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East Coast USA.. Your favorite transient stops???

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by CTdave, May 13, 2004.

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  1. CTdave

    CTdave Senior Member

    Joined:
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    871
    Location:
    Greenwich CT/ Stuart FL
    Were headed from West Palm Beach to CT on the 17th.
    Some of our regular stops along the way are good, I'm just wondering if were missing anything better?

    Places I have stayed over the years:

    Daytona, Inlet Harbor Marine
    St. Simons Is GA (quiet but nice)
    Jeckyll Is GA (NOTHING to do)
    Charleston SC (favorite stop along the way)
    Manteo NC (pirates Cove Marina) Pamlico rte....
    Bellehaven NC (try to avoid it at all cost) swamp rte...
    Coinjock (Yawwwnnnn, if it wasnt for the awsome prime rib, I'd actually consider anchiring with the sailboaters in an insect infested swamp... NOTHING to do).
    Ocean City MD, well, it is a place to stay I guess.....
    Cape May NJ, Nice spot.

    The trip usually takes 5-6 days so give me your "6 best stops along the East Coast".
    Thanks, Dave
  2. Bob Scott

    Bob Scott Guest

    hey dave...no good advice from here, but it is nice to read your comments! we are going to be right behind you, as we are leaving on the 21st and heading up to maine. we are going to spend 3-4 months working our way up and back down. most of my time has been in the gulf, so i am an east coast "virgin". some of the places you mentioned are on our itinerary, so it is cool to see a 'take' on them. other than that i am watching this thread closely, and am all ears...... :D

    also....if you are going to spend a few days in any spot, and there is a chance we might catch you, let me know. we could be up and have a cold mug of ....................water!
  3. yachtjim

    yachtjim Guest

    That's funny, I love to stop in Belhaven. My favorite part is "Supper" at the Inn. All the transients come up and eat at the same time.

    Other ones you missed:

    St. Augustine, FL - always a good time. Stay at the marina on the right as you come in. There is a huge bar that is over the water.

    Beaufort, NC - the best stop of all time - to get off the beaten path eat at "Beaufort Grocery". I think that is the name. It has awesome ambience and great food.

    What about Savannah, GA? You will probably need to stay at Thunderbolt and take a cab to Savannah, although I thought there were some city docks with amenities in the works...

    Norfolk, VA is always one of our stops. I can't remember the names of anything although I have done the trip more times than I can count. We stay on th green side on the way down and fuel up on the red side.

    and Southport, NC - Lots of great restaurants

    Wrightsville Beach - I got engaged here on a 50' Viking last year. Awesome place, dock on the green side, eat at the Bridge Tender on the red side.

    Annapolis, MD - it's where I live, great place to stop and it makes this leg of the trip more enjoyable if the seas are angry.

    Atlantic City, NJ, I've never liked it there but many people do.

    Sabastien, FL - Stay at Captain Hiram's - another favorite stop - you will have a blast

    Too many great places to see in one trip.
  4. CTdave

    CTdave Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Yachtjim
    Sorry about my discription regarding Bellehaven. Yes, "supper" is nice in the old Mansion, but after that, there is little to do. I would stop there anytime if I were with my family but usually while transporting my boat, I'm with two other guys & we are looking for a little more in the way of night life :rolleyes:

    I forgot St. Augustine.. As you said, always a great spot.
    Beaufort, Southport and Writesville I also forgot. I will look up the places you mentioned.
    Thanks for the suggestions!
    Dave
  5. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Dave,

    If you stop in Savannah, here are some places to stay...

    Bull River Yacht Club Marina (800) 311-4779. It's located halfway between Savannah and Tybee Island (the island at the entrance to the Savannah River).

    Bahia Bleu Marina (912) 354-2283 is situated near the Savannah River in Thunderbolt, at the ICW Green Marker #35, north of Johnson in Savannah and south of the Thunderbolt Bridge. There are about 220 slips here.

    The Savannah Bend Marina (912) 897-9881. It's positioned at day beacon #34 on the Wilmington River in Thunderbolt. About 40 slips here with gas & diesel, a small chandlery, laundry mat and shower facility.

    The Westin Harbor Resort (912) 201-2023 and Hyatt Regency (912) 238-1234 offer dockage behind their respective hotels, which are positioned on both sides of the Savannah River. The Westin is on Hutchinson Island and the Hyatt is located along Riverfront Plaza.

    If you lay-over in the Savannah area, Palmer Johnson is located on the ICW in Thunderbolt. They also have slips available and it's a full service yard as well. Hope you don't need it, but I'll be looking for digi-pics if you stay there.

    Have a safe trip!

    Carl
  6. JHA

    JHA Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Wrightsville Beach, NC - Don't miss it!! A short cab ride to town, or the beach. Sam the dockmaster can arrange just about anything you need. The current is a ripper (4+ knots) at full flow, but great restaurants, bars, clubs, people, sights to see, etc etc... I spent ten months there, and still miss it. I would even consider making it my home one day.
  7. CTdave

    CTdave Senior Member

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    Greenwich CT/ Stuart FL
    Hey guys, thanks for all the info! I am taking notes & weather pending, I'll see where we end up along the way.
    Thanks again!
    Dave
  8. captbkoch

    captbkoch New Member

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    Dave , I hope my list of favorites will help.I make these stops running yachts north and south for owners. Depending on boat speed, Fernandina beach FL, Myrtle Beach SC, Beaufort NC, Coinjock NC, Annapolis MD, Cape May NJ. there have been plenty of times that I have gone up the Chesapeake Bay, leaving other boats in Norfolk to wait for weather.You will be in NJ before they can think of leaving and probably be home before they can go . plus this route eliminates the Ocean City stop! in myrtle beach go to the northern end stay at either Dockholidays( bar resturant on site hooters is about a 3 minute walk) or at north myrtle beach yacht club , here is good and really cheap fuel, they also have a great italian rest. the pork chops are amazing.Beaufort stay at the town docks, food here is great, plenty of action around the small town, the royal james is a dinner/ pool hall great burgers and downeast chowder. Aqua is a newer tapas style rest. all portions are appitizer sized and sharing is the name of the game, more upscale casual, Clawsons is great stomach stuffing food. if you get sucked into the Beau zone you might get a chance to try all three. Coinjock stay at coinjock marina , louse always has great fuel prices and the soft crabs are plentiful . Annapolis stay at the yacht basin. FOOd ,well where to start, oh yeah thats right you cant go wrong here! check out Buddys huge seafood buffet and crabs. Cape May stay at South Jersey marina, go for a few cold drinks and appetisers at the C View Inn, then for dinner go to the Lobster House. These stops are good for any boat making 18 to 23 knots 9 to 13 hour days. Im located in Port St Lucie so if you would like give me a call, 772 785 8233 , Brian Koch
  9. CTdave

    CTdave Senior Member

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    Thanks Brian
    I'm off to Stuart & Palm Beach tomorrow. Departing for CT Monday a.m.
    You have some great suggestions & I took down your number. I may call for additional info.
    Thanks again
    Dave
  10. CTdave

    CTdave Senior Member

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    ps.....Brian
    If your out & about Saturday night, we will be at the "Ashley" in downtown Stuart at 9pm Saturday.
    I'd be happy to treat you to a few cocktails.
    I'll be the one in the goofy (lucky :rolleyes: ) shirt with the marlin (fish) all over it.
    Dave
  11. maldwin

    maldwin Senior Member

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  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Favorite stops. St. Augustine- jekyll island for the low country boil on the pier at the defunct marina (gotta get on a bicycle for the great houses) or golden isles for the shrimp and grits at country kitchen (Morningstar Marina). Hilton Head, Charleston for either Hanks Seafood or Hall's Chop House....and the town......Ocean City MD, St. Michaels MD, Hoboken,NJ (liberty Landing) take a ferry to NYC.
  13. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Are you doing this in a delivery trip fashion or cruising and leisure. I know you said six days, but you didn't say how far apart they would be spaced.
  14. maldwin

    maldwin Senior Member

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    I just had a great stop in Belhaven, at River Forest Marina. There has been new ownership since Oct 2014, and the facility has really perked up. very nice, new washer dryers, golf carts for going into town, and a very nice room I put up a mechanic who came to sort out some engine trouble.
    Just came back from my second dinner at Spoon River, both of which were outstanding! It poured while we were in the restaurant, and the owner sent out staff to dry our seats off with tablecloths, talk about Southern hospitality!
    There is also a gym, accessible by golf cart, with a daily fee of $5 to work off all the dinners at Spoon River.
    Last edited: May 11, 2016
  15. Edwardc1949

    Edwardc1949 New Member

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    If you have time check out Elizabeth City , NC ,just south of the Dismal Swamp canal.
    Edward
  16. leeky

    leeky Senior Member

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    If you are referring to the OP, I suspect he has already made the trip. He started the thread in 2004.
  17. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Yes, I just realized that this was a resurrected thread. Maldwin did it and I fell for it, fell into the hole.
  18. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    LOLOLOL I did too. I about cracked up just now when I went up and looked at the date of the OPs post after reading leeky's and it was 12 years ago.
  19. saltysenior

    saltysenior Senior Member

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    funny how its changed........so many choices nowdays....and so many stops that were almost a necessity are now gone or passed by..
  20. saltysenior

    saltysenior Senior Member

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    thinking of stops, mainly because timing, we made in late '50.. Chesapeake City, Solomons, Hampton, Harrison's , Hobucken, Oriental, Texaco Dock Morehead , Swansboro, Little River, Bucksport, Belle Isle.,( but most capt's insisted on staying at Georgetown, for some strange reason), Port Royal, Isle of Hope, Fernandina, Marineland, and a few with no names , ala bridges....these trips were on charter fishing boats going north or south for the seasons.....some even towed another boat.. Restaurants where not the main concern, and a bag of chips was a treat....