Category: U.S. Atlantic

Find upcoming events from Maine to Florida, along with detailed destination reviews of major hubs and lesser-known small towns. If you’re looking for the best cruiser resources, you’ve come to the right place. Each month, Southern Boating posts Regional Reports that cover the Atlantic Coast in detail. Chesapeake, Southeast Seaboard, the Carolinas, and down to Miami, Southern Boating keeps you updated on marinas, events and the resources you’ll need to successfully navigate the U.S. Atlantic.

North Carolina’s coast reveals World War II battlefield

A team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered a World War II (WWII) German U-boat and a freighter in August 2014 off the coast of North Carolina. Unseen for over 70 years, the German U-576 was sunk in 1942 by aircraft fire after it damaged two boats and downed American merchant ship Bluefields. According to NOAA maritime archeologist Joe Hart, the location is “a WWII battlefield that’s literally right in our back yard.” The two vessels lay only a few hundred yards apart and highlight a time when 90 vessels sank off of the Atlantic coast during World War II. A war grave, the U-boat seals 45 deceased German sailors within. Still owned by the German government, it is protected by the U.S. at Germany’s request.

Southport, North Carolina, welcomes transients with extended time at their city dock. Visiting boats may now stay 48 hours, not just 24, permitting more time for provisioning and exploration. Check-in at the police station the Southport Marina. The marina gives free weather and navigation briefings at 6:00PM during fall and spring migrations. southport-nc.com

The new Customs entryway at the Marathon, Florida, airport is delayed. Renovations began in late fall 2014 and completion is expected in spring 2015. Law enforcement will meet mariners entering the U.S. from international waters at local docks and await the arrival of an airport Customs agent.

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The Miami-Dade County Mayor wants three coastal cities and the City of Miami to share fireboats and crews. The use of land-based fire crews to staff boats may have created longer response times to a disastrous boating accident, which left four dead last summer. County boats would serve the northern and southern reaches of Biscayne Bay, and Miami would use its boat in the downtown area.

Faro Blanco Marina Resort in Marathon, Florida, opened its new docks last month following repairs from 2005 Hurricane Wilma to make Marathon a Florida Keys yachting destination. Faro Blanco Resort was a ‘70s and ‘80s icon. Its beloved white lighthouse still guides mariners into the harbor, but a new Hyatt Place hotel with two pools, waterside restaurants and a fitness center replaces original structures. The new state-of-the-art 74-slip Faro Blanco Marina & Yacht Club accommodates megayachts and offers extensive amenities. Fishing, dolphin watching and the Turtle Hospital and Dolphin Research Center provide local diversions, and rental cars at the Marathon Airport are just 10 minutes away. faroblancoresort.com

By Nancy Spraker, Southern Boating January 2015

Miami Beach

Miami Beach

Miami’s trendy South Beach (SoBe) is a trifecta for cruisers: A top-ten beach populated by the bronzed, buffed and beautiful; a non-stop party with days at the cafes along Ocean Drive and Lincoln Mall, and nights at chic restaurants and clubs fueled by 5 am last calls; and alongside all that sun, surf and revelry, there’s a lively, dynamic world-class cultural scene.

Two top-drawer marinas bookend SoBe’s famous Art Deco historic district making this a perfect destination for an arts-centric layover with plenty of opportunities for beach breaks, people watching, shopping, food foraging, and bar hopping. Just a few blocks northeast of the Miami Beach Marina and southeast of Sunset Harbour Yacht Club, the district pulses with historic and contemporary architecture, visual arts, performing arts, and culinary arts, all of which is oh, so close to some of the best sand in the U.S.

Art Basel

December’s celebrity-packed annual Art Basel Miami Beach hails as one of the most electrifying art events in the country, attracting over 200 top art galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. More than 50,000 visitors flock to the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC), including the international art world’s top collectors, dealers, curators, and critics.

Book a guided tour of the 500,000 square feet of exhibition space filled with an overwhelming display of paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs, films, and works by 4,000 artists ranging from emerging to museum caliber. Art Basel sprawls beyond the MBCC into the streets, along the beach and into both Collins Park and SoundScape Park (just north of Lincoln Road) with special presentations, performances and more guided tours. artbasel.com

Food and Wine Fest

February’s Food TV Network’s South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SOBEWFF) delivers a star-studded, four-day extravaganza that showcases chefs, culinary personalities and wine and spirit producers to benefit Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center. sobefest.com

Art appreciators, rejoice

Even if you don’t hit one of these hot events, cruisers with an appreciation for art have their choice of venues. Start your visit with the highly rated Art Deco Walking Tour sponsored by the Miami Design Preservation League. Local historians and architects provide an introduction to Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival and the Miami Beach Modern (MiMo) in a fascinating ninety-minute trek from the Art Deco Welcome Center along Ocean Drive and beyond. mdpl.org

Alternatively, pick up the iPod-based, self-guided tour and walk at your leisure. Espanola Way—edged with Mediterranean Revival circa 1925—becomes an impromptu crafts market on weekends.

Historic Sites

At SoBe’s south end, the Jewish Museum of Florida (now part of Florida International University – FIU)—housed in a beautifully restored 1936 synagogue—tells the story of 250 years of Jewish culture, arts and heritage in Florida through book discussions, lectures, films, food tours, poetry readings, and concerts. jmof.fiu.edu

A one-of-a-kind gem, Wolfsonian-FIU hosts the Mitchel Wolfson, Jr. collection in an Art Deco, landmarked building. A comprehensive survey of the persuasive power of art and design includes furniture, industrial design objects, glass, ceramics, metalwork, paintings, textiles, Egypt’s King Farouk’s matchbook collection, and thousands of medals. The Wolfsonian exhibits draw from over 70,000 artifacts. wolfsonian.org

The adults-only World Erotic Art Museum features over 4,000 erotic sculptures, paintings and ceramic artifacts dating from 300 BC to the present. weam.com

A Miami Beach cultural pioneer, ArtCenter/South Florida has been home to 42 artist studios and four exhibition spaces since 1984. Originally 21 storefronts in a dilapidated and abandoned section of Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road, ArtCenter is credited with the phoenix-like rise of the now trendy Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall, which runs east and west from the Atlantic to Biscayne Bay.

Today the 60,000 square foot campus is open to the public, offers classes, and the First Saturday Lincoln Road Gallery Walk (7-10 pm) gives visitors an opportunity to visit all the juried artists-in-residences in their studios as well as five other galleries along the strip. artcentersf.org

Food Scene

More than forty restaurants (Cuban to Fusion Haute)—a half dozen with sidewalk cafes—and a dozen bars and clubs edge Lincoln Mall alongside a hundred or so shops, boutiques and upscale chains, making it easy to pick your favorite alfresco dining spot to enjoy the people watching here (some say it’s better than Ocean Drive). For those with a penchant for retro clothing and mid-century furnishings, Lincoln Road is also home to the Outdoor Antique and Collectible Market on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month from October to May.

Live Arts

The performing arts are also well represented in the Lincoln Road area. The beautiful Art Deco Colony Theater originally opened in 1935 by Paramount Pictures and is the beneficiary of a $6.5 million renovation, hosting a wide variety of programs including music, dance, theater, opera, comedy, performance art, and film for present-day enthusiasts. Just north, the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater (between the MBCC and Lincoln Road) is a venue for concert tours and dance performances managed by Live Nation.

Designed by Frank Gehry, Miami Beach Soundscape Park is the New World Center’s striking edifice that hosts the New World Symphony—America’s orchestral academy. A springboard for some of the finest instrumentalists on the planet, the post grad curriculum includes wide-ranging, eclectic, inexpensive, open-to-the-public performances including the very popular wallcast concerts. Far from your run-of-the-mill student recitals, these musicians are heading to positions in the finest orchestras in the world. nws.edu 

Just a few blocks beyond and close to the Miami Beach Convention Center—Kenneth Treister’s powerful and haunting Holocaust Memorial of Greater Miami dramatically conveys the unthinkable and unimaginable. In the Meditation Garden, a lily pond surrounds the Sculpture of Love and Anguish, a four-story arm that reaches for the sky. holocaustmmb.org

The nearby Bass Museum of Art is housed in the 1930 Miami Beach Public Library & Art Center designed by Russell Pancoast, a grandson of Miami Beach pioneer John A. Collins. The 500-piece founding collection of Renaissance and Baroque old master paintings, textiles and religious sculptures—gifted by John and Johann Bass in 1963—has grown to 3,000 works, including European painting and sculpture from the 15th century to present plus 20th and 21st-century North American, Latin American, Asian, and Caribbean pieces. bassmuseum.org

Seeing it all is both easy and relatively inexpensive. The South Beach Local bus (#123) loops SoBe passing by both marinas and most attractions. The Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Miami Museum Mile Cultural Pass covers admission to the Bass Museum of Art, the Wolfsonian, the Jewish Museum of Florida, and the World Erotic Art Museums for $25 with a bonus of 15% or greater discounts at over 20 popular Miami Beach restaurants (good for 30 days, adults only).

By Beth Adams-Smith, Southern Boating, December 2013
Photos & Video by John Lambert

 

 

Hand-drawn Maps of Your Favorite Cruising Grounds are Perfect Holiday Gifts

It’s gift-giving time and the new Coastal Art Maps designed by owner Joseph S. Tarella are one idea likely to please frequenters of the Chesapeake Bay. The hand-drawn maps offer a unique colorful perspective of the “Great Shellfish Bay” and its natural environs. Tarella has released the first 3 of a projected 10 maps depicting the bay: the area from Havre de Grace to Middle River, Middle River to Sandy Point, and Sandy Point to Herring Bay. Each map is oriented horizontally to illuminate the contrast between the densely populated western shore and the sparser, more bucolic, eastern shore.

Tarella, an architect by trade, uses pen-and-ink and watercolor washes on vellum, which give his maps a tactile quality. He started mapmaking as a hobby after he built a house on Long Beach Island and couldn’t find any maps of the area that he liked. Friends and family asked for copies and his labor of love evolved from there. The first three Chesapeake Bay maps were launched in September and another group is expected to be available in the spring. coastalartmaps.com

Sailors participating in J World’s Coastal Navigation Seminar in Annapolis. The next seminar is on December 13th from 9AM to 4PM. Photo: J World

Winter Seminars

Winter in the Mid-Atlantic region is a perfect time to pick up new boating knowledge and perhaps, plan a long-distance cruise for warmer temperatures. Maritime museums, yacht clubs, professional training companies, and groups like the U.S. Powerboat Squadrons are some of organizations that host educational events. J World in Annapolis hosts a Coastal Navigation Seminar from 9AM to 4PM on December 13th, a comprehensive classroom course on coastal navigation and piloting. The curriculum covers charts and features, compass errors, plotting, triangulation, dead reckoning, route planning, tides, current vectors, aids to navigation, and an introduction to electronic navigation. The course text will be U.S. Sailing’s Coastal Navigation book. It’s an ideal course for anyone who wants to develop a solid foundation in navigation principles. The course includes U.S. Sailing certification if qualified. jworldannapolis.com

Time to fish

The 2015 version of the Maryland Fishing Challenge is under way. The free, year-round tournament is sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources and partners, and offers cash and prizes for anglers that reel in citation-worthy fish. Each September qualifying anglers meet at Sandy Point State Park for the finale party held in conjunction with the Maryland Seafood Festival. At this year’s final event, over $70,000 in cash and prizes were awarded. The grand-prize winner was Pennsylvania resident Rick Snider, who collected a boat-motor-trailer package from Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats. Bobby Gibson of Church Hill, Maryland, won an all-expense-paid fishing trip to The Bahamas. If you register a citation-size fish from Maryland waters from now until next Labor Day, you too will be invited to Annapolis next year. dnr2.maryland.gov

By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating December 2014

, Pompano Beach, Florida

Sands Harbor Marina

Located just minutes from the Hillsboro Inlet, Sands Harbor Marina is a popular vacation resort with 50 wet slips for vessels up to 120 feet. The close proximity to the inlet allows convenient access for fishing and diving among exotic artificial (sunken ship) reef systems. Guests can also utilize onsite fishing charters and rental services, while the beach bums in your group have easy access to the sandy white beaches of Pompano just a block away.

The Sands Harbor Marina houses a five-acre luxury hotel with spacious rooms, waterfront views and a patio bar and grill popular among guests and locals for its Rum Runners and live music on the weekends. The resort pool is open seven days a week, and shoppers can peruse local retail stores while gourmands partake in fresh seafood at either of the two waterfront restaurants.

“Cruisers from all over South Florida flock to Sands Harbor on the weekends to enjoy the great food and music,” says Berk Cekli, marina manager. “Sands Harbor Resort and Marina is full throughout the year and has a waiting list in the winter season. Our level of clientele continues to increase as the resort owners have recently invested in upgrading the entire marina infrastructure and guest areas.”

Cekli also praises the dedicated staff at Sands Harbor. “The Marina staff is second to none. All are trained and experienced cruisers.” The marina offers a full-service fuel dock, a bait and tackle shop with a variety of live bait, and a convenience store for snacks and refreshments.

Marina Features:

  • Full service for 50 boats up to 120 feet with avg. depth of 8 feet
  • Fuel Station
  • Bait & tackle
  • Convenience store
  • Free high-speed internet

Additional Amenities:

  • 56-room resort hotel
  • Patio bar & grill
  • Fishing charters
  • SCUBA and snorkeling charters & instructors
  • Boat and jet ski rentals
  • Yacht brokerage
  • Retail shops
  • Hair salon
  • Swimming pool

Information:

Sands Harbor Resort & Marina
125 N. Riverside Drive
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
(800) 227-3353
sands@sandsharbor.com

By Daniel Wagner, Southern Exposure

Rocksgiving tournament helps fund two great causes.

Anglers have another opportunity this month to score large migrating striped bass and win large prize money at the inaugural Rocksgiving Tournament on November 15th. The tournament is headquartered in Annapolis at the Chesapeake Harbour Marina, which accommodates boats up to 110 feet in length and has a basin-wide depth of 8 feet (MLW). Any angler who is lucky and skilled enough to reel in a Maryland state record fish during the tournament will win the Grand Prize of $100,000. The tournament is also offering $10,000 to any angler weighing in the first striper more than 55 pounds. More modest yet substantial payouts are also planned for winning fish. Sam’s on the Waterfront will host an awards party from 4-8PM.

Tournament entry fees will fill the prize money pot and also help fund two local causes: The Bowen Foundation and Chesapeake Bay Trust. The mission of the Bowen Foundation is to raise awareness and funds for the prevention, treatment, education, and research efforts related to autism spectrum disorders. The Chesapeake Bay Trust is a nonprofit, grant-making organization focused on the preservation of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in Maryland. Call (410) 268-1969 or visit rocksgiving.com.

Carolina angling

This month the water temperatures are cooler, the crowds are gone and the weather is usually still nice with daytime temperatures averaging in the 60s. Fish are also more active making them easier to catch; the shallow-water bite is particularly exciting this time of year. North Carolina’s coastal rivers, estuaries and sounds are typically filled with stripers, redfish, spotted sea trout, king mackerel, and more. Many charter boats offer both half-day and full-day runs, and the captains can put you on fish fast. It’s a prime time to catch and release, or take home the legal catch limit.

The Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. by Howard Youth is not only informative and practical, but also full of beautiful wildlife art. Photo: Johns Hopkins University Press

Books on board

Gift-giving season is approaching and the gift of knowledge is often a thoughtful choice. One recently published book by Johns Hopkins University Press is a great book to have on board. The Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C. by Howard Youth is not only informative and practical, but also full of beautiful wildlife art. It’s superbly illustrated by Mark A. Klingler and includes fine color photos by Robert E. Mumford, Jr. If you’re visiting D.C.—by boat, preferably—it’s a great guide to have on hand, since a stroll along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers can reveal bullfrogs, largemouth bass, ducks, snapping turtles, herons, and much more flora and fauna. Youth is a natural history writer and former associate editor and communications manager for the Friends of the National Zoo. Two other books by JH Press I have in my cabin and highly recommend are Life in the Chesapeake Bay by Alice and Robert Lipsson, and The Field Guide to Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay by Edward O. Murdy and John A. Musick.

By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating November 2014

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing University

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing University

Ladies fishing tournaments are plentiful and popular and bring everyone into the excitement of tournament fishing. But a Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing University is a bit different.

They provide a unique opportunity for female anglers to team up with professional fishing experts for dedicated fishing instruction. Ladies can experience one-on-one access to award-winning fishing captains in the prime fishing grounds around Florida.

From Betty Bauman, the event founder: “The main events start out with a Friday evening social so we can recognize the sponsors, and the ladies get a chance to meet the others. Saturday mornings are the sit-down classes, which are very heavily laden with conservation because the best time to learn conservation is when an angler is new and impressionable. And then we serve lunch. After lunch we have hands-on fishing techniques, for instance, I show stand up fighting techniques.

We have tables for knot tying, lure usage, lure rigging, other fishing skills, sometimes we have how to handle the dock lines; they’re all a little bit different. And then we have spin-casting, net-casting, fly-casting, boat-handling trailer, backing, and landing, we have them gaff grapefruits. On Sunday we have the optional charter fishing, we give them choices, sometimes it’s the choice of a drift boat, a sport fishing boat or an inshore boat depending on the area that they’re in—different parts of the states have a different kind of fishing.”

Tavernier on Key Largo is the site October 19-21 where more than seven hours of inshore and off‑shore instruction on bait, equipment, technique, timing, and species knowledge will be held on Saturday with all day fishing fun on Sunday. Sign up early because past attendees typically return year after year to relive the fun and excitement.

ladiesletsgofishing.com

By Bob Arrington, Southern Boating September 2018

More from the Southeast Seaboard:

Pirate Parties

Classic Wooden Boats grace the shores of South Carolina

October 18-19 marks Georgetown, South Carolina’s 25th Annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show with 140 classic wooden boats displayed on land and water. Children’s model boatbuilding, knot tying, food, and music make it a not-to-miss event. In the Wooden Boat Challenge, teams of two have four hours to build rowing skiffs to compete in a rowing relay on the Sampit River. Funds raised support the South Carolina Maritime Museum. woodenboatshow.com

North Carolina mariner updates
A fixed bridge will replace the Topsail Island Bridge near Wilmington, North Carolina, at mile 260.7 in the ICW. The existing drawbridge has a 13-foot vertical clearance closed and unlimited clearance opened, with a 92-foot horizontal clearance. The new fixed bridge will have a 65-foot vertical clearance closed with a 120-foot horizontal clearance. Date of construction is undetermined.

A mooring field in Beaufort, North Carolina, costs more than expected. More expensive bar anchors with better hold in less mud are being installed instead of the originally planned screw anchors. Total moorings are down to 41 from 46. Sixteen ready-and-able moorings now await transients in the bend of the Beaufort River.

Sailing on the Charleston Harbor. Photo: Explore Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina navigation news
The original Charleston Harbor NOAA harbor chart 11523 from 1936 does not reflect changes from the deepening projects that have moved the sea buoy and channel entrance nine nautical miles to the east. However, the new NOAA chart 11525 includes these changes, plus an additional 345 square nautical miles. It is now available in paper format from NOAA-certified printing agents, a free PDF digital download, or a free raster navigational chart for electronic display systems with a corresponding electronic navigational chart US5SC25M.

Florida diver/snorkel flags
Divers-down buoys now bob in Florida’s waters since state approval in July. The approved buoys must be three- or four-sided with divers-down symbols of at least 12-by-12 inches, and must be seen from all directions. Flags on a float are still permitted. Divers/snorkelers must stay within 300 feet of their flags or buoys in open water and 100 feet in rivers, inlets and channels. Boat operators should idle at the same distance away from flags or buoys. myfwc.com/news/news-releases/2014/july/01/divers-down/

Key West Bight Marina. Photo: Rob-O’Neal

The city of Key West renamed the Key West Bight to Key West Historic Seaport. Key West Historic Seaport has a 150-slip marina and is a great place to dive or snorkel, enjoy fresh seafood, shop, or take a high-speed ferry to Historic Fort Jefferson or the Dry Tortugas.

By Nancy Spraker, Southern Boating October 2014

Florida Marina Updates

The St. Augustine Shipyard marina opens this month to provide mariners easy access to historic Old St. Augustine and the Atlantic. It accommodates boats up to 120 feet with more than 300 new slips. Dry storage handles boats up to 42-feet LOA weighing up to 35,000 pounds. Amenities include boat valet service, ship’s store and fuel, boat maintenance and repair service, free pump-outs, and a fish cleaning station. A pedestrian promenade with shops, restaurants and hotels is in the works. staugustineshipyard.com

The Yacht Club in Delray Beach will soon be a commercial marina. The 1960s yacht club gives way to a more contemporary nautical facility with 44 slips offering dockage up to 130 feet. Amenities include an Olympic swimming pool with tiki bar, free parking, a clubhouse, and full yacht services and maintenance. Accompanying residences offer waterfront living. theyachtclubatdelraybeach.com

Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park Marina. Photo: Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department

Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park Marina is newly improved. New charter boat docks, a seawall, and state-of-the-art access and security are welcome changes. An extended boardwalk, fender mooring piles, new power and water pedestals, and 10 new transient slips await visitors. New landscaping accentuates the enhancements. miamidade.gov/parks/crandon-marina.asp

Biscayne National Park’s Elliott Key features a newly built marina, campground and boardwalk accessible only by boat. The beautiful 36-slip marina is limited to very shoal-draft boats since it has no entry channel and 2½ feet mean low tide. Daytime visits are free. Overnight stays with a campsite cost $20. Weekdays are quieter.
nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/elliottkey.html

Carolina Updates
A Coast Guard-established temporary safety zone on the ICW at Morehead City, North Carolina, at mile 203.7 remains until April 2015. Maintenance to U.S. 70 Fixed Bridge requires a construction barge needing clearance. Two-hour notification to a work supervisor is only needed for horizontal clearance of more than 40 feet.

South Carolina needs reports and photos during “king tides” to assess storm damage during its highest seasonal tides. This year’s remaining “king tides” occur September 6-12, October 6-11 and November 5-8. mycoast.org.

The Marina at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, now offers easier hiking and biking to the Atlantic Ocean and the ICW via a 21-mile trail and park network. The trails will connect ponds and waterfronts, new parks including dog parks and a YMCA. This scenic, safer pathway replaces three miles of congested sidewalks and side streets.

Look Out for Manatee
Laws mandate that cruisers slow down in manatee protection zones through November 15th. Watching for manatees in springs, rivers and Atlantic waters during warmer months should become a habit according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Mariners help prevent collisions if they wear polarized sunglasses, look for circles in the water’s surface, watch for manatee snouts, and adjust throttle near spotted manatees. myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/manatee/protection-zones. 

By Nancy Spraker, Southern Boating September 2014

South Carolina Receives Multiple Boating Grants

Four South Carolina marine businesses received hefty Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) this year. The Charleston City Marina replaces electrical receptacles on its MegaDock with about $20,000; The Myrtle Beach Yacht Club replaces its fuel system with nearly $45,000; Beaufort’s Downtown Marina upgrades its transient dock with almost $1 million, and St. Johns Yacht Harbor constructs 50 transient slips and installs a state-of-the-art fueling system with over $953,000. Boating excise duties finance the BIG trust fund.

The aggressive lionfish significantly threatens Florida’s native wildlife and habitat. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) held a Lionfish Summit in 2013 to catalyze the necessary changes for reduction and easy removal of lionfish, and to develop markets for them. The commission launched the free app “Report Florida Lionfish” with educational information, safe handling guidelines and a data-reporting form for public lionfish spotters and harvesters. App users can also share their photos of lionfish in Florida waters. Those without smart devices may submit reports at myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/lionfish.

Miami Megayacht Marina will provide much-needed slips for 200-foot megayachts on the Miami River next summer. This 14-slip facility replaces an existing well-worn marina. Each covered slip comes with sheltered parking for three vehicles, indoor storage and quarters for captain and crew (unique in the U.S.). Covered tender storage, an owner’s vault and additional flexible space are also included. Marina amenities include a clubhouse with a coffee shop, internet, dining area, spa, exercise room, media room, and swimming pool. Marine-related businesses are onsite. Dredging and a new seawall are planned. The Miami Megayacht Marina is expected to revitalize the area and its economy.

New Smyrna Beach, Florida, was the final destination for 67-year-old kayaker Alexander “Olek” Doba. He paddled solo more than 6,000 miles from Portugal over the course of 195 days. After leaving Lisbon last October he encountered storms, mechanical problems, a challenging Gulf Stream, and winds that blew him off course. In April, Doba and his 21-foot kayak was escorted into a New Smyrna Beach harbor by 15 local kayakers. When he kissed Florida’s sandy soil his admirers on shore called him a “tough guy.”

ICW drawbridges in Daytona Beach’s Volusia County and other ICW locales will vanish in future years due to expensive bridge maintenance with custom-made parts and tender costs as much as $400,000 per year. A high-rise bridge replacing a Volusia County drawbridge next year will cost $43 million with mostly federal funds. Although expensive to build, high-rise bridges’ annual costs are less. ICW cruisers will still have to wait for bridge openings since fundraising for new bridges takes time.

S.E. Seaboard boat drivers of certain ages will now be required to take classes on safe boat handling. States’ age requirements are North Carolina, under 26; South Carolina, under 16 if operating a boat with 15 horsepower or more; Georgia, born on or after January 1, 1998; Florida, born on or after January 1, 1988, if the boat has 10 horsepower or more.

By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating August 2014

Cape Charles Megayacht Center is Now Open

Megayachts owners now have a place to dock at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. The Cape Charles (Virginia) Yacht Center—specifically designed to accommodate yachts more than 79 feet long—is open for business. The location along the Mid-Atlantic offers a deep, secure harbor with quick ocean access. It’s a welcome addition to the coast, with limited dockage between Florida and New England for large yachts in need of service or repairs. The proximity to the ocean is certainly convenient and offers a pleasant destination on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

The yacht center includes a marina, a 120-acre maintenance and storage area, a fuel station, and a 75-ton boat lift with a 300-ton lift in the design phase. The marina features 2,000 feet of dockage, 3-phase 480-amp power, pump-out facilities, and an 18-foot channel 12 miles from the Atlantic. The yacht center is a member of the U.S. Superyacht Association (USSA), and plans are in the works to ensure that yachts can clear customs in Cape Charles.

Crab nachos at Occoquan
Cruising mariners have another fine restaurant to visit on Chesapeake Bay. Chef Troy Clayton has opened The Landing Restaurant and Waterfront Bar at Occoquan Harbor Marina, located on a tributary of the Potomac River. Clayton, along with marina owners Dick Lynn and Richard and Lisa Krauss, have invested close to $1 million in renovations to create a Florentine-inspired space with indoor and outdoor covered and uncovered decks that seat 70, and a “front porch” area with lounge seating for an additional 70 guests. Inside, a formal dining room accommodates 60 people, while a private dining room holds an additional 50 diners. The restaurant also boasts a 50-seat, nautical-themed indoor bar. The menu offers traditional surf and turf dishes like calamari, crab cakes, lobster risotto, and thick steaks, as well as unique potato and crab nachos.

Lower tournament entry fee
The MidAtlantic billfishing tournament returns to Atlantic waters between Cape May, New Jersey, and Ocean City, Maryland, August 17-22. Known as the “richest marlin and tuna tournament in the world,” last year’s payout in prize winnings totaled $1,808,910. Organizers have lowered this year’s entry fee from $6,000 to $2,500 to make the tournament more accessible. The fee includes event admission and covers the costs for a crew of six for all dinners, drinks and entertainment for the week. The new fee structure splits the hospitality and other tournament costs out from the prize money, which will now be derived strictly from calcutta entries. All of the overall calcuttas will still have white marlin, blue marlin and tuna components. Last year, Sean O’Donell’s crew from Cape May won the blue marlin division and $236,522 by reeling in a 441-pounder aboard Got Game. ma500.com

By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating August 2014

Bermuda

Royal Regattas, Majestic Marlin

An enormous fishhook named Bermuda appears on the Atlantic Ocean approximately 650 miles off the U.S. coast. Although blue-green waters surrounding its pink shores are inviting, its treacherous reefs have caught over 300 ships in 5 centuries. Shakespeare’s The Tempest tells the tale of the British vessel Sea Venture, which fell victim to the Isle of Devils while battling a hurricane in 1609. She carried supplies to starving Jamestown, Virginia, when Captain Somers beached her and saved all 150 onboard, who then survived by fishing the island’s bountiful seas. They enjoyed a warm climate—compliments of the Gulf Stream—and skillfully built ships out of cedar, thus beginning Bermuda’s status as a major maritime center. The British Navy built an outpost, the Royal Naval Dockyard, and several forts there to protect colonial interests in the Caribbean and America after Bermudian blockade-runners invaded several U.S. waterways. Due to the Bermuda Sloop rig’s innovative triangular sails, Bermudian ships would scurry past square-riggers close on the wind. Smaller versions of these ships called Bermuda Fitted Dinghies filled Hamilton Harbor during island regattas—they still sail there today.

World-class racing yachts join them in June when the Newport to Bermuda Race—the oldest regularly scheduled ocean race—takes place. Run biannually by the Cruising Club of America and Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, this year’s race was its 49th since its start in 1906. Yachts sail 635 miles from Newport, Rhode Island, to Bermuda, crossing challenging Gulf Stream currents as described by the race’s first winner, Thomas Fleming Day, who said, “You don’t stop to parlay with a Gulf Stream in June.” The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club clears its docks for over 150 boats after they pass Gibb’s Hill Light, maneuver Town Cut channel and check through customs in St. George’s. Last year 37,000 shots of Bermuda’s Gosling’s rum were served to 4,000 partygoers. Silver trophies in the shape of Bermuda’s aids to navigation are awarded to top skippers and crews, with the grand prize being the highly coveted St. David’s Light trophy. The longevity and success of this historic race is, perhaps, the main reason behind Bermuda being considered as a venue for the 35th America’s Cup in 2017.

In 2014, with June’s sailing events spent, July brings sport fishing to the island with the Bermuda Triple Crown. The 10-year-old premier Atlantic marlin competition is three major billfish tournaments in one: The Bermuda Billfish Blast July 3-7; the Bermuda Big Game Classic July 9-13; and the Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament July 16-20. During The Bermuda Billfish Blast on July 4th, anglers cast lines simultaneously with others around the globe in hopes of catching the day’s biggest marlin caught in the Blue Marlin World Cup. A 768-pound blue marlin won it for Bermuda’s Queen of Hearts last year. The largest marlin ever caught in the series was reeled in by Southern Exposure in 2005 weighing a whopping 1,023 pounds. The biggest single cash prize ever awarded was $400,000. Profits can be made since competition costs average $33,000. Last year thirty-six teams from the U.S., Canada and Bermuda competed, and even more are expected this year with the sponsoring Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel’s new marina.

The ever-so-pink Fairmont Hamilton Princess—where The Triple Crown trophies are divvied out—overlooks the harbor in Bermuda’s capital city. The “Pink Palace”—where Bermuda does business—opened its doors in 1885 as a posh hotel for affluent Americans, and a statue of its frequent guest, Mark Twain, sits on a bench in the lobby. Ian Fleming used its Gazebo Bar as a setting in the James Bond film Dr. No.

High Tea in its Heritage Court is an elegant indulgence. The hotel has recently experienced a $90-million redevelopment that includes a state-of-the-art marina that opens this month. It has 60 permanent berths for Bermudians with several for visiting boats up to the size of superyachts. As Bermuda’s only full-service marina, it offers integrated pump-out facilities, floating docks and full-length finger piers. Hotel amenities including provisioning are available to visiting yachts.

The Pompano Beach Club began as Bermuda’s first fishing club in the 1950s as a small fishing lodge that took guests on daily deep-sea fishing trips, then served the day’s catch in its dining room that evening. Generations of the Lamb family upgraded it to a more luxurious resort that’s known for its attentive service. The Club still remembers its roots, however, and arranges sport fishing for visiting anglers staying at resort villas that are named after local game fish. Guests can watch stingrays swoop through shallow waters below and white long-tailed seabirds circle above their balconies. All rooms enjoy a sunset view over the ultra-blue Atlantic.

Yachts sailing the Atlantic bound for Europe, the Caribbean and the U.S. visit Bermuda as a convenient stopover. In 2004, the first motor-cruising flotilla made a historic Atlantic crossing when 18 trawler yachts departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and cruised over 1,800 miles to the Azores. The Nordhavn Atlantic Rally enjoyed their midpoint with a weeklong stay at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, where captains and crew took their dinghies into bays and reefs for snorkeling and wreck diving in 80-degree, crystal clear water. On land, they rented scooters to explore the sights, restaurants, and pubs of the Royal Naval Dockyard, the town of Hamilton, and Bermuda’s original settlement, St. George’s. The island’s efficient bus and ferry system is also a fun and affordable way to connect the dots—ticket books are readily available. Royal Naval Dockyard houses the National Museum of Bermuda that conveys Bermuda’s maritime importance, including the Sea Venture shipwreck, cruise ships, indigenous fishing gear, and boats such as the fitted dinghy on display. Hamilton’s Front Street shops offer everything from Gosling’s rum to Irish linens. St. George’s is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with fine examples of 17th-century Bermudian buildings capped with white-stepped roofs for collecting drinking water.

Getting to this beautiful and historic island may seem daunting with its reefs, but shipwrecks seldom occur now. However, the reefs do extend 10 miles out to the north and west, and along all channels and inland bays. As always, local charts should be studied carefully and eyeball navigation is necessary for narrow passages. Visiting international yachts are only permitted to approach Bermuda from the east end of the island since immigration and customs are located in St. George’s. St. David’s Light is a recognizable local fix and Town Cut, the channel to St. George’s, is easily identified both night and day. Several existing marinas and another one in the works, a dinghy club and some pleasant anchorages are nearby. Online customs and immigrations forms, navigation tips, marine services and weather information can be found at marineandports.bm.

By Nancy Spraker, Southern Boating July 2014

“All Aboard Florida” Potentially Threatens the Marine Industry

Increased future rail traffic is certain to impact Fort Lauderdale’s marine industry. A high-speed passenger train between Miami and Orlando under the project name “All Aboard Florida,” and projects in Port Everglades and the Port of Miami require building several new bridges over 30 or more waterways. The New River railroad bridge in central downtown Fort Lauderdale is a main concern and when closed offers a slim four-foot clearance. Since many of the area’s refit and repair yards are up the New River, the slow-paced bridge would be closed more often. A 2009 study showed the bridge closing for 20 minutes, 11 times a day. Fear is that with added hindrance to marine traffic, repairs and jobs in the area’s marine industry will go elsewhere. Concerned citizens and boat owners are encouraged to contact Governor Rick Scott, state legislators, and Florida congressional delegation. allaboardflorida.com

Shipwrecks rich with history
A mysterious shipwreck near St. Augustine, Florida, was identified as the Bermuda schooner The Deliverance, wrecked in a brutal 1947 storm. The vessel was named after the original Bermudian Deliverance that helped settlers in Jamestown in 1608. The shipwreck of the SS Central America in 1857 led to the first worldwide financial crisis and is now being raised off the coast of North Carolina. Within its hold is 21 tons of gold worth $100 million. Its recovery by Tommy Thompson in 1988 led to litigation against him and his eventual fugitive status in 2012. And finally, budding maritime archaeologists are measuring and mapping century-old Carolina duck hunting skiffs to create models using 3-D printers at East Carolina University’s Maritime Studies Program. By doing so, students learn how a boat is put together—a prerequisite to examining shipwrecks.ecu.edu/cs-cas/maritime

Free dockage in North Carolina
Mariners Wharf’s free docks in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, are even more inviting to visiting cruisers this season with new restrooms and showers. Elizabeth City is on the ICW halfway between Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. Restrooms are free and showers are $5, payable at Elizabeth City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau or the Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc. offices. Both offices are closed on weekends. discoverelizabethcity.com

Another friend to ICW transients is the North Carolina Museum in Beaufort, North Carolina, known for its artifacts from Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge. The expansion on Gallants Channel just north of downtown brings deep-water fixed 1,500-foot wharfs, 10-slip floating docks, and a 110-foot face dock. Short-term dockage is just $1 per-foot per-night or $10 per foot per month. Water and power are available, but there are no shore-side facilities as of yet.

Biscayne Bay navigation notes
Severe shoaling continues to be a problem along the ICW near Bakers Haulover Inlet near Biscayne Bay Buoy 7B south to DBN 11 and from Biscayne Bay 6A to Biscayne Bay DBN8. Channel depth and width vary, and at any tide boats may be pushed east or west out of the channel. Cruisers should contact dredge Jenni Lea II on VHF channel 13, 16 or 78, or local tow boat operators for information on a good deep water passage around the shoal.

By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating July 2014

Crystal Coast, North Carolina

North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks (SOBX) represents one of the few remaining natural barrier island systems in the world. Strung together with 85 miles of silken coastline—56 being the protected Cape Lookout National Seashore—the Crystal Coast is both a place and a state of mind set apart from the ordinary.

This chain of islands is a culinary lover’s dream-come-true with a mixture of eateries tailored to suit any palate on any budget, from tasty seafood shacks to waterfront pubs to fine dining bistros. Thanks to the Carteret Catch program—a joint venture between local restaurants, retailers and fishermen—the Crystal Coast features a “fish to fork” initiative, serving only seafood caught that day by local fishermen. Boasting no chain restaurants, the program supports the 85 privately owned restaurants that change their menus daily depending on the fresh catch of the day.

But even if you’re not a foodie, tales of swashbuckling pirates, Civil War triumphs and tragedies, and deep-rooted maritime heritage are sure to entice history buffs. Glimmering waterways welcome eco-adventurers with stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking and world-class fishing. And for the shopping enthusiasts in your crew, unique treasures await in every charming town that dots the Crystal Coast.

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Atlantic Beach

Part of the Bogue Banks, Atlantic Beach is the oldest of the five resort towns on the Crystal Coast. Home to Fort Macon National Park, this town is directly linked to skirmishes in the Civil War. Fort Macon—built from 1826-1834—is impeccably preserved to educate and entertain visitors. Once a month on Canon Day, volunteers in traditional dress fire a canon over the wall to exemplify how the Confederates defended the fort over one hundred years ago. Twice a year, Fort Macon commemorates the Civil War with a battle reenactment that requires over 40 volunteers who sleep in the fort for an entire weekend. fort.macon@ncparks.gov.

Fort Macon State Park also offers unspoiled fishing, hiking, swimming, and picnicking amidst serene coastal settings. Take a break from an enriched day of history to enjoy a fresh spin on traditional seafood dishes at the waterfront Channel Marker Restaurant. The she-crab soup and ahi tuna are staples on their menu, with delectable daily specials you won’t want to miss. Watch the sunset and sip a cocktail on their boardwalk as your plan your next day’s adventures.

Beaufort

Cruise down Taylor’s Creek to look for wild Shackleford horses on Carrot Island across from charming Beaufort, dubbed “America’s Coolest Small Town.” This gem is the third-oldest city in North Carolina bustling with fresh, tasty restaurants and coffee shops that neighbor the perfectly manicured gardens inside the white picket fences of each picturesque coastal cottage. Dive into the history, ghost stories and folklore at the world-class ship diving spot where the legendary pirate Blackbeard’s infamous ship Queen Anne’s Revenge lies in a watery grave just three miles off of the sandy shore.

Enjoy a double-decker bus tour around the town to learn which historic character lived in each house dating back from the 1700s. beauforthistoricsite.org Share in the rich maritime history rooted in Beaufort at the North Carolina’s Maritime Museum with official artifacts from Blackbeard’s ship, which illuminates the life of early 18th-century pirates. The museum also offers on-the-water sailing and boating courses, paddle boarding along the historic shore, and boat-building for all skill levels. ncmaritimemuseums.com

Morehead City

Known for some of the most diverse fishing, the Crystal Coast also has one of the longest fishing seasons on the entire Atlantic Coast. If you aren’t an experienced angler or simply prefer to take advantage of local knowledge, rows of charter fishing boats bob along the docks for a day of action and offer private charters, or choose a more affordable family-friendly fishing trip for up to 100 people. If you’re looking for more booty than just a fresh fish dinner, several fishing tournaments on the Crystal Coast offer big cash prizes. For folks not keen on a salty day reeling in the sun, the quaint shopping district has lovely art galleries intermixed with antique stores, as well as the Morehead Center for the Performing Arts.

Pine Knoll Shores

Teddy Roosevelt’s family previously owned this peaceful, eco-friendly, residential community. The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is the second largest aquarium in the state and features animal feedings, live animal programs, dive presentations, and touch tanks with some of the most unique fresh and salt-water creatures. Expand your visit with a behind-the-scenes tour, kayak tour or fishing lessons for children. An attached ice cream shop and nearby beaches will delight everyone at this fun, interactive stop. ncaquariums.com

Emerald Isle

The most prominent of Crystal Coast’s banks, Emerald Isle is located at the western end of the Bogue Banks and named for its flourishing lush greenery. The town is also noted for its massive beachfront mansions known locally as “sand castles.” Its prime location sets it apart for watching the sunrise over the Bay side and the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.

Stop by Hot Wax Surf Shop for exercise combined with sightseeing as you glide along the water on a stand-up paddleboard or kayak. Guided flat-water eco-tours wind amidst the grassy outer banks to look for river dolphins and coastal birds—you might even spot a bald eagle. Rent a surfboard or take a lesson if you want to catch one of the Atlantic coast’s premier waves. hotwaxsurf.com Fill up hungry stomachs with lunch at The Village Market— sandwiches, salads and award-winning key lime pie won’t disappoint. The neighboring bait shop can help prepare you for some fishing action in the afternoon and evening.

After the sunset, stop by Amos Mosquito’s Swampside Café for some unique specialties in a down-home atmosphere. Don’t let the name fool you—there are no pesky mosquitos, except for the funky décor—and the seafood favorites will satisfy with their gourmet preparation and hearty flavor. Named after an old family joke, the restaurant’s husband and wife manager and chef stay busy with upscale family favorites popular with the locals. I can confidently recommend everything—and double-recommend the oysters and mojitos—which you might need after 9PM once karaoke starts. Be sure to pack a light jacket to sustain the coastal breezes as you stargaze along the shore—the Milky Way is in full view on a clear night.

Cape Lookout

Cape Lookout National Seashore offers a 56-mile stretch of unspoiled, undeveloped beaches accessible by boat—as always, ensure you have current navigational charts. Visit the historic black-and-white checkered lighthouse, watch for herds of wild Shackleford horses that roam freely, and fish or camp on the beach of this national seashore. Be sure to bring everything you might need, as there are no stores or restaurants—although they do have clean bathroom facilities and a covered pavilion. If you prefer to leave your boat in a safe marina, the Island Express Ferry Service departs from the town of Beaufort Gateway and Harkers Island Visitor Center with guided routes to Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks. islandexpressferryservices.com

With an endless list of activities, sightseeing, eating, drinking, and discovering to be had at North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks, set your course for these barrier islands this summer. Visit crystalcoastnc.com to plan your trip around one of the festivals, tours, and food and wine events held in these charming towns. I guarantee you’ll be planning your return trip before you even leave.

By Christine Carpenter, Southern Boating June 2014

Amuse the Crew

Cruise to these coastal amusement parks for memories the whole family will cherish.

Summer in the South is filled with hot, sunny days, making water and sweet tea key ingredients for cool family plans. And the more, the better! Lucky for me, my dad’s dad instilled a fervent love of boating in our family, and we have many memories of summers spent together on the water. When we weren’t on the boat we’d pack up the car and head to amusement parks. Turkey legs, cotton candy, roller coasters, and favorite movie characters parading down the streets at theme parks beckon the young—or simply the young at heart.

Lucky for boat-loving, adventure-seeking, family-oriented folk, many amusement and water parks have coastal locations, which make for dynamic family cruising destinations. From north to south, set your course this summer toward these amusing parks and ports for a fun, unique vacation your entire family will never forget—or outgrow.

Palace Playland Boardwalk Beachfront Amusement Park on the sandy shores of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, hails as New England’s only beachfront amusement park. Kiddie rides for your younger passengers, family-friendly water rides, and adrenaline-junkie drops and roller coasters suit cruisers of all ages. Passengers who opt out of rides will enjoy the old-fashioned carousel or the 24,000-square-foot arcade filled with classic games. palaceplayland.com

Marston’s Marina- 4.2 miles; (207) 283-3727; marstonsmarina.com

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Luna Park on Coney Island, New York, offers mild, moderate, high, and extreme thrill levels, so everyone on board will find their favorite. Luna Park is only four years old this May with a state-of-the-art facility that delights thousands of guests who visit the historic location each year. Luna Park is an ideal stop for cruisers who want to catch a cab, ride bikes or take a stroll as they cruise the northeast. lunaparknyc.com

Marine Basin Marina- 1.3 miles; (718) 372-5700; marinebasinmarina.com
Venice Marina- 2.7 miles; (718) 646-9283; shopvenicemarina.com
Kings Plaza Marina- 3.8 miles; (718) 344-3551; kingsaplazamarina.com
Sea Travelers Marina- 4.0 miles; (718) 377-0216; seatravelersmarina.com
Gateway Marina- 4.2 miles; (718) 252-8761; gwmarina.com

Rye Playland—a historic Amusement Park in Westchester County, New York, on Long Island Sound—has given cherished memories to families since 1928. One of the only government owned-and-operated amusement parks in the U.S., it welcomed guests after Hurricane Sandy pummeled the area. The park is newly renovated with a kiddie land, family rides, thrill rides, ice casino skating rink, and a private beach and pool. ryeplayland.org

Tide Mill Yacht Basin- 2.1 miles; (914) 967-2995; tidemill.com

Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Waterpark in Wildwood, New Jersey, is the Mecca of coastal boardwalk amusement parks. Five separate piers sit on the beach in a row—Mariner’s Landing Pier, Surfside Pier, Adventure Pier, Raging Waters Waterpark, and Ocean Oasis Waterpark & Beach Club—to offer extreme entertainment and an eclectic mix of family fun. Enjoy the Breakfast in the Sky package with white tablecloths and a gourmet menu aboard the charming ferris wheel. moreyspiers.com

Spray Dock Marina- 1.0 miles; (609) 522-1277; spraydock.com
Bridgeport Marina Family LLC- 1.0 miles; (609) 729-1244; bridgeportfamilymarina.com
Schooner Island Marina- 1.2 miles; (609) 729-8900; schoonerislandmarina.com
South Dock Marina- 1.4 miles; (609) 522-0900; southdocknj.com
Lighthouse Pointe Marina- 1.5 miles; (609) 729-2229; lhpmarina.org
Pier47 Marina- 2.4 miles; (609) 729-4774; pier47.com

Family Kingdom with Splashes Waterpark is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina’s only seaside amusement park, making this famous cruising destination an even better stop for families looking for cool summer plans. Six brand new rides complement old-time favorites such as the Swamp Fox wooden roller coaster, Log Flume and the 110-foot free-fall, Slingshot Drop Zone. For passengers who aren’t as comfortable zooming about, neighboring Splashes Waterpark offers slides, a lazy river and a children’s area. familykingdomfun.com

Hague Marina- 4.1 miles; (843) 293-2141; no website
Marina at Grande Dunes- 6.9 miles; (843) 315-7777; grandedunes.com
Osprey Marina & Grill- 8.7 miles; (843) 215-5353; ospreymarina.com
Marlin Quay Marina- 12 miles; (843) 651-4444; marlinquaymarina.com

Rapids Waterpark in Riviera Beach, Florida, is South Florida’s largest waterpark with 30 action-packed attractions and 35 of the biggest, wettest, most thrilling water rides. Prepare to get drenched on the Rapids Racer, Body Blasters, Alligator Alley, Big Surf wave pool, FlowRider wave simulator, Lazy River, and Tadpool kiddie section. Cabana rentals are available for comfort and relaxation. rapidswaterpark.com

Riviera Beach Marina- 3.4 miles; (561) 842-7806; rivierabeachmarina.com
Loggerhead Marina- 3.6 miles; (561) 840-6868; loggerheadrivierabeach.com
Rybovich Marina- 3.7 miles; (561) 844-1800; rybovich.com
Lake Park Marina- 3.8 miles; (561) 881-3353; lakeparkmarina.com
Palm Harbor Marina- 5.0 miles; (561) 655-4757; palmharbor-marina.com 

Sun-N-Fun Lagoon on Florida’s Gulf Coast in Naples welcomes families with many water attractions geared towards younger cruisers. The Dolphin Dive and Lap Pool allow for older visitors to show off their skills or work in some cardio as youngsters visit the park’s five water slides, Sunny’s River and Turtle Cove. napleswaterpark.com

Boat Clubs America- 5.0 miles; (239) 430-2582; boatclubcamerica.com
Cocohatchee River Marina- 5.0 miles; (239) 513-7919; colliergov.net
Bonita Bay Marina- 7.4 miles; (239) 495-3222; bonitabaymarinaclub.com
Naples Harbour- 8.0 miles; (239) 213-1441; floridamarinaclubs.com
Port-O-Call Marina- 8.8 miles; (239) 774-0479; naples-boatrentals.com

Busch Gardens is a one-of-a-kind, safari-themed amusement park in Tampa, Florida, with a collection of roller coasters that earns the moniker of Florida’s thrill ride leader. World-class shows such as the Iceploration and Madagascar Live, and attractions such as the Serengeti Railway, Bird Gardens and Serengeti Safari give plenty of options to your low-key cruisers. Multiple hands-on, educational experiences allow children and adults to appreciate the exotic African animals as they take a break from the Jungle Flyers, SandSerpent or other high-octane rides. buschgardens.com

Jean Street Shipyard- 3.8 miles; (813) 239-2526; jeanstreetshipyard.com
Ricks on the River- 6.2 miles; (813) 251-0369; ricksontheriver.com
Marjorie Park Marina- 7.8 miles; (813) 259-1604; tampagov.net 

Adventure Island located next to Busch Gardens is a premier 30-acre water park. Ten waterslides include the tandem Aruba Tube and Caribbean Corkscrew; four different pools range from a wave pool to the Paradise Lagoon and a Splash Attack kids zone; and Spike Zone beach volleyball courts are just a handful of attractions that entice cruisers. adventureisland.com

Shipwreck Island in Panama City, Florida, opened its 20-acre location the summer of 1983. It is widely known for its lush landscape, tasty treats and the professional, hospitable staff. The Tadpole Hole with its Pelican Slide and Silly Sub suits smaller guests, while the wave pool, lazy river, racing slides, raging rapids, and lagoon pool with rope swings entertain older cruisers. shipwreckisland.com

Bayside Marina of Panama City Beach, LLC- 4.6 miles; (850) 234-7650; baysidemarinapcb.com
Sun Harbor Marina- 5.5 miles; (850) 785-0551; no website
Capt. Anderson’s Marina- 5.6 miles; (850) 234-3435; captandersonsmarina.com
Treasure Island Marina- 5.7 miles; (850) 234-6533; treasureislandmarina.net
Lighthouse Marina- 5.7 miles; (850) 234-5609; lighthousemarinapcb.com
Pirates Cove Marina- 5.8 miles; (850) 234-3939; piratescovemarinapcb.com

Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City, Florida, just opened their brand-new, expanded location in April with three extra acres of rides and attractions. Nine new rides, a water playground, classic carnival games, and a midway devoted to delectable delicacies will delight everyone who spends a day at this coastal park. ms-pp.com

Waterville U.S.A. is an amusement and water park that covers 20 acres of the Alabama Gulf resort community of Gulf Shores—just a quarter mile from the beach. The waterpark admission includes all the waterslides, lazy river, wave pool, Shrimp Boat Village, Wa-Wa World, and Flowrider. The amusement park admission includes all the rides, the Nascart Go-Carts, 36-hole miniature golf, Trampoline Thing, Fun Depot kiddie rides, House of Bounce, and the full arcade. watervilleusa.com

Homeport Marina- 1.6 miles; (251) 968-4528; homeportmarina.net
Wharf Marina- 4.2 miles; (251) 224-1900; thewharfmarina.com

Schlitterbahn Waterparks have offered families splish-splashing fun since 1966 with three incredibly unique parks along Texas’ Gulf Coast in Galveston, South Padre Island, and a brand-new waterpark resort coming this summer to Corpus Christi. The combination of water rides and resort accommodations make Schlitterbahn a standout in waterparks across the country. schlitterbahn.com

Pelican Rest Marina- 1.1 miles; (409) 744-2618; pelicanrestmarina.com
The Marina at Teichman Point- 1.6 miles; (409) 692-9415; tpointmarina.com
Payco Marina- 1.7 miles; (409) 744-7428; paycomarina.com

By Christine Carpenter, Southern Boating June 2014

Hyatt River Marsh Marina

This marina houses 150 vessels at the luxurious Hyatt Resort on the Chesapeake Bay for comfort and convenience.

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the U.S. with hundreds of miles of shoreline to discover and explore. Located between Virginia and Maryland, its natural beauty makes it a famous vacation spot for cruisers and anglers alike. If Chesapeake is your destination, tie up at the Hyatt Regency Resort’s River Marsh Marina on the Choptank River.

River Marsh Marina has 150 slips for vessels up to 150 feet with water, electricity, cable TV, and wireless internet services. The Quarterdeck Store sells supplies, apparel and a variety of refreshments and alcoholic beverages. Overnight guests can utilize the Hyatt Regency’s many highly rated amenities via the complimentary shuttle to the hotel grounds.

If you opt to stay in one the Hyatt’s 400 cozy guestrooms, you’ll find a plethora of activities to keep you entertained. The most notable attractions are the 18-hole championship golf course, salon and spa, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and volleyball courts, and game room. Watersports are also offered, as well as a nature trail to enjoy the local flora and fauna.

The Hyatt Regency has seven restaurants to appease your appetite, including the Blue Point Provision for succulent seafood and the Water’s Edge Grill for regional favorites. The hotel caters for special occasions using 35,000 square feet of event space.

By Daniel Wagner, Southern Exposure June 2014

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