East Coast Must See Locations

[Drogers100]

Hello Island Tractor,
We have cruised pretty extensively throughout Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay, Elizabeth Islands, Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, and northern Long Island Sound. I agree, Mystic is one of my favorite destinations.
We didn't find Stonington to be very pet friendly at all.
Loved Essex CT. Montauk and Shelter Island.

For anyone who hasn't been to Narragansett Bay, I highly recommend it. You can easily spend a couple of weeks cruising the bay with one great destination after another. Newport, Jamestown, Wickford, East Greenwich, Warwick, Bristol, and Fall River are all incredible locations. Waterfront restaurants / bars are abundant. Don't forget to see the WWII battleship, a destroyer that took part in the Cuban missile crisis, WWII submarine Lionfish along with the marine museum within walking distance in Fall River. The bay is protected, even when it's snotty outside.

We haven't traveled north very often as our summer is so short, we just can't seem to get motivated to head toward cooler temperatures. That being said I'm thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to initially head north which would offer some protection during hurricane season.

Thanks for the input!
Dave

[IslandTractor]

Originally Posted by Drogers100

Hello Island Tractor,
We have cruised pretty extensively throughout Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay, Elizabeth Islands, Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, and northern Long Island Sound. I agree, Mystic is one of my favorite destinations.
We didn't find Stonington to be very pet friendly at all.
Loved Essex CT. Montauk and Shelter Island.

For anyone who hasn't been to Narragansett Bay, I highly recommend it. You can easily spend a couple of weeks cruising the bay with one great destination after another. Newport, Jamestown, Wickford, East Greenwich, Warwick, Bristol, and Fall River are all incredible locations. Waterfront restaurants / bars are abundant. Don't forget to see the WWII battleship, a destroyer that took part in the Cuban missile crisis, WWII submarine Lionfish along with the marine museum within walking distance in Fall River. The bay is protected, even when it's snotty outside.

We haven't traveled north very often as our summer is so short, we just can't seem to get motivated to head toward cooler temperatures. That being said I'm thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to initially head north which would offer some protection during hurricane season.

Thanks for the input!
Dave

We cruise the same region. I'll repeat that while Narraganset Bay is wonderful (my home port) and the whole Mass/CT/RI coastline is world class cruising, you really shouldn't miss out on Maine. If you don't want to spend two days getting up there, charter a trawler up there. I can recommend Buck's Marina in Bucks Harbor. They have a few GBs and one Monk36 and are well run. Simply beautiful cruising and very sheltered. I've also brought a Monk36 down from Casco Bay to Narraganset Bay. Three easy days or two long days should do it with decent weather.

[Mischief Managed]

Originally Posted by IslandTractor

A few points. I assume you have already cruised the Elizabeth Islands, MV and Nantucket. Buzzards Bay and Woods Hole are worth a visit too:

You mention going south, but if you haven't already cruised Maine, it is at least as spectacular as anything south on the eastern seaboard. Don't miss it. Perhaps you've already cruised there but if not spend a day cruising from Swansea to Gloucester or Provincetown, overnight there then the next day get yourself into Casco Bay. That's good for several days of cruising before heading to Penobscot Bay which is the real gem. Maine is easily worth two or three weeks.

Long Island Sound has a number of interesting stops. I like Shelter Island and Fishers Island. Stonington is cute with excellent marine facilities. If you like old boats, Mystic is a great stop.

Agreed on Maine coast, we cruise there often and it's great. Kennebunkport and Saco offer excellent stops between MA and Casco Bay if you don't want to push it on day one. Saco is laid back, has free moorings and does not offer much to do on shore. Kennebunkport is much busier and AFAIK, the only options there are tran$ient $lip$, but it's a pretty cool town to visit.



We have always had a good time at Boothbay Harbor and it's a great stop on the way to Penobscot Bay. There's a really cool cruise you can do between Boothbay and Bath via the Sheepscot and Sasahoa Rivers. Parts of it feel more appropriate for a canoe than a trawler, but it's perfectly navigable. Speaking of Bath, I have not done so yet, but one of these days, I plan to cruise all the way to Augusta on the Kennebec River.



The Fox Islands Thorofare and Deer Island Thorofare are stupendously pretty in Penobscot Bay.



We did a lovely cruise last Summer to Mt Desert Island. It's really special. Somes Sound was a favorite stop and we spent three days there despite literally nothing to do on shore except walk.


If you do find yourself cruising from MA to Maine and want to stop in Hampton Beach, ping me. My home marina does not advertise transient slips (I'm working on that with management), but I could likely arrange something.

[Drogers100]

Will definitely ping you if we head that way, thanks for the invite!
Dave

[Duetto]

hi,

one of the best "side trips" we made was up the potomac to dc. we spent a week there at the yc. we could have spent another 3-4 days but it was time to move on. yc is walking distance to the mall.

one other thing. we invested in bikes (folding). only a few places have all you want to see right at marina/anchorage. bikes open up your explorations a lot.

[lady sue]

Go behind Staten Island (Kill van Kull) after visiting NYC, rather than via the oceans-side.
A fascinating piece of the marine/commercial side of our history. No obstacles, 100% cleaner than its old reputation, loads of boats of every size and use, 3 natural preserves--birds, mostly and a chance to traverse Raritan Bay from Perth Amboy to Sandy Hook. I wouldn't miss it.
Jim Ferry, Lady Sue, 1982 Mainship I

[Finally Fun Again]

We lived aboard our 50' DeFever for about 6 years, cruising full time and mostly at anchor. Our dink was our local transportation...we figured that saved us about $35,000 a year vs marina! AND the ambience is much much better. Top recommendations of our favs were the first 6 months learning our boat in the forgiving bottom of Chesapeake Bay - so many many wonderful places to explore. I urge you to take a look at the 'Triangle Loop', from Hudson River, west on the Erie Canal then heading across the Lake to Ottawa. Onward thru the Rideau and Richleau Canals in Canada with all their history and fun, coming back down Lake Champlain back to where you started in NY. Charleston, SC, ALWAYS in a Marina as currents rip thru there, is worthy of a couple weeks. In Key West, where we spent an entire winter our first year - go for the City mooring field for about $300 for the month! Super place, with showers, bike rakes, automatic pump out 1x a week, etc. Bike or walk into town. Get the old Skipper Bob books, along with Waterway Guide and Active Captain. My blog for the 6 years, including two in the Caribbean is here with lots of specifics if you are interested. Have a blast! http://finallyfunadventures.blogspot.com

[tomdove]

I see that you and several others are in Swansea, where my daughter and her family live. Small world. There's a chance we'll be cruising up there next summer, depending on how COVID recovery unfolds in the Northeast vs the Thousand Islands and Lake Ontario.

But to your question. My answers carry personal biases:
1. As mentioned, Waterway Guide is the standard reference. Full disclosure: I've been a Cruising Editor there for a couple of decades.
2. Join the Marine Trawler Owners' Association (https://mtoa.clubexpress.com) to get hooked up with outstanding ICW information and advice. It's the best cruising money you'll spend.
3. Look up Bob Sherer's blog (https://fleetwing.blogspot.com) for up-to-date cruising information on the ICW, including destination reports. He's been doing the Waterway for many years, often starting from the upper Hudson river.
4. Allow lots of time. The Chesapeake is worth at least a week or two. I suggest six weeks as a good pace from the Chesapeake to Florida.
It appears that you have already explored New England and Long Island Sound, so you'll probably just make a beeline to the Chesapeake from Narragansett Bay. That's about a week at trawler speeds. There's really nothing worth stopping for between NYC and the upper Chesapeake IMHO and most of us treat the New Jersey shore and Delaware Bay as necessary evils.
As a native Marylander who has sailed the entire East coast for over 60 years, I think the Chesapeake is the finest place to cruise anywhere, at least for four months of the year: May-June and September-October. Summers are too hot and winters too cold for my taste and age but others enjoy them.
So expect to be south of Norfolk by early November and south of the Carolinas by December. Perhaps the coldest I've ever been was in North Carolina waters one November.
The best annual cruising book for my home waters was Chesapeake Bay Magazine's Guide to Cruising Chesapeake Bay, but that's now discontinued. You could still use a recent used copy, though. Another disclaimer: I was Technical Editor and a contributor to CBM for many years.
The best detailed regional cruising guide is William Shellenberger's "Cruising the Chesapeake: A Gunkholer's Guide", which is also out of print since he died. It's still timely enough to be the Bible for detailed information.
It's a wonderful route. Enjoy it repeatedly. And the trip back north will feel totally different from the trip south.
Contact me when you're in the Annapolis area and perhaps we can rendezvous.

[contingensea]

Originally Posted by Drogers100

Hello everyone,
My wife and I are planning a trip down the east coast in 2-3 years, depending on when my financial guy says my retirement egg is ready to hatch. We're looking for advice on must see locations along the way. We will be leaving from upper Naragansett Bay in the fall.
We're looking for places with easily accessible anchorages, museums, hiking, sight seeing, restaurants / bars preferred.
Is there any way to possibly meet up with others planning a run down the coast at the same time?
Thanks,
Dave

Hi Dave,
You may want to consider joining AGLCA.
http://greatloop.org/

Many members travel the East Coast and some provide AICW navigation tracks to help with avoiding hazards along the way.

Bob Sherer, Bob423 Cruising the ICW with Bob423
Has gpx files for download specific to the AICW.

[vtmackey]

Can't beat NE for all the reasons mentioned. Is this a round trip whether over several years or not? Either way make a list of all the places you'd like to visit, do half on the way down and half on the way up. Get a copy of the East Coast Anchorages book, great resource. Joe

[Bryant]

Originally Posted by Drogers100

Hello everyone,
My wife and I are planning a trip down the east coast in 2-3 years, depending on when my financial guy says my retirement egg is ready to hatch. We're looking for advice on must see locations along the way. We will be leaving from upper Naragansett Bay in the fall.
We're looking for places with easily accessible anchorages, museums, hiking, sight seeing, restaurants / bars preferred.
Is there any way to possibly meet up with others planning a run down the coast at the same time?
Thanks,
Dave

Oxford and St Michaels Md. Okrakoke, Oriental, New Bern, Cape Lookout (where sea turtles will swim next to your boat and you will hear them blow when they come up), Beaufort (all in NC). Georgetown SC. Jacksonville, Fl up the St Johns river. Down the ICW to Stuart then out to Bimini (46 miles away), back to Miami and to Islamorada. All great destinations. Just do it in not hurricane season. If you cross the Gulf Stream just make sure that the wind is from the south. Don't try to cross the Gulf Stream if there is any component of a North wind.

[Alaskaflyer]

Georgia: Cumberland Island National Seashore - Ice House Museum dock in the East River. Definitely walk over to the ocean side for undeveloped beaches, better yet do an all-day hike on the trails to stretch your legs. https://letsembark.io/redirect-place...8265/new_place

Jekyl Island Club, dock at The Wharf. http://jekyllclub.com. Book a room for a date night off of the boat, or simply eat breakfast, lunch, tea or dinner and walk around the place, which is a historic landmark, was a winter getaway for a lot of the prominent families from the early twentieth century.

Less interesting but worth an hour or two is nearby downtown St Mary’s, a couple museums easy walk from the dock.

[CarlF]

We've done the ICW round trip five times so we can be in Maine in summer and Bahamas in winter. Our home port is Bristol, RI but the boat is rarely there. A few general tips:

Don't forget Maine. It's our favorite cruising ground - and the same for many other people.

Most insurance will require you to be north from June 1 to November 1. Find insurance that draws the "line" (also called the "box") at the Florida border. Some insurance companies requires you to stay north of Virginia. This is inconvenient.

We are not full time live aboard. We spend about 1/3rd of the year on the boat - but broken up into 2 week to 2 month segments. There are lots of marinas with good monthly rates where we feel comfortable leaving the boat and flying out.

The toughest part of the trip South is if you wait too long into the fall before getting out of New England. The weather can fall apart early. Try to get to Cape May by September 10. After that you are in protected water all the way to Florida and there's no hurry.

In the ICW, we do 100 miles every three days. Two days of 50 miles and a day off for provisioning, rain-day, and sightseeing. We also take a full week off in two places. Charleston and some where else. The ICW is no fun if you are in a hurry.

Join the ICW Facebook group "Cruising the ICW by Bob423". Get AquaMap on an iPad as a planning guide. It includes ActiveCaptain

Don't miss the Bahamas. It's why we make the trip. Best weather months are March and April. The crossing from Florida to the first island is only 45 miles but you sometimes have to wait a while for the right weather to cross the Gulf Stream. Some of our best "retirement" friends are ones we've met in the Bahamas. The small "family islands" are just beautiful with friendly people and great anchorages.

It's very easy to make friends on the ICW and in the Bahamas. You'll see the same boats over an over and get to know them each night at the marinas. Get some "boat cards" printed with name, email, and a picture of you and the boat. I keep a list of the boats we've met over the years. Must be 300 names by now.

[Drogers100]

Duetto: Hello, we plan on doing Washington DC either coming or going. I am currently looking at folding electric bikes. Thanks!

lady sue: I have been by Staten Island and the statue of liberty but never through Kill van Kull, sounds great, thanks!


Finally Fun Again: Great Blog! I also like Skipper Bob's, Active Captain and Waterway Guide. Thanks for the info...

tomdove: I've looked into MTOA however didn't join as there are very few marinas that participate in the northeast. Thanks for directing me to Bob Sherer's blog, it's full of great info that will give me hours of enjoyment through this winter. I will look for the Chesapeake Cruising Guides and purchase. If you get up to the Narragansett Bay area this summer, contact me, hopefully we can meet up.

contingensea: Loved Bob Sherer's Blog, great info. I've looked into the AGLCA and will take another look to see if it's worth the money, Thanks!

vtmackey: The list is already being put together. Do you mean Skipper Bob's East Coast Anchorages?

Bryant: Thanks for the great info.

Alaskaflyer: Thanks for the great information, we had planned to stop at Jeckyl Island but will definitely look into your other recommendations.

CarlF: I've already joined Bob423's Facebook page and the boat cards should be printing as I type this. We are thinking about starting to head south end of September / beginning of October to keep ahead for the cold. We definitely won't miss the Bahamas. If your in Bristol this spring or summer, please contact me, we try to spend a good amount of time in Bristol on the town moorings, perhaps we can meet up....

Thanks,
Dave

[CarlF]

Dave,

Be careful not to leave too late. It's not the cold, it's the beginning of the winter gales that are the problem. They seem to come earlier with climate change.

Two years ago I left New England Boatworks on October 1. I'd had the boat hauled for some work and were delayed launching. I left the same morning the boat went back in the water. I'm a 55ft heavy boat but it was still touch and go between the blows. I didn't take my wife but a strong young crew who could handle rough weather. We went all night and through the East River at dawn. It was rough off NJ. We finally ducked into Atlantic City because 35 knot winds were forecast for the night. The next morning it was still blowing over 25 but fortunately off the land so we hugged the shore to keep out of the seas and made it to Cape May. The wind then went back up to 40knots. Once you make it to Cape May, you are all set.

It's not this bad every year but if you get delayed you can become trapped in New England. The same year a good friend at New England Boat was waiting for parts before going. He was ready to leave on October 6 but didn't get a weather window until December 9. It was 25 degrees as he left. Ice on the decks.

I now leave RI by September 10.

[Drogers100]

Great advice, thanks

[psneeld]

Delaware Bay can be worse than the ocean if the wind gets above 25 or so and directly opposes the current.

The Chesapeake can be a butt kicker too...especially when sometimes it's big on the beam.

But generally better stuck in Cape May rather than New York.

[Drogers100]

Thanks for the advice, that's the way Buzzards Bay is up here, fetches up in no time.

[halfmoon]

Near east end of Albemarle Sound is Edenton. Free two days docking at protected town dock. See “Visit Edenton.com” for information. En route, Albemarle Plantation Marina on Yeopim River usually has good price on diesel. Forbes.com has labeled Edenton as “The Prettiest Small Town in the South.” I consider this town to be a “must see.”

[bayview]

Every town has a story if you choose to find it. Towns along the waterway started there when the water was the best transportation method. They always have some local history and story if you ask the right questions of some of the older residents. I found breakfast places near the water where local hang out the be a good place to start. Just ask some guys in a group and see what you learn.

A delight of boat cruising is that you are not driving past interesting stuff you don't see at 60 MPH on the interstate. Forget the bikes just walk. Don't just blast through town and get your tourist card punched.