July is wrapping up, but summertime weather lasts long into September here in the Sunshine State. While Florida offers opportunities throughout the year to enjoy the beach, this is really the prime time to enjoy the surf. For boat owners throughout the state, these are the months where your boat is going to get the most use. Looking for some recommendations for where to set sail this summer? Here are the top boating destinations in the state of Florida.
- Stuck in Customs / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
Tampa Bay
Named one of the Top 10 Places to Live and Boat by Boating Magazine, the Tampa Bay area offers ample entertainment for boaters and landlubbers alike. The Bay Area, which encompasses Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, has a great reputation for fishing and sightseeing by boat thanks to the fact all three regions are connected by water. Marinas in the area often offer boat parking by the hour for boaters who want to dock to get a bite to eat or stock up on supplies.
Tampa Bay is also the state’s largest estuary, featuring several islands and keys to visit by boat. Caladesi Island is one of a few state parks that offers boat docking perfect for an afternoon of island exploration. The Bay Area is also just north of Sarasota and Anna Maria Island, another great boating destination. The area offers bountiful sunshine throughout the year, but in the summertime, it’s best to take a boat out in the morning before the afternoon thunderstorms roll in. Tampa has the reputation of being the lightning capital of the world, so boaters should prepare to dock before the storms roll in.
- Daniel Peckham / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
The Florida Keys
Encompassing more than 125 miles, the Florida Keys offer more boating opportunities than any other region in the world. Beginning in Biscayne National Park and stretching as far south as Key West, each island in the Florida Keys offers its own attractions for travelers. Key Largo is favored among scuba divers thanks to the exploration opportunities its shipwrecks and reefs offer, and deep-sea fishers love Islamorada, dubbed the Sportfishing Capital of the World.
Perhaps the best known out of the Florida Keys is Key West, the southernmost point of the United States. Aside from the aquatic adventures Key West has in store, there are plenty of onshore adventures for travelers who want to dock their boats for a few hours. Visit Ernest Hemingway’s home and try to catch a glimpse of the famed six-toed cats that roam the streets. If you want to grab a cocktail, head to Duval Street, which features bars and restaurants with live music for you to enjoy. If you decide not to watch the sun set from the boat, take part in a Key West tradition and head to Mallory Square where people gather to watch the sun set each evening.
- derek slagle / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
Fort Lauderdale
Named another one of Boating Magazine’s Top 10 Places to Live and Boat, Fort Lauderdale features 165 miles of canals and waterways that stretch throughout the city. Traveling by boat has become so popular that the city has even developed its own bus system that runs on the water. It’s no wonder that Fort Lauderdale has been called the Venice of America.
If you’re interested in exploring other boating options and accessories, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show takes place here every October, and it’s known as the world’s largest in-water boat show. Aside from that, the Gulf Stream is only a few miles offshore from Fort Lauderdale, which attracts blue-water anglers, and there are coral reefs nearby for anyone interested in scuba diving.
