Join a Father & Son Trip up the ICW

“Might as well get going” said my dad as we stood on the dock, fresh out of things to prepare. I laughed to myself and replied, “Yeah, I guess we might as well.” That conversation plays out in my head every time I set out on a boat — a sign that all preparations are Read More

Savor the Southern Charm in Wilmington, North Carolina

Like its neighbors to the south — Charleston and Savannah — Wilmington, North Carolina, has become a magnet for tourists and transplants looking for authentic Southern culture, cuisine and climate. Many boaters are familiar with the area’s barrier islands and beaches such as Topsail, Wrightsville, Carolina, Kure, Bald Head, but not so much the city Read More

The Best Holiday Boat Parades

If Santa lived in a warmer climate, he’d trade in his sleigh for a boat before you could say “ho, ho, ho” – sorry Rudolph! It’s just that everything is better on the water, and that includes holiday parades. November and December are magical months for boaters, and landlubbers alike, as holiday boat parades light Read More

Best Boating Lakes in the South

When the weekend isn’t long enough to go for a saltwater cruise, or when it’s time to change up the boating lifestyle with a freshwater fix, then head to one of the great boating lakes in the southern United States. From far inland to nearer the coast, several lakes in the south Atlantic and Gulf-bordering Read More

Topsail Island, NC

Located north of Wilmington and just south of the New River Inlet on North Carolina’s scalloped southern coast, Topsail Island remains a well-kept secret among locals. You can’t blame them. This kind of laid-back charm is hard to come by, with many nearby beaches awash in tourists and traffic. Part of the reason Topsail has Read More

Wilmington to Southport, NC

A palpable depth and richness embrace visitors to the southern coast of North Carolina. Cruising from the urbane city of Wilmington south through coastal beach communities with their own distinct personalities, you are greeted with a casual welcoming atmosphere. Even if you’ve never been here, it will feel like familiar territory. The region has hosted more Read More

Southern Waterfront Communities

COASTAL, COMMUNITY-BASED living seamlessly pairs the land and the sea. With convenient water access and top-of-the-line marine facilities showcased in many of these developments, how do you decide which one is right for you? The choices seem endless with stellar amenities such as challenging golf courses, active clubhouses, tennis courts, pools, spas, walking and biking trails, and palate-pleasing Read More

Celebrate the legends of fall & relish the spooky side of Autumn

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To Beat ‘Em, Eat ‘Em: Invasive Species Recipes

Snakeheads on the menu? Sounds like a meal straight out of Hollywood. In reality, it’s how Chad Wells, Maryland-based chef and restaurant consultant, hopes to put a dent in the population of this invasive yet edible fish – the snakehead is a tasty invasive species! Aggressive African and Asian native species traveled to the United Read More

Best Summer Reads: Seaworthy Edition

In a corner of the Marina Cafe in Boynton Beach, FL, where I live, a giant bookshelf is filled with mysteries, adventure novels, biographies and much more. Overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and a busy charter fishing dock, boaters borrow books and donate them daily. Owner Scott McKay opened the café last year to create a Read More