Top 10 Destinations of 2011

A look at some of the top destination articles that appeared on New England Boating over the past year. By the way, you might be interested to learn that New England Boating has posted over 2,000 articles and 90 videos since its launch in July, 2010, and we’ve got a lot more coming your way in 2012!

1. Deep River, Connecticut

Located on the west bank of the Connecticut River, some 10 miles from Long Island Sound, Deep River’s maritime tradition dates back to 1653, when local sloops and schooners would sail from the town in search of ivory and other goods. Click here for the full story.

2. Marion, Massachusetts

It’s fair to say that Marion, named for the Revolutionary War hero General Francis Marion, has earned the title “Yachting Capital of Buzzards Bay” (although I also know it as a pretty good place to fish), especially when you consider its distinguished maritime history. Click here for the full story.

3. Slocum River, Massachusetts

If you are looking for a fun, easy daytrip, consider a paddle down the scenic Slocum River in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The Slocum flows for some 3 miles from its headwaters at Russells Mills to where it enters Buzzards Bay at Demarest Lloyd Memorial State Park. It’s not a difficult paddle—as long as the headwind isn’t too strong. Click here for the full story.

4. Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Boothbay Harbor’s immense popularity sometimes makes it hard to enjoy. But with a little “local knowledge” of anchorages, entertainments and eateries, you can avoid the crowds (mostly) and have a much more relaxed visit to Maine’s “yachting mecca.” Click here for the full story.

5. Napatree Point & Watch Hill, Rhode Island

If you’re looking for a leisurely pace, a great beach, good food, upscale boutiques and spectacular views, set a course for Watch Hill Harbor and Napatree Point. Veteran boaters have long appreciated the area’s long sand beach, protected anchorage and quick access to a town with good restaurants and interesting shops. Click here for the full story.

6. Swan’s Island, Maine

Off the beaten path, Swan’s Island offers 2 sides of the same coin for a passing sailor or cruiser. The north side’s Mackerel Cove and the south side’s Burnt Coat Harbor are both worth a stop, but don’t expect to be wowed by shoreside attractions and diversions. Relative peace and quiet is the dominant theme here. Click here for the full story.

7. Falmouth Harbor, Massachusetts

Falmouth Harbor, shown on charts as Falmouth Inner Harbor, is a largely manmade harbor created in 1907, when an inlet was cut in the barrier beach separating freshwater Deacons Pond from Nantucket Sound. Click here for the full story.

8. Bath, Maine

The city of Bath, located on the west bank of Kennebec River some 12 miles from the Gulf of Maine, has a shipbuilding heritage that began in 1743 and continues today. In 1841, the 1,133-ton Rappahannock, then the largest vessel in the world, was built by Bath’s Sewall shipyard. By 1857, Bath was the 5th-largest shipbuilding port in the country in registered tonnage. Click here for the full story.

9. Noank, Connecticut

According to longtime Long Island Sound boater Matt Houskeeper, Noank is the kind of place that appeals to the more laidback, self-sufficient boater. Click here for the full story.

10. Sebago Lake, Maine

Few lakes can put you in the center of things while also giving you feeling of getting away from it all. But Sebago does all of this and more. Maine’s deepest (300 feet) and second largest lake (45 square miles) is just 30 minutes from the state’s biggest city, and has remained astoundingly pristine through more than 100 years of hard use. Click here for the full story.

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