BackTHE GREAT MIGRATION
As you move your yacht north along the eastern seaboard this Summer, here are our top 5 destinations we think you’ll enjoy this year.
Spring is in full swing, with the summer boating season well in sight. If you’re planning on taking your boat up from the Caribbean this year, here are some of our favorite places to stop, complete with marina and restaurant recommendations.
- Harbour Island, Eleuthera
The Bahamas’ closest impersonation of St. Barth’s, Harbour Island, is a spot you won’t want to miss. Situated on Eleuthera’s northern end, this destination offers easy access to three different marinas (Valentines, Romora Bay, and Brilands). With pink beaches and swimming pigs, this is a quintessential place for that special brand of Bahamian relaxation. There’s also a solid, but not overwhelming restaurant and nightlife scene, making Harbour Island the best of both worlds.
- Fort Lauderdale
At 25 knots, Fort Lauderdale is an eight-hour poke from Harbour Island, and the Yachting Capital of the World is the best place to make sure your boat is all set for the coming season. With a cornucopia of full-service marinas to choose from (Bahia Mar is a favorite), and an unrivaled selection of yacht-service companies in a concentrated area, Lauderdale is a captain’s dream. While in town, hit the shops on Las Olas Boulevard and then refuel on delicious Italian food at Louis Bossi’s. Or go to Coconuts on the water for seafood. (Try the Scooby Snacks and thank us later.)
- St. Augustine
Just shy of 300 miles north of Lauderdale is America’s oldest city, St. Augustine. With deep water and easy access, the Municipal Marina is a perennial favorite for docking. The city itself has a cool and chic Old Spanish style, and the streets are lined with walls with bars and restaurants cut right into them. A college town, St. Augustine is incredibly vibrant and also very walkable. It’s the perfect destination to step off your boat for a weekend and get lost exploring.
- Charleston
Charleston is a 180-mile hop from St. Augustine, which means if you leave early in the morning, and run at 27 knots, you can make a late lunch at one of the city’s myriad excellent restaurants. Dock the boat either at the Charleston City Marina or the Harborage at Ashley. For a special night out try the city’s famous Husk restaurant where the hot Nashville dumplings and ricotta doughnuts are a hit. For something more casual head over to Edmund’s Oast Brewery for pub fare and 20 house-brewed beers on tap.
- Sag Harbor
Long Island’s Sag Harbor is a focal point for all your Hamptons-centric boating as the spring gives way to the summer season. The amount of restaurants in this area can’t be beat, and if you have a boat, it’s easy to go by water to the excellent vineyards on the North Fork, or to shoot over to Montauk for the best lobster roll you’ve ever had. Or perhaps you’d like to make the jump over to beautiful Block Island for the day. Just a stone’s throw from New York City, Sag Harbor is a boater’s oasis that is also a great place to see and be seen.