Here’s a fun fact: According to a recent survey of adults 18 and older, nearly 20 percent of Americans are now planning road trips with itineraries that are fully contained within 100 miles of home. People traveling really long distances for vacations—say, 1,000 or more miles from home—make up less than 7 percent of the US population.

The takeaway is that it sometimes pays big dividends to think small when it comes to planning an escape. With a boat, it’s entirely possible to spend an afternoon or a long weekend away from the grind, often right up the coast from home.

In fact, more and more marinas are adding waterfront dining and other amenities that make them great destinations unto themselves. Some marinas are also within walking distance or a quick cab ride of vibrant downtowns with all kinds of options for an afternoon escape or a long-weekend getaway.

One good example is Marina Jack in Sarasota, Florida. It’s part of the Suntex Marinas network, and its waterfront dining room is open daily for lunch and dinner. Specialties include steaks, seafood and pasta, along with gluten-free and vegetarian dishes. The marina is also within walking distance of downtown attractions, including off-site restaurants, for yachtsmen to explore.

Up the coast from there, for cruisers in the Chesapeake Bay region, is Little Creek Marina in Norfolk, Virginia. The Cutty Sark bar and restaurant is on-site at this Morningstar Marinas property, with another fun waterfront-dining option, Longboards, just a five-minute walk away (try the crab mac ’n’ cheese or the blackened yellowfin tuna tacos).

Another option for a quick escape is Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard in Rhode Island. It has on-site dining with Belle’s Cafe, which serves breakfast and lunch daily (don’t miss the lobster rolls), and the marina is within walking distance of historical downtown Newport. Visiting boaters can enjoy the views at the shipyard and then stroll over to the photography gallery owned by renowned yacht photographer Onne van der Wal at Bannister’s Wharf. Grab a keepsake souvenir that shows the city or that inspires future escapes to other boating locales.

Yet another example is Bahia Mar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which is part of the Suntex network and great for exploring the shops along Las Olas Boulevard. It’s also near the Riverwalk arts-and-entertainment district, which has galleries, dining and concerts.

The point is this: Yachtsmen who want to stay a bit closer to home often have fantastic options for a great escape. And sometimes a little change of pace can make a world of difference.

Notable Marinas for Waterfront Dining

• Dockside Marina in Milford, Connecticut, makes build-your-own pizzas, along with specialty versions such as the Mutha Shuka, which is topped with fresh clams and bacon.
• Chesapeake Inn Restaurant and Marina in Chesapeake City, Maryland, makes memorable sushi, along with a duet of crab and lobster ravioli.
• The Boca Raton on Florida’s East Coast is home to The Flamingo Grill for serious steaks and chops.

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About a decade ago, when the MegaDock opened at Safe Harbor Charleston City, the 454-foot Lürssen Rising Sun pulled in. Folks in South Carolina were treated to a sight normally reserved for the likes of Southeast Florida, Monaco or St. Barts.

Now, the marina is building a new MegaDock to welcome even more of the world’s biggest yachts. While the original MegaDock held Rising Sun, the new one will be big enough to take four or five of them.

“We’re planning to have a portion of the new MegaDock up and running by January,” says David Isom, the marina’s general manager. “These new concrete floating docks that are being custom made for us—they make the original MegaDock look small.”

Plans are for the whole project to be completed by December 2024. The superyacht spots will have high-speed in-slip fueling that can pump 150 gallons per minute as well as shore-power plug-ins capable of handling vessels that size. And the amenities will be accessible to smaller yachts too, Isom says: “The MegaDock typically does around 5,000 transients per year, all kinds of boats, and we sell over a million gallons of diesel fuel. The goal with this project is to double that business.”

Inside the marina, docks are also being built to handle catamarans, whose owners often have trouble finding wide enough slips. Isom says for all types of boats that pull in at Safe Harbor Charleston City, the goal is to make sure they receive the same level of service and amenities found at top locations in South Florida or Newport, Rhode Island.

“The marina space is stuck in the motel world. Thirty, 40, 50 years ago, our parents went to motels,” he says. “Now, we have hotels. Safe Harbor is turning the motel business into the hotel business of marinas. There’s a network. Every property is different, but the goal is the same: to have high-end amenities, first-class service and state-of-the-art facilities. That’s what we’re making.”

Safe Harbor

Safe Harbor Charleston City is part of a network of more than 130 marinas. Superyachts are a focus at locations such as Rybovich and Lauderdale Marine Center in Southeast Florida, as well as at Newport Shipyard in Rhode Island.

• Membership in the network includes unlimited complimentary transient nights wherever there’s availability, making the marinas a fan favorite among long-distance cruisers.
• E-Boat experiences are an option at some of the properties. The company has a partnership with e-boat builder X Shore.
• Amazon lockers are also available at some locations, giving cruisers a place to have packages delivered and waiting.

Charleston

Downtown Charleston is a blend of history and modern expansion, with the city dating to 1670 and still growing today.

• King Street is the heart of the historic downtown, with shopping, restaurants, art and antiques.
• South Carolina Aquarium overlooks the harbor and has touch tanks, educational exhibits and kid-friendly experiences.
• The Gibbes Museum of Art has a first floor that is free and open to the public, with tours available on Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Fort Sumter is at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. It’s overseen by the National Park Service, whose ranger tours offer a chance to learn about where the Civil War began. 

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The city of Charleston, South Carolina—which was known as Charles Town back in the day, an homage to King Charles II—is the state’s largest city today. Its history as a major trading port means the culture combines what’s typically considered to be southern American with influences from Britain, France and West Africa. All of it makes for truly memorable options when it comes to museums, music and dining, in particular.

Boaters can start to sample the local fare after tying up at Safe Harbor Charleston City, which has the waterfront Marina Variety Store Restaurant on site and within walking distance of the boat slips. The restaurant offers takeout to eat back on board, or indoor and outdoor seating for dining with a view. The menu ranges from fresh local shrimp to po’boy sandwiches and sides of collard greens—some of the best-known recipes of this region. Other Lowcountry favorites that visitors can sample in restaurants around town include fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and Charleston red rice (which is made by cooking white rice with bacon, onion, garlic and tomato paste).

Charleston’s museums and historical sites are equally tempting in their variety. The Powder Magazine, which is located inside one of the state’s oldest buildings, celebrates gunpowder, while Fort Sumter, where the Civil War’s first shots were fired, has boat tours available. 

Also worth some touring time is Charleston’s music scene. At the end of this month, Charleston Music Hall will welcome back Gregory Porter, a bone-deep baritone whose style mixes jazz, soul, blues and gospel. Yes, he’s the same Gregory Porter who had an acclaimed role in the original 1999 Broadway musical It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues. Like the city itself, he’s still winning new fans.

Outdoor Fun

The temperature in Charleston can get as warm as the low 60s during February. Cypress Gardens has miles of garden trails to explore, along with a “swamparium” reptile center with venomous snakes. The ocean course at Kiawah Island is a top destination for golfers, with winds coming off the water to create a challenging day on the links. Sullivan’s Island is home to one of several beaches in the city. It’s a popular choice for kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing.

Safe Harbor Charleston City

Home of the Mega Dock—and able to accommodate yachts as large as 455 feet length overall—this marina welcomes transient boaters with complimentary Wi-Fi, shore power, pump-out and more.

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