm Beach Marina Launches Branded Apparel During PBIBS 2026
Pick up some branded seaside style at Palm Beach Marina. From the popular Apple TV show Palm Royale to its luxurious yachting scene that includes the Palm Beach International Boat Show (PBIBS) happening March 25-29, 2026, Palm Beach basks in the national spotlight. For boaters looking to make a fashion statement, the Town of Palm Beach Marina, a public marina welcoming vessels up to 295 feet, now offers its own branded apparel and accessories. Slip into relaxed tees, stash sunscreen in an eco-tote, or sip your morning coffee from a mug, all featuring hand-drawn illustrations of the iconic Palm Beach Clock Tower, the marina’s geometric docks, a burgee flag with banyan trees and a superyacht in full sail, and the iconic Hippocampus inspired by renowned architect Addison Mizner’s 1929 seahorse sculptures. shop.townofpalmbeachmarina.com
10th Annual Fish to Fork at Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa
Fish to Fork returns to Amelia Island with fan-favorite chefs and coastal flair. The newly renovated Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa is reeling guests back in with its signature dock-to-dish celebration: the 10th Annual Fish to Fork, returning April 16-19, 2026. Expect a dash of delicious nostalgia at the milestone event as popular chefs return to cook and compete, including Carlos Raba of the popular taqueria Clavel in Baltimore, Kevin Tien of Moon Rabbit in Washington, D.C., Samuel-Drake Jones of Hudson Local and Hudson Vu in New York City, and Shuai Wang of King BBQ and Jackrabbit Filly in Charleston. Book an overnight package to take part in events like the chef’s fishing excursion—which launches from the Fernandina Harbor Marina, less than 10 miles from the resort—and intimate dinners with competing chefs. Or snag a ticket to the main event on April 18, where chefs will compete in challenges for guests’ votes. Between bites, explore the resort’s sprawling 1,300-plus acres, home to the largest pool deck in northeast Florida, dramatically set along the Atlantic Ocean. omnihotels.com/hotels/amelia-island/things-to-do/fish-to-fork
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Mid-Atlantic Boating Season Kickoff
Bay Bridge Boat Show 2026 at Safe Harbor Narrows Point
Get ahead and plan a jaunt to the Bay Bridge Boat Show. Temperatures are inching upward, and the Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point in Grasonville, Maryland, April 17-19, marks the official start of the spring boating season on the Chesapeake Bay. With a scenic waterfront setting, the showcase produced by Annapolis Boat Shows flaunts hundreds of fishing boats, pontoons and luxury cruisers, marine gear, accessories, and services. Climb aboard the boats at the docks, and enjoy waterfront dining and a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere. annapolisboatshows.com
Midwest In-Water Yacht Shows
Catawba Island Boat Show 2026 at Catawba Island Club
Your maritime pursuits start here at Catawba Island. Catawba Island Boat Show, Ohio’s premier in-water yacht show held at the prestigious Catawba Island Club in Port Clinton, April 24-26, 2026, is sure to deliver major boat envy. Peruse an impressive and diverse array of more than 135 luxury yachts and tech from over 75 vendors. And in true boating fashion, there will be live music on the Shores & Islands stage, local eats (like The Boardwalk of Put-in-Bay’s famous lobster bisque), and family-friendly activities. catawbaislandboatshow.com
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Bahamas Food & Wine Festivals
Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival at Atlantis Paradise Island
Enjoy five days of world-class chefs, flowing pours, and island indulgence. Drinking copious amounts of wine and cocktails and devouring bites from world-class chefs in the stunning setting of the Bahamas? Yes, please. The second Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival takes over the Atlantis Paradise Island resort March 11-15, 2026. More than 30 events will take place over five days, including top draws like Tacos & Tequila, a late-night fiesta with top chefs Michael Symon and Aaron Sanchez, a luxury fishing charter with Tom Colicchio, a seafood social with Rachael Ray, and the Taste of Paradise, where top chefs from the islands will whip up beachside bites. atlantisbahamas.com/wine-and-food-festival
Caribbean Swimming Race
Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim 2026
Watch an epic swim between two Caribbean island beauties. On the tiny island paradise of Nevis—where sea turtles often soar through the blue-green waters and tiny monkeys leap from trees against a palm-fringed backdrop framing Nevis Peak—spectators are invited to watch the annual Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim endurance event on March 28, 2026. The iconic open-water event spans the 2.5-mile Narrows between the two stunning islands; and this year, Alice Dearing, the first Black woman to represent Great Britain in Olympic swimming, will take part in the epic swim. “I love swims that feel like a real journey, and it doesn’t get more special than crossing between two islands in a place as beautiful as Nevis and St. Kitts,” Dearing says. “Warm water, incredible scenery, and that sense of adventure are what open-water swimming is all about.”
Spectators can view the start of the race from Oualie Bay on Nevis and catch the finish at Reggae Beach on St. Kitts. Spectator boats are available for rent through various water-taxi and charter companies across both islands, including Islander Water Taxi, Paradise Sun Nevis, and Blu Waves Water Taxi & Charters.
A vacation on the lush Nevis means hiking to a waterfall or traversing the volcanic Nevis Peak, lounging on the famous Pinney’s Beach, snorkeling and diving, and soaking in natural hot springs. Superyachts flock to the full-service marina at Christophe Harbour in St. Kitts, where a marina village is underway. nevistostkittscrosschannelswim.com
By Angela Caraway-Carlton
