Hello fellow boaters! This week for #TravelTuesday, we would like to share with you some of our favorite spots to go boating along the east coast of Florida. We go beyond the usual suspects like Haulover Sandbar and Peanut Island and present you some lesser known, select spots that we think are worth the trip.
Let's start at the very top...
Captain Hiram's Resort
contributed by Fla Lic. Yacht Broker Steve Waas
Our friends further north up the Florida coast can have a Bahamian experience right in their backyards at Captain Hiram Resort. This fabulous spot in Sebastian, FL (north of Vero Beach) started out in 1986 quite simply as the Sebastian Inlet Marina. From there it just grew and grew, beginning with the opening of Capt Hiram's River Raw Bar in 1987- which back then had just 28 seats and now accommodates over 500 guests- to the addition of the Sandbar, the Coral Bar, Scoops, Bimini Beach and the Grand Sand Bandstand.
You can drop anchor in the well-appointed marina and enjoy some of the freshest seafood around at Capt Hiram's, knock back some drinks at the bar, or do some sunbathing, surfing, or snorkeling at the Sebastian Inlet State Park. You can make this a stop on your way down to Bimini...
For the Miami and Fort Lauderdale city dwellers...
Boca Chita Key
contributed by our own Captain Tony P
One of Biscayne National Parks most scenic destinations, this small island built by Mark Honeywell in the 1930s. It was originally a private island for Honeywell and his friends where they would throw lavish parties for the wealthy. It is now part of the National Park. From Boca Chita you can enjoy beautiful views of the Miami, Key Biscayne, and Miami Beach skylines.
Boca Chita has a small well protected harbor with cleated cement bulkheads for visiting boats. The harbor entrance at low tide is approximately four feet. Vessels requiring 3 ½ or more feet of water should enter Boca Chita channel (floating markers) with extreme caution. Low tide is calculated by adding one hour and forty-three minutes to the time that the tide is low at Miami's Government Cut. High tide is plus one hour twenty-four minutes high tide at Miami's Government Cut.
Boca Chita harbor has several picnic tables and barbecue grills scattered throughout the island. Restrooms are available but no sinks or showers, and there are no sales of any kind. There is a hiking trail. The island is easily found by looking for its 65-foot decorative lighthouse, which is open intermittently whenever park staff or volunteers are present. An overnight docking fee of $25 is assessed for boats wishing to spend the night at Boca Chita. Learn more on the NPS website.
Sand Key
contributed by Captain Tony P
Just south of Boca Chita Key is Sand Key. You can anchor in 8′ of water on the north side of Sand Key, north of the sandbar off the cut. There is a little canal in the bend that leads into a small secret lagoon (Keyhole Lagoon) should you wish to explore with the dinghy. The lagoon was almost a marina in the 1960s, but few people know where to find it. With your dinghy, Kayak, SUP look for the hidden entrance in the middle of Sand key. The water is usually nice and clear; you can also run your dinghy to the beach near the north end, just watch for a strong current that runs through there.
Learn more on DiveSpots.com
And last but not least, for our friends who prefer to get lost in the keys, we present:
Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club
contributed by D. Ciparro
Faro Blanco in Marathon (Florida Keys) was a stop during the 2015 Escapade to Sanibel. We just decided to take a detour on the way back and enjoy the Florida Keys instead of simply cutting across the state. I'm so glad we did!
The folks at Faro Blanco undestand what the Boating Lifestyle is all about. The marina features 74 state-of-the-art slips with easy access from the Atlantic via 7-mile bridge and Moser Channel. There's fuel service, 24-hour security, marine concierge services, wireless internet, pool & fitness center, and all the water-related activities you can possibly wish for, and then some: from snorkeling and scuba to yoga and paddle fit, kids' activities, jet skiing, and much more.
One of the best things about boating around Faro Blanco is being able to take your very own sunset cruise- talk about romantic boating! Stop in at the resort's Lighthouse Grill for a delicious meal and finish off the evening with a nightcap from the bar.
InterMarine organizes several Escapades throughout the year for our customers to get together and we always visit fun, beautiful, and exotic places. Contact our sales office to see how you can join us- please bear in mind that our boating trips are open to InterMarine customers only.
Happy Boating!
July 26, 2016
