If you are looking for a few examples of fun things to do by yourself outdoors to take advantage these benefits, use this list as a resource.

Outdoor activities like boating and fishing can bring your family and kids together. At this time, we understand your kids are at home, and you may be looking for outdoor activities to keep your kids entertained and spend some quality time together. Here are some activities you can do outdoors while social distancing, make sure […]

Barb Hansen offers some great ideas for getting out on the waters of Southwest Florida for social distancing the natural way. If you don’t live in Florida consider traveling there once this is over and enjoying everything it has to offer. ~MC I just finished reading an Associated Press sports story that really hit home […]

Boats come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are designed to hold varying numbers of passengers for fishing, cruising, sailing, or even paddling. It all depends on what you are looking for. And what many of us are looking for are low maintenance boats. Low Maintenance Boats Near the top of any list of […]

Although many states currently have stay-at-home orders, Barb Hansen of “View from the Marina” has some great vacation planning once this all clears up. ~MC Vacation time, both spring break and traditional summer getaways, is here.  But figuring out what to do and where to go is more complex this year. Places such as theme […]

Getting the boat ready for the summer boating season is an exciting time for America’s nearly 12 million recreational boaters. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has a Spring Commissioning Checklist to help boaters start the season right, along with a new YouTube Spring Fitting Out video library that shows you how to do […]

Want to get a taste of the boating life or improve your on-water boat handling skills? The nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water together with Freedom Boat Club Savannah offer a choice of two fun on-water boat training courses taught aboard single-engine powerboats: Intro to Boating and Women Making Waves, Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March […]

Florida angler Betty Bauman has made it her profession to teach women how to enjoy fishing. The only rule: No yelling. “We try to explain to the ladies that when there’s a fish on, things have to happen fast, people get excited and voices may raise,” Bauman says. And it was one such experience that […]

Cruising in Southwest Florida is an opportunity like few others in the world.  You have the sparkling, world-famous Gulf waters, glistening, first-class resorts; quiet, reflective anchorages and enchanting strands of islands all along Florida’s southwest coast.  CRUISING WORLD Magazine has ranked this area the number one chartering destination in the U.S., and number three in the world! Add […]

There’s no better way to spend time with your favorite person than by experiencing something new in the great outdoors. Check out these twelve outdoor date ideas for couples that can help you build a stronger relationship while taking in the sights and sounds of nature. Rent a tandem kayak or paddleboat to explore a […]

I’m sure all of you know that this is the time of year that we celebrate love and affection.  That’s what Valentine’s Day is all about.  But, I think there’s more, a lot more. One perspective that comes to mind was introduced and enhanced for a decade on TV with the weekly show, The Love […]

 It would take one person watching for 82 years to view what is uploaded every hour to YouTube. That volume of videos also means recreational boaters consistently have a trove of how-to, consumer and practical help easily viewed at any hour of the day. What did boaters watch this year? Boat Owners Association of The United […]

They’re called New Year’s Resolutions, a common tradition whereby an individual resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve life. That sounds pretty onerous.  How about planning for the New Year with a focus on relaxing more and enjoying more family and friend time?  I like that […]

The BoatUS National Advisory Council, a panel of distinguished national boating leaders who serve as a sounding board for the nation’s boater advocate, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), gathered last week with BoatUS staff in Washington to discuss key issues affecting recreational boaters. Topics on the daylong agenda included discussions of recreational […]

Since we all have “Bucket Lists” of varying length and contents, I thought I would offer a potential addition for your list.  This is definitely for cruisers, but there’s time for you to properly prepare if you don’t feel you have the skills and expertise to take on this trip today. I’m talking about the […]

If you’re like me, then you would prefer to opt for “off-the-beaten-path” type of adventures. The kinds of places you won’t find on a review’s app or in a hotel lobby coupon book. As water-loving boaters, we crave remote locations, uncrowded waterways, and enriching boating experiences. There may not be many truly secret boating spots left in […]

Where do women sailors go to learn? The answer is a place where they can enjoy the camaraderie of other women sailors, learn from top instructors both on the water and in the classroom, and have plenty of fun. For 30 years that place has been the Sailing Convention for Women presented by Gail Hine, to be […]

A September 20 report from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has reaffirmed that outdoor recreation activities are a significant driver of economic activity in the country, making up 2.2% ($247.2 billion) of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). When looking at “conventional” outdoor recreation activities, “boating/fishing” was the largest conventional activity for the […]

We are most thankful that Hurricane Dorian left us alone, and we wish the very best for those who were impacted by that severe weather event. This is our 35th year of operations here in Southwest Florida, and we are no strangers to the annual threat of hurricanes.  We have learned a good deal during […]

It’s back to school time!  No matter where you live, I’m sure heavy school bus traffic has been the tipoff that the kids are headed back to class, but that’s not all. The old adage, “You’re never too old to learn,” is what I’m talking about.  We see it in action not only at this […]

Coming to Lake Norman are two fun and affordable on-water boat training courses taught aboard single-engine powerboats: Intro to Boating and Women Making Waves. Offered in partnership by the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water and Freedom Boat Club Lake Norman, the courses will be held Saturday, August 10, and Sunday, August 11 at the […]

Sea kayaking is a fantastic way to travel through new places – it’s the ocean equivalent of backpacking. From our friends at FIX.com

Wondering about a few of the best state parks for boating this summer? If you want to know where to boat as family, check out this list that includes some of the best boating state parks in the country. 10 Best State Parks for Boating with Family this Summer Lake of the Ozarks State Park, […]

Each year about three out of four recreational boat owners say they plan to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday aboard the family boat. With nearly 12 million registered vessels in the U.S., that could spell mayhem at launch ramps, marinas and popular anchorages, requiring extra skill, patience and courtesy. The nation’s advocate for recreational […]

The U.S. Senate formally declared June 2019 as Great Outdoors Month 2019! June is one of the best months of the year for families. School is out, summer is in, and road-tripping family vacations begin. Great Outdoors Month is a celebration of America’s great outdoors and all the benefits it brings into our lives. It’s […]

My husband Vic and I are pleased to tell you about two new members of our crew, serving both in the office and on board. They’re “boat dogs” Skye II and Star II, named after our first two cruising canines.   They are both male border collies and it looks like they are going to be […]

Would you like to help boaters be safe and keep waters clean in your local area? Begun over 25 years ago and one of the longest-running boating community grant programs, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water Grassroots Grant program provides local groups up to $10,000 to help educate boaters on safe and clean boating […]

My how things have changed!  There was a time when having to go to summer school was not a good thing.  Your friends felt sorry for you and your parents weren’t happy since going to summer school back then meant you didn’t do well in school and you had to retake some courses to keep […]

National Fishing and Boating Week is a national celebration, an event that highlights the importance of recreational boating and fishing. National Fishing and Boating Week will take place June 1-9, 2019. GO FISHING DURING FREE FISHING DAYS During National Fishing and Boating Week, most states offer free fishing days. These are days where anglers are allowed […]

For nearly 100 million Americans, boating continues to be a popular recreational activity. From coast to coast, and everywhere in between, people are taking to the water and enjoying time together boating, sailing, paddling, and fishing. During National Safe Boating Week, May 18-24, 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard and its federal, state, and local safe […]