Why are boats the stuff of dreams? So many people scrimp and save to buy or charter a boat, but it is easy to see why. In an age where everything we do is recorded or photographed, where true privacy is becoming more and more rare in the name of security, a boat offers a feeling of intoxicating freedom, whether you take to the local lakes and rivers or the wide wild ocean. For many a boating holiday is what makes the rest of the year worthwhile, yet others aim to buy a boat and set off, never to return to the chains of suburbia. The hardest question is \’Where should I go\’. The world is mostly ocean and there are many possibilities, as long as you know what you\’re doing and are carrying the right equipment, including a GPS system and, or course a radio so you can remain in communication wherever you are.

The Florida Keys are a popular destination for boat owners of all levels. It\’s easy to rent a home with a dock, park your boat outside and manage almost completely without a car. Looking for a restaurant? There are many where you can simply tie up the boat and sit on the quayside eating fresh Key West pink shrimp or stone crab. The climate is ideal almost all year round, and although the Southernmost point of the USA may look like its well inside a hurricane zone, Key West has rarely been hit. There are thousands of islands dotting around the area, and no need to visit the same one twice.

About 22 miles west off Los Angeles lie the Channel Islands of California, another ideal spot place to take your yacht. North to south the islands occupy 160 miles, the largest is Santa Catalina, where you an find the only significant town, Avalon. Although many of the islands have a military presence, the chain is a popular yachting area, and given its proximity to Hollywood many celebrities visit the islands to relax on their yachts or dive amongst the reefs and shipwrecks.

Another popular spot for yacht owners is Fort Lauderdale in Florida where many large yachts can be seen outside equally impressive homes. The inter-coastal water way, which runs along more of the eastern coast of the USA provides a sheltered channel allowing boats to travel North and South along its length without the worries of operation at sea.

Half way across the world, the Greek islands are for many the ultimate destination. Following in the footsteps of the legendary Odysseus, it is possible to visit the site of ancient Troy and cruise around the rocky coastline of islands where myth and mystery still seem tangible forces. Enjoy the tiny fishing ports, the whitewashed churches, the sapphire sky and the feeling that everything you see has been just as it is since time itself began.

Further west, though now Italian, Sicily was once a Greek island, and the Port of Syracuse a city state of some renown. Cruise around the coastline and marvel at the outline of Mount Etna, in whose shadow Archimedes, a citizen of Syracuse, used polished shield as the first death ray. He focused the light of the sun to burn enemy sails before they could reach the city.

Further West again the Ballearic islands boast some of the finest harbors in the world. To sail around these islands is to follow in the footsteps of almost every conqueror in European history. Stop at any port to enjoy the seafood and the wine and don\’t forget to include the fascinating caves of Drach, huge caves and an underground lake close to Porto Cristo.

Much further North the gulf stream passes close to the British Isles, making them a surprisingly pleasant place for a boating holiday, despite their latitude. The largest of the British Isles is Great Britain, but there are over 6000 islands in total. Far to the South, the Isles of Scilly are a popular destination for British boat owners as they enjoy a mild climate all year and have been name a place of \’outstanding natural beauty\’. Enjoy the sub-tropical landscapes on the south side of the islands and sample their main export – flowers while you\’re there.

For those who prefer the certainties of river boating, a cruise up the River Thames in England is a cruise into history. Pick up your boat at one of London\’s historic boat yards, and sail up the Thames following the route of Henry VIII and his daughter Elizabeth as they traveled to the beautiful Thamesside palace of Hampton Court. The river passes through many locks, and winds through Eaton with its ancient College, passes below Windsor Castle and through historic Runnymede, with its memorial to Magna Carta and US President Kennedy. Stop at the local pubs, enjoy real ale, Cottage pie and Spotted Dick (a dessert) and if someone asks if you want a \’Ploughmans\’ don\’t worry, it\’s only lunch! Further along, the river bends through Marlow and Henley eventually arriving in Oxford, where you can enjoy a tour of the many colleges which make up the University, one of the oldest in the World and still one of the most prestigious.

Wherever you decide to spend your boating holiday make sure that safety is uppermost in your mind. Check your equipment and be sure you know how to use it, then you can be certain of many more freedom filled holidays to come.

Author Bio: Always think safety first when traveling over water. Having a reliable form of communication can save your life in an emergency situation. You have several choices including marine radios, cb radios, 10 Meter Radios or a portable Handheld CB Radio. A 10 meter radio offers greater transmitting power then a traditional cb radio and a handheld cb radio requires no setup.

Category: Travel
Keywords: boating, travel