View of the 160 slips at Windward Yacht Yard. Photo courtesy Newburyport Marinas.

Stretching from Boston’s northern edge to the shores of Cape Ann, Massachusetts’ North Shore offers visiting boaters a unique blend of sophisticated culture, salty maritime heritage, and destinations filled with amenities and sites to enjoy.

The North Shore is home to many excellent marinas that offer protection, fantastic marine services, and convenient access to some of the region’s most lively destinations. But some marinas are more than just marinas; they are places to be experienced, with amenities, activities, and communities that make them destinations unto themselves.

Outdoor dining. Photo courtesy Cape Ann Marina.

Here are five North Shore marinas that are worth visiting on their own.

Cape Ann Marina – Gloucester

Calling this place Cape Ann Marina doesn’t do it justice. It is a full-blown resort, complete with a hotel and restaurant. For boaters, they have 265 boat slips, a fuel dock, pump out, and a fully-equipped boat yard open year-round. An indoor pool and jacuzzi are available onsite. The hotel features on-the-water rooms with balconies overlooking beautiful saltwater marshes. The restaurant, Mile Marker One, has panoramic views of the Annisquam River and Gloucester Harbor, and the menu includes a variety of seafood, oysters, lobster rolls, steak, pasta sautés, salads, sandwiches, grass-fed beef & burgers, and much more.

Ring’s Island Marina – Salisbury

Ring’s Island Marina is a boutique marina located on Ring’s Island in the Merrimack River, just across from downtown Newburyport. Being close to the mouth of the river, it provides boaters with easy cruising access to the Atlantic. It has 4,000 feet of dockage, slips with electrical power, and other services. But what truly makes it special is the community feel at the marina, fueled by a number of events each season. They hold an annual striper fishing tournament, host many cookouts during the year. They have an annual pig roast each August and a clambake with a bonfire each September.

Easy access to Rings Island Marina. Photo courtesy Rings Island Marina.

Davensport Marina – Danvers

Billing itself as the North Shore’s finest marine facility, Davensport Marina has been part of the North Shore boating scene since 1970, serving as a home base for many of the region’s boaters and hosting weddings and events along the way. The marina fosters a resort lifestyle, with facilities that include landscaped sundecks with adult and kiddie pools, barbecue and picnic areas overlooking the harbor, clubhouse, and more.

Windward Yacht Yard – Newburyport

Windward Yacht Yard in Newburyport offers 160 slips and moorings and is just three miles from the mouth of the Merrimack. While it’s conveniently located within walking distance of downtown, you don’t have to venture downtown to have a good time. The marina is adjacent to Michael’s Harborside, Newburyport’s premier seafood restaurant. Michael’s offers dockside dining with beautiful views of the water through the entire summer. Visitors also have easy access to the natural beauty of the Clipper City Rail Trail and Harbor Walk, running just over a mile long along the Merrimack River.

Winter Island Park – Salem

While Winter Island Park in Salem isn’t technically a marina, this beautiful park that is easy to dock at is too good to leave off the list. The scenic park occupies the southern third of Winter Island, an approximately 54-acre peninsula located on Salem Neck at the mouth of Salem Harbor. The island and its lighthouse have welcomed maritime visitors into Salem’s harbor for centuries. Visiting boaters can usually use a popular mooring field that offers good access to the park. They can then hike Fort Pickering’s historic trails, grill by the water, or take a dinghy to nearby Salem Willows for arcade games and fried clams.