Travelers' Joint

^6 Best Spots and Islands in the US for Sailing : By the Bay

There are many Islands in the US, both named and unnamed. It probably won’t be enough for a simple citizen like me (and you) to go hopping on each of them within this lifetime. One, it will cost a lot and yes, one needs all the time in their hands to visit each one of them. Lucky would be Charles A Veley and Bill Altaffer and some others who have traveled most of the world. I bet they have been to almost if not all the islands in the US.

US islands have become popular tourist destinations and most visited would be Hawaii,  Texas, Florida, Washington, Rhode Islands, even San Francisco Bay, and South Carolina. These destinations are also great if you love the water, you can sail or boat to your heart’s content or just be that…near the water, swim, watch the waves while contemplating on the beauty of life.

San Francisco Bay, California

There’s surely a lot of things to do in San Francisco, exploring Ferry Plaza Farmer’s market the freshest produce,  hike or drive to the summit at Twin Peaks, or simply enjoy the SF Botanical Gardens – but sailing by the Bay area gives you a different perspective of famous spots in the famed city (and county). See the Golden Gate Bridge from under, and then walk around Baker beach at sunset for a different feel.

Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf are must-sees too! And Bubba Gump Shrimps fresh seafood a must-try. There are of course, an array of other restaurants to choose from to fill your tummy after enjoying the arcades.

San Francisco is home to some of the most beautiful houses the world over. Make sure you see The Painted ladies (or Postcard Row), the most photographed tourist attraction there. A little walk further and you’ll find the Full House, the Olsen twins first TV sitcom…it’s  at 1709 Broderick Street.

Lombard Street, the zigzaggy road you often see on photos is on this list too. A photo would do then head out to walk around or ride the streetcars – you’d see San Francisco in a fancy, historic ride.

But if you want a more extreme experience, take to the skies on a helicopter, and see the Golden City from a bird’s eye point of view.

Hilton Head

Hilton Head is  popular with all its attractive activities for kids and a vast array of must-see wildlife. There are a number of sites where you can look through, plan and book a vacation at the island. For one is the website http://www.islandgetaway.com, an easy to navigate website that offers packaged tours, home rentals and more for your stay at Hilton Head.

There are a number of reasons why it’s worth visiting this part of South Carolina, wildlife alone  tops it all.  Here, alligators, deer, Loggerhead Sea Turtles, manatee, hundreds of species of birds, and dolphins can be encountered in their natural habitat. It’s quite an experience too to fish-feed by the saltmarshes. Kayaking, parasailing and jetskiing are some of the adventures you can engage into while there. Shopping and dining need not be questioned, they’re covered too – there are over 35 shopping plazas for you to scout and over 200 restaurants to try. These restaurants of course offers a variety of cuisine and assorted flavors.

To boost tourism, a number of attractions such dolphin discovery cruises, lighthouse tours, the Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum, miniature golf have been established. Wannabe singers can go loud at sing-a-longs beneath the giant oak at Shelter Cove.

Kauai, Hawaii

Hawaii is a waterlover’s paradise. It’s calm waters and warm breeze all year long makes it perfect for sailors. You can view gorgeous sunsets everyday while sipping your favorite cocktail on a yacht or just by the shore. While any island in Hawaii is beautiful, sailing seems to be much more enjoyable at Hanalei Bay on Kauai island. Think of the movie Moana and its settings, how beautiful would it be in real life? Well, see Kauai for yourself to believe it.

Being in Hawaii would make you want to have one of Oyster Yachts sailboats to explore every nook and cranny Kauai and even other nearby island hides. While on your own yacht, you can still  just chill out all day, maybe swim for some time, fish a little, and just while the time away until it’s time to watch the sun set.

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport bills itself as the sailing capital with a lot of events: regattas and parades held in its ports than any other in the world. Its harbors has drawn people since the 1600’s and many sailed in and out of its beautiful shores.

On days that you don’t want to be out in the sea (I doubt), you can go on an ocean ride, just going through the coast to see 10 miles of beautiful skies, stop along the way to enjoy some food, learn history in its museums, and even tour Eisenhower House. You can even enjoy mingling with animal farms or just chill out at the parks.

Florida Keys, Florida

A little swim away Florida Keys is the only coral reef tract in North America and the third largest in the world. The climate in Florida makes it possible for year-round sailing.  January through April offers the strongest wind and the best time to sail while June through November is the Atlantic hurricane season, so prepare well – if you’d want to experience this particularly, make sure that you are sailing with experts in the region.

Aside from sailing and things to do at the beach and underwater, Florida Keys is a treasure trove of history and arts. If you love cats, it’s a must to visit Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, which is home to polydactyl cats, whose ancestor could be Hemingway’s original polydactyl cat – gifted by a sailor.

Also explore Mallory square and the many interesting things it offers, also visit the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House – which has been there since 1891. Take a look at the many species of butterflies at the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory or observe deer at the National Key Deer Refuge, Big Pine Key. There’s so many creatures to gawk at in Floriday keys, over and under water.

Santa Catalina, California

Depending on where you are standing and looking from, Santa Catalina’s coast would remind you of other different famous shorelines. It could look like  Greece in the mornings, when the sky is in deep blue. From a boat coming into the harbor, it could look like one of the beautiful Italian coastal towns and cities of Portofino, Riomaggiore, Positano, and others. It might even remind you of the Spanish shores Tenerife and Lanzarote.

But Santa Catalina is an island unique on its own. You can explore the island both doing land expeditions and ocean excursions. Santa Catalina is known for its glass-bottom boats, awesome scuba and snorkeling spots, and simply wonderful views of the Pacific. In the water, you can go on boat tours, enjoy scubadiving,  fishing, kayaking & paddleboarding, parasailing, sailing, snorkeling, and even watercrafting. On land, simply enjoy the beaches, go around to bike, learn how to golf, spend some nights camping, and hiking. For the less extreme, there are museums to explore, do relaxing shopping, or treat yourself to some  wellness spa. Santa Catalina is a little paradise for everyone to have a good time.

Now, which spots or islands in the US have you enjoyed that we missed on this list? Let us know in the comments!