History in the Making

Before there were luxurious motor yachts with combustion engines, there were just boats with motors. Before there were mere motorboats, people traveled in a more traditional way. Namely, sailing.

This winter, those along the Eastern Seaboard might be able to see a piece of that the traditional way of navigating the ocean waters.

The Tall Ship Oliver Hazard Perry, the newest in the fleet of Tall Ships, will leave Newport, Rhode Island at the tail-end of January and set sail to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This means that you may be able to experience a small slice of history. The ship, which is designated as a sailing school, provides a glimpse into how mariners used to traverse the open waters.

The 200-foot ship will then head to Bermuda before sailing back to Fort Lauderdale where she will be based through March. The sailing school is offering two incredible opportunities for explorers of all ages to participate in round-trip voyages to Cuba. The first is scheduled for March 10th through 18th and the second March 18th through 26th.

An additional passage will take place from Bermuda back to Newport on April 14th through 22nd.

The Oliver Hazard Perry’s mission is to provide innovative and empowering education-at-sea programs. These voyages promote personal and professional growth for all ages.

While the voyages to Cuba are targeted towards high school and college students, there are a limited number of berths available for adventurous adults. However, the Bermuda and Newport passages are designated for any adult to wants to learn the skills of offshore celestial navigation and marine meteorology.

“Simply visiting somewhere like Cuba is exciting in itself, but it’s quite another thing to arrive on a Tall Ship where you have been fully immersed in the adventure and responsible for actually getting yourself there,” said Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island Executive Director Jessica Wurzbacher.

For more information about the trips or the ship, visit the Oliver Hazard Perry website.

Southern Boating January 2017

How much do you know about St. Petersburg?

Coming soon: the St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show. The show runs November 29th through December 2nd at two locations: Duke Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin and Albert Whitted Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. A varied selection of power boats and sailboats will be on display in water and on land.

St. Petersburg, home of the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB) and The Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL), has a rich history of maintaining an equal balance of nature, culture, sport, and leisure.

In 1875, Detroit native General John Williams bought 2,500 acres of land in Tampa Bay. His vision was a grand city with graceful parks and broad streets, both of which remain in modern St. Pete. The 1920s brought an influx of tourists by auto, railroad, and yacht—making St. Petersburg a resort haven through the 1930s and 1940s. The 1950s brought retirees and snowbirds. In the mid-1970s St. Petersburg admirably built the world’s largest reclamation system and remains committed to water reclamation today.

Since the early 2000s, St. Petersburg has emerged as a top destination for the arts–the new Dali Museum opened in 2011, as well as six art districts. Numerous bars, restaurants, cafes, and breweries have popped up in the city as well. Cage Brewery is one of the best local breweries in town (known for their Mango IPA).

St. Pete is one of those rare places that has both outstanding, and slightly quirky, attractions.

First, the outstanding: visit only-in-St. Pete art attractions such as The Dalí Museum and Chihuly Collection. Family-friendly places to visit include the tranquil Sunken Gardens, Florida Botanical Gardens, the popular Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Great Explorations Children’s Museum.

Plus, you aren’t far away from Busch Gardens or the Disney Parks—check out these and other awesome nearby attractions that are within driving distance. Working on a budget? Here are some suggestions for affordable family-friendly things to do—including quality time on our award-winning beaches, which are stunning attractions all on their own.

Get historical with a visit to pre-Columbian Indian shell mounds, called middens, which you’ll find throughout the area. Ten thousand years of local history are on display at the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History. A moving afternoon awaits at the Florida Holocaust Museum.

And now, the unusual: Strap on a jetpack and try your hand at JetLevin the Gulf of Mexico, exclusively at TradeWinds Island Resort. How about zip lining 60-feet above a natural preserve, spotting wildlife along the way at Empower Adventures Tampa Bay? Party like a pirate on a pirate cruise out of Clearwater or John’s Pass. And at Pier 60 in Clearwater, come to say hello to our quirky street performers at sunset every single evening.

St. Petersburg is surrounded by 244 miles of shoreline, making it prime for boat shows—which is where we’ll be this weekend! If you happen to be attending the show, be sure to stop grab a copy of Southern Boating. We’ll be on the racks!

Tag: history lesson