Best boating destinations in North America
Best boating destinations in North America
Extensive lake networks and protected ocean sounds in North America
North America's boating offer spans an enormous geographic range, from the canal and river systems of the interior and the Great Lakes cruising grounds to the coastal motor cruising environments of both seaboards and the liveaboard diving circuits of the Caribbean and Pacific. The continent's most compelling boating destinations combine exceptional natural settings and wildlife encounters with practical marina and anchorage infrastructure that supports extended time on the water.
The inland river and canal systems offer some of the most rewarding slow travel boating experiences available, with historic waterways, working river communities and landscapes accessible only by water forming the core of the experience. Coastal motor cruising along both seaboards delivers dramatic scenery and wildlife encounters alongside well-developed marina infrastructure across the most popular cruising grounds.
Licence requirements for self-skippered motor charter vary by state and vessel size and checking requirements before booking is essential. Weather windows vary considerably by region and seasonal timing is a critical planning factor across most destinations. Peak season availability at the most popular boating destinations books out well in advance and early reservation is advisable.
Lists by region
Outer Territory in United Kingdom
Turks and Caicos Islands
Sun-drenched beaches with crystal waters
Water shifts from pale green to deep blue within a few boat lengths. Day boats cross the Caicos Bank to empty cays. A deep wall drops off near Grand Turk. Humpback whales pass through the Turks Island Passage from January to March. Salt Cay, a quiet island with old salt ponds, makes a calm stop.
Island in Bahamas
Paradise Island
Turquoise Waters and Endless Thrills
Superyachts glow beside the Atlantis resort after dark. A bridge links the island to Nassau and water taxis cross the harbour in minutes. Ferries leave for Blue Lagoon Island, a small cay with beaches and a calm lagoon. Charter boats leave the marina for snorkel trips and sunset sails.
National Park in United States
Glacier Bay National Park
Majestic glaciers and pristine wilderness
Booming cracks echo across the water when ice breaks off a tidewater glacier. Small boats and kayaks glide through bays that were under ice about 250 years ago. Humpback whales feed in the channels each summer. A park ranger boards cruise ships to explain the place.
National Park in Costa Rica
Tortuguero National Park
Wildlife and Waterways Adventure
Green sea turtles nest on the beach from July to October. Guides lead night walks to watch them. Boat tours glide along the canals at dawn when birds and monkeys are active. The park has canals instead of roads. Every trip is by boat or on foot.
State/Prefecture in United States
Alaska
Land of superlatives and adventure
The Inside Passage threads between forested islands and snowy peaks for hundreds of miles. Small ships and kayaks slip past humpback whales, sea lions and bald eagles. Glaciers drop icebergs into quiet fjords. Ferries and small boats are the main way to reach many towns here, since no roads connect them.
Country
Antigua and Barbuda
Tropical paradise with pristine beaches
Warm trade winds fill the sails along reef lined coasts. Antigua has deep bays for anchoring overnight. Barbuda has pink sand beaches and a shallow lagoon. Boat tours cross the lagoon to see thousands of frigate birds nesting in the mangroves. The two islands lie about 25 miles apart.
Outer Territory in United States
U.S. Virgin Islands
Caribbean Paradise with U.S. Convenience
St. Thomas and St. John sit just a few miles apart. More than half of St. John is national park with day moorings in bays like Francis and Maho. Charlotte Amalie harbour on St. Thomas is a busy hub for charters. Boats from Christiansted on St. Croix take snorkellers to Buck Island Reef National Monument.
City in United States
Miami
Vibrant City of Sun and Fun
Each February the Miami International Boat Show fills the waterfront with yachts and sailboats. Biscayne Bay is shallow and sheltered with warm water most of the year. Boaters cruise past Stiltsville, a small group of wooden houses built on stilts in the bay. Sandbars and mangrove islands make easy stops for a swim.
City in Mexico
Cabo San Lucas
Arches, Beaches, Nightlife and Adventure
Like a gate between two seas, the stone arch called El Arco rises at the tip of Baja. Water taxis and glass bottom boats run there from the marina. Sea lions rest on the rocks below. Sport fishing boats chase marlin and tuna. Humpback whales pass close from December to April.
Region in Mexico
Baja California Sur
Desert meets ocean adventure land
The Sea of Cortez runs along the eastern side of this long desert peninsula. Kayakers paddle between rocky islands near La Paz. Boats take visitors to Espiritu Santo Island to swim with sea lions. Whale watchers head to Magdalena Bay on the Pacific side in winter.
City in United States
Newport (Rhode Island)
Coastal charm meets historic elegance in Newport
Fort Adams State Park looks over Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. Newport hosted the America's Cup yacht races from 1930 to 1983. Today tall wooden schooners and racing sloops fill the harbour in summer. The Newport Bermuda Race starts here in June in even numbered years.
City in United States
Miami Beach
The ultimate blend of sun, sand and Art Deco charm
Many locals reach dinner by boat. They tie up at waterfront restaurants along the Intracoastal Waterway and step ashore. Sunset cruises circle Star Island, where celebrity homes line the shore. The Miami Beach Marina sits near Government Cut, the channel to the open ocean. The Bahamas island of Bimini lies about 50 miles east.
Outer Territory in United Kingdom
British Virgin Islands
Pristine sailing paradise with beaches
Sailors here follow a simple routine. They hop one short sail at a time between islands that sit within sight of each other. At Jost Van Dyke, boaters swim ashore to the Soggy Dollar Bar and pay with wet cash. Many charter a sailboat with a captain or sail it themselves.
State/Prefecture in United States
Florida
Sunshine State, Endless Adventure
The Intracoastal Waterway gives boaters a protected route along Florida's east coast. Calm lagoons, mangrove creeks and sandbars dot both coasts. The Florida Keys run about 120 miles out to sea. Manatees gather in winter at spring fed rivers such as the Crystal River. Charter boats leave from nearly every harbour.
City in United States
Key West
Tropical charm at the end of the road
Fort Jefferson rises from the sea in Dry Tortugas National Park, about 70 miles west of Key West. A ferry or private boat makes the trip. Back in town, schooners with tall masts leave the harbour for sunset sails. The reef just offshore has clear water for snorkelling.
Island in United States
Oahu
Hawaii’s Vibrant Island Adventure
The USS Arizona Memorial marks the battleship sunk at Pearl Harbor in 1941. A Navy boat carries visitors across the harbour to it. Elsewhere on the island kayakers paddle to a sandbar in Kaneohe Bay. Catamarans sail from Waikiki beach at sunset. Whale watch boats leave Honolulu harbour in winter.
Country
Greenland
Arctic wilderness with ice landscapes
Boat trips run from June to September after the sea ice pulls back. At Ilulissat, boats cruise among towering icebergs that break off the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier. Whales feed in Disko Bay in summer. Towns here have no road links so boats connect them. The midnight sun gives hours of light for evening trips.
City in United States
Juneau
Glaciers, whales and wild Alaska
Unlike every other US state capital, this one has no road to the outside world. Ferries and planes bring people in. Whale watching boats leave the harbour to find humpbacks and orcas in the channel. Others cruise to Tracy Arm fjord for waterfalls and blue ice.
Overseas Territory in France
Saint Barthélemy
Luxury Island with Caribbean Charm
Each March, big sailing yachts race around the island in the Bucket Regatta. Gustavia harbour fills with tall masts and superyachts. Day boats anchor off Colombier, a beach with no road to it. Catamarans also stop at Ile Fourchue for snorkelling. The island covers about eight square miles.
Country
Saint Lucia
Tropical paradise with volcanic mountains
Each December, sailors finish the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers at Rodney Bay. The crossing starts in the Canary Islands. Boat trips along the west coast pass the Pitons, twin volcanic peaks that rise straight from the sea. Catamarans stop for snorkelling over coral reefs. Rodney Bay Marina is a busy hub for charters.
Island in Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua
365 beaches and turquoise waters
British warships used English Harbour as a base in the 1700s. Nelson's Dockyard still stands there beside sleek sailboats and superyachts. Antigua Sailing Week fills the harbour with racing crews each spring. Steady trade winds blow most of the year. Hike to Shirley Heights at sunset to look down on the boats.
Island in United States
Mackinac Island
Historic charm meets pristine lakeside serenity
Horse hooves and lapping waves replace engine noise on an island that bans cars. Ferries cross the Straits of Mackinac from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. Every July two famous sailboat races finish at the island. One starts in Chicago and the other in Port Huron.
Island in United States
Maui
Island of Sun, Surf and Serenity
The Auau Channel between Maui and Lanai is sheltered from the strongest trade winds. Humpback whales come to breed here from December to April. Snorkel boats run out to Molokini, a crescent shaped volcanic crater half sunk in the sea. Sailboats leave Lahaina harbour for sunset trips.
State/Prefecture in United States
Hawaii
Tropical Vibes and Volcanic Wonders
Outrigger canoe paddling is the official team sport of Hawaii. Crews race across the Molokai Channel each October in the Molokai Hoe. Catamarans cruise past the sea cliffs of the Na Pali Coast on Kauai. Humpback whales fill the channels from December to April. Spinner dolphins ride the bow waves of tour boats.
Country
Belize
Tropical paradise with diverse ecosystems
Sailing is easiest from December to May when winds are steady and rain is light. Sailboats hop between small sandy islands called cays inside the reef. The barrier reef runs about 190 miles along the coast. Boats also reach the Great Blue Hole, a giant marine sinkhole.
State/Prefecture in United States
Louisiana
Cajun Soul and Vibrant Culture
Steamboats once carried cotton and passengers down the Mississippi River. The steamboat Natchez still churns out of New Orleans on daily river cruises. Small boats and airboats glide through bayous in the Atchafalaya Basin past cypress trees and alligators. Guides share Cajun stories and point out herons.
Island in Bahamas
Great Exuma Island
Crystal clear waters and tranquility
The Exumas are a chain of about 365 cays that stretch for roughly 120 miles. Great Exuma is the main island. George Town hosts the Family Island Regatta each April where local wooden sloops race. Day boats visit Big Major Cay where wild pigs swim out to greet visitors.
Island
St. Martin
Dual-Nation Beaches, Cuisine and Culture
Where most islands have one flag, this one has two. The French and Dutch sides share Simpson Bay Lagoon, a big sheltered harbour. Bridges open for yachts at set times. Every March a big regatta draws racing sailboats and cheering crowds. Day boats run to Anguilla and Tintamarre Island.
Island in Turks and Caicos Islands
Providenciales
Turquoise Waters Meet White-Sand Beaches
The island sits on the edge of the Caicos Bank, a wide shelf of shallow turquoise water. Boats run to quiet cays for picnics and snorkelling. Chalk Sound National Park has a lagoon dotted with tiny rock islands. Paddleboarders glide across it in still water. Sailing charters leave from Leeward Marina.
Country
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
One destination, 32 islands, countless possibilities
The Tobago Cays are five tiny islands ringed by a horseshoe shaped reef. Sailboats anchor in calm turquoise water while green sea turtles graze on the seagrass. Bequia has a long boat building tradition and a busy harbour at Admiralty Bay. The Grenadines have dozens of small islands within easy sailing distance.
City in Bahamas
Nassau
Turquoise Waters, Colorful History, Island Vibes
Where the Out Islands feel quiet, this busy harbour is a starting point for many Bahamas boat trips. Catamarans and speedboats run to Rose Island, a short ride away with reefs and beach bars. Sailors use the harbour as a base before heading south to the Exumas.
City in United States
Fort Lauderdale
Venice of America's Sunny Shores
Developers dug many of the city's canals in the 1920s. Today about 300 miles of waterways wind past homes with yachts parked at the back door. Water taxis hop between hotels, restaurants and beaches. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show takes over the marinas each autumn.
Archipelago in Canada
Gulf Islands
Sunlit islands with lush rainforest trails
Bedwell Harbour on Pender Island has mooring buoys for visiting boats. Winter Cove on Saturna Island has sheltered moorage and a dinghy dock. D'Arcy Island is mainly reached by sea kayak. The national park reserve was established in 2003 and covers 16 islands and over 30 islets and reefs.
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