America’s Top 5 Boating Destinations: Coastal Edition

No matter where you live along the Pacific, Atlantic or Gulf coasts of the Lower 48, chances are you’ve got great boating nearby. From the deep blue currents off Southern California to the rocky coves and islands of Maine, and from the rich, mysterious waters of the Pacific Northwest to the glittering sandbars and mangrove creeks of Florida, it’s all good in its own way.

That being said, there are still little slices of boating paradise that stand out from the rest — a coastal boater’s bucket list, so to speak. Here are what we think are the top 5 saltwater boating destinations in the country.

Some people like crisp mornings; others like hot afternoons. Some people want a wilderness experience; others like to be around other boaters. At the end of the day, what makes a great boating destination is almost entirely subjective. Here’s how we decided on our top 5.

If we’re talking about destinations, that implies traveling to get to them. And for most boaters, traveling with a boat means trailering. So we looked for boating destinations that could be reasonably and safely enjoyed on most days during the boating season with a boat that can be trailered on the highway without any special equipment or permits — roughly 26 feet and under.

One of the best things about traveling to a new area with your boat is seeing its unique boating culture. What does that mean? Boat builders and refitters, marine supply stores, maritime museums, boat-in restaurants and bars, events like boat parades and poker runs, sandbar traditions, and so on. We looked for places with a rich boating history and vibrant boating culture.

Obviously, beautiful waters and coastlines are an important part of a great boating destination. It’s hard to find an area of the U.S. coast or coastal waters that’s not pretty in some way, but we favored areas that were especially scenic.

Cruising for no other reason than to be on the water is fine, but boating is always more fun with a destination or activity. For some, that might mean fishing. For others, it might be hanging out at the sandbar or beach, exploring an island, participating in an organized run, wildlife watching, or enjoying waterfront eateries and watering holes. All of these boating destinations offer several different activities.

Without further ago, here they are: our picks for the top 5 coastal boating destinations in the Lower 48. Life is short; start planning a trip today.

You knew this was going to be on the list. Crystal clear water; a year-round boating season; spectacular snorkeling and diving; world-class flats, reef and offshore fishing; hundreds and hundreds of boat-in restaurants, bars and hotels; and a boating-centric lifestyle — it’s basically a boaters’ paradise.

All of the Keys, from Key Largo to Key West, offer great year-round boating. Bigger boats are better suited to the middle and upper Keys; shallower draft boats can explore the extensive backcountry to the north of the lower Keys. Pick your area and explore from there, or, better yet, island hop down the chain, staying at boat-in hotels along the way. Winter and spring tend to be windier and busier, while summer is hotter, calmer and less crowded.

“Twenty-six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me” goes the old song. That particular distance is from Newport Beach, in Orange County, to Avalon, the only town on the island. You can also get to Catalina in a trailerable boat from Huntington Harbor, Los Angeles Harbor, Dana Point and Marina del Rey, all of which are in the range of 25 to 35 miles. The San Pedro Channel, separating Catalina from the mainland is not to be taken lightly, but it’s safely do-able on the majority of days.

Of course, the island and the surrounding waters are really the main attractions, with soaring sea cliffs, clear waters, secluded coves, an abundance of gray whales and sea lions, and excellent year-round fishing and diving around the extensive kelp beds.

It’s tough to pick just one destination on New England’s historic coastline, so we went with one that can also serve as a jumping-off point for a few more. Newport, of course, is a top-5 destination on its own, with a rich maritime history reaching back almost 500 years. But then add several other world-class boating hotspots within a few hours by water — Martha’s Vineyard, 37 miles; Block Island, 29 miles; Montauk, New York, 40 miles; and Mystic, Connecticut, 37 miles — and you’ve got something else entirely.

This storybook archipelago situated between northwestern Washington and Vancouver Island, Canada, is home to both spectacular wilderness and quaint villages. Just 5 miles or so from the mainland port of Anacortes, Washington, at their closest point, they are heavily forested and lightly populated. Known for secluded coves and beaches, small farms, charming shops and galleries, cozy accommodations and amazing whale watching, the San Juans are perfect for small-boat island hopping.

San Juan is home to Friday Harbor, the archipelago’s biggest town, and the picturesque Roche Harbor. Orcas is the lushest and wildest, with great kayaking and hiking. Many of the smaller islands have large areas of public parkland, camping areas and sheltered anchorages.

Surprisingly to many, the San Juans have abundant sunshine. They are situated squarely in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and receive roughly half the annual rainfall of Seattle and enjoy something on the order of 240 sunny days a year compared to Seattle at around 140 sunny days.

Annapolis might be better known for sailing than powerboating, but that doesn’t take anything away from it as a boating destination. Annapolis itself is great, with its multitude of waterfront points of interest, parks, marinas, restaurants and bars and boating woven into the fabric of the community.

Annapolis is also the site of not one, two or three, but four major boat shows, each year — two sail and two power — countless sailing regattas; powerboat races; and dozens of arts, music, food and drink festivals. And if you need a break from events, try fishing; rockfish (striped bass in other parts of the country), redfish, Spanish mackerel and bluefish.