Boating trips are unforgettable vacation experiences – especially if you love to sail or cruise in a luxury yacht. The sparkling open seas, sea breezes, and freedom are hard to beat.
Whatever type of sea vessel you prefer, making stops in beautiful ports of call is a big part of the adventure. So we’ve put together these 5 best boating destinations that you’ll want to add to your bucket list this year.
Find out what they are, below.
CONTENTS – In this article, you will learn about the 5 incredible boating trips and why you should add them to your bucket list. This includes:
- Best Boating Destinations for Sea Dogs
- The Galapagos Islands
- The Côte D’Azur
- Newport, Rhode Island
- The Bahamas
- Sag Harbor, New York
- Final Thoughts on Bucket List Boating Trips
A-Hoy There! Best Boating Destinations For Sea Dogs
If you gave somebody the task of picking the best boating destinations in the world, they’d struggle.
We live on a beautiful planet of wild contrasts, offering boaters practically every type of sea that they can imagine.
And if you love to sail and enjoy being out on the ocean, how do you choose?
In this post, therefore, we take a look at some boating trips in the world that offer different types of appeal to help you decide. Each has enough going for it that it should earn a place on your bucket list this year!
Whether you’re planning to buy a boat, renting one, or taking a guided tour, it’s sure to be a great experience.
We think places should top your list of destinations you’ll want to visit on your boat trip.
Before we begin, I invite you to download my FREE Bucket List Planner Worksheet. It’s a fillable, printable resource you can keep handy whenever you hear about great destinations. It will help you prioritize your dream vacations, and you’ll be more organized when your top destinations are in plain sight. That way, you’ll always have a trip to look forward to!
The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a chain of islands off the Ecuadorian coast. There’s practically nowhere like them on Earth.
That’s because for millions of years, they were separated from the mainland. This allowed the islands to evolve their own species, specially adapted for the local environment.
In fact, the Galapagos is one of the best wildlife destinations to visit.
And, viewed from the sea, the Galapagos islands are simply stunning!
Taking a boat trip to the Galapagos allows you to retrace Darwin’s footsteps and see what he saw more than a century and a half ago.
Côte d’Azur – The French Riviera
The Cote d’Azur is perhaps the most luxurious strip of Mediterranean coast anywhere in Europe. Many know it as the French Riviera.
This special strip that runs through Saint-Tropez and onto Cannes and Monaco is famous all over the world, and a favorite haunt for the rich and famous.
It’s so popular that a fair number of boating accidents happen here every year. In fact, many people need to go to an outstanding personal injury law firm when this happens.
That’s mainly a function of the sheer volume of boat traffic. You’ll find many people crowded into a small space, so collisions become more likely.
That means you’ll want to exercise caution when you’re navigating your boat in this gorgeous area. Now that you are well-informed, it won’t happen to you.
Big draws of boating in this region include spying on billionaire super-yachts, going to the Monaco Grand Prix, and doing some high-end shopping at luxury fashion outlets.
You’ll also find beautiful seaside resorts, picturesque villages, incredible architecture, and plenty of outstanding wine to sample.
What’s not to love about this laid back retreat?
If you’re really concerned about the boat traffic of high tourist season, you can always plan your boat trip to the French Riviera during the shoulder season instead. That way, there’ll be fewer crowds.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island, is a much quieter venue, but it still has its upmarket charms.
This gem in New England is known as the “Sailing Capital of the World.”
Newport hosted every challenge to the America’s Cup between 1930-1983, so you’ll find plenty of places in Newport RI to moor your yacht.
You’ll also get an ocean view of the famous Newport Mansions. During the Golden Age, these luxurious homes were once the summer cottages of elites like the Rockefeller and Vanderbilt families.
(Most recently, Oracle Corp. co-founder and tech-tycoon Larry Ellison has been scooping up mansions along Newport’s Bellevue Avenue.)
You might even opt to walk along the famous Cliff Walk to stretch your legs and get up close to the mansions hugging the water. And all along the coast are outstanding seafood restaurants, serving up the local catch.
So, it’s easy to see why Newport, RI is well worth the visit, if you get the chance.
Tip: You can also rent a boat in Newport if you don’t happen to have your own.
The Bahamas
Most people are surprised to learn that The Bahamas are relatively close to the Florida Keys. In fact, they are so close that many areas of Key West were originally settled by immigrants from the islands.
Thus, if you have a suitable yacht, you can often make the voyage from Florida to the Bahamas on a single tank of fuel.
The Bahamas are a feast for the eyes, with crystal clear aqua water, soft sand beaches, and beautiful weather if you time it right. This country’s peak season spans from mid-December to mid-April.
Here, you’ll find opportunities to go snorkeling, fishing, and just have some good old-fashioned laid-back fun with the island’s locals.
Bone fishing is an especially popular sport in the Bahamas for hobby fishermen, along with any kind of water sport you can think of.
Once you head inland, you can also enjoy some of the island’s delicious conch fritters – a local delicacy that is the perfect way to get some much-needed calories after a day at sea.
You’ll also be delighted to find several of the Bahama’s Out Islands have not been hit with over-tourism (yet). So if your idea of a tropical paradise is a pink-sanded private beach getaway for just you and your honey, you’ll have no trouble finding that in the Bahamas.
Related Article: Click here to see beautiful photos from Cat Island, Bahamas.
The Bahamas are a fantastic place for snowbirds to escape cold winters, so don’t be surprised if you’re tempted to stay for an extended vacation here.
This will be a boat trip sure to remember!
Sag Harbor, New York
Sag Harbor has been popular among New York boaters for many decades now, thanks to its stunning scenery. Everyone from motorboaters to the rich and famous love to visit this picturesque destination.
This former whaling community turned yacht-hub in the Hamptons was the first port of entry to the United States. Today, the real estate in Sag Harbor is among the most expensive in the country.
When you disembark your boat, you will enjoy the shopping, parks, and historical aspects of Sag Harbor. And you’ll want to go here for the fishing adventures and wine tours, too.
So, make sure Sag Harbor is on your boating destinations bucket list!
Final Thoughts on Boating Trips To Add To Your 2024 Bucket List
One of the great freedoms of being a boater is you have the freedom to navigate your vessel anywhere in the world.
So, what is on your bucket list?
We think these 5 destinations are among the best boating destinations. When you visit, we know you will have boatloads of fun at any one of them.
Related: Best Split Croatia Boat Party: An Exciting Coastline Celebration!
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Photo credits: Sailboats – Karla Car; White & Blue Boats – Michael Denning; White & Red boat (Unsplash), All others courtesy of Canva Pro