Navigating on “big water” is at the top on many a boater’s bucket list. If you’re among the fortunate, this view may await you. Photo by Andy Lockey
What’s on your boating bucket list? story by Dari Mullins
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ucket lists among boating enthusiasts take many forms. They may include places they want to take their boat, things they want to do on their boat or items they would simply love to purchase for their boat. Whether it is fresh or salt water, these “wanna” lists can be endless. Here are some items we found when exploring the in’s and out’s of boating bucket lists. WANT TO “GO BIG?” • Travel some or all of the American Great Loop — a 6,000-mile circumnavigation of the Eastern United States. The loop runs from the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico and then up the East Coast. It can be completed in two months, but most boaters choose to extend the trip to several months. Travelers of all ages enjoy this scenic route, winding through the Great Lakes, the heartland of America and the coastal countryside. The McPhail sisters, Elizabeth, 21, and Katie, 25, launched out to conquer the Loop. To read more of their adventures check out their blog at: “Great Loop Blog: Small Boat, Big Summer” in Boating Magazine. • If the Great Loop seems a little overwhelming, consider cruising the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway), which runs from Canada to Key West, FL. It is a system of canals, rivers and protected waters maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers that keeps you off the open ocean. For more information and tips on navigating this waterway check out: “Cruising The Intracoastal Waterway In Your Own Boat? I’ve Done It! Here’s How To Plan Your Trip & Navigate The Canals” in The Travel Hacks Guide (thefuntimesguide.com)
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