Help me decide where to go for a week of great boating!
 

My wife and I are trying to decide where to spend our vacation the last week in June. We will be spending the week on the boat and want to go somewhere we have never been, but also somewhere where there are plenty of things to do and see on the water. A marina / marinas with clean bathrooms / showers is also important to her ;)

I'm not afraid to put miles on the boat, so we are thinking about traveling around wherever we do go. Trying to stay within an 8-9 hour tow max from Columbus, OH.

We would also love to meet some other like minded boaters along the way.

Some of my ideas:

1.) Launch in Sandusky, head up the Detroit river to LSC, maybe even continue all the way to Lake Huron. The islands are our home territory, but I have never ventured to Detroit.

2.) Lake Norman

3.) Lake Charlevoix with a run up to Mackinac Island.

4.) Georgian Bay

5.) Buffalo / Niagara Falls / Lake Ontario / Toronto

6.) Upper Chesapeake Bay

So what do you guys think? Open to any and all suggestions :ernaehrung004:

1000 Islands.
Little over 9 hours but worth the trip.

Another suggestion:
Check out Smith Mountain Lake in SW Virginia.

We have a poker run coming up in May.
www.smlba.com
and
www.smlpba.com

It's a beautiful lake, and not too far from Ohio. Do a map/directions to Moneta, VA.
http://www.marinerslanding.com/ and www.bernardslanding.com are two great properties.

I know that Jobbie Nonner is going on The weekend of June 22nd to 24th. On lake St Clair. If you would like to meet up with like minded boaters check out www.lakestclairrun.com

It's not completely out of the question, but certainly the very edge of my towing window.

I had completely forgotten about SML! Spent some time there as a kid. Cool place!


Sounds like fun!

Charlevoix Baby!!! look me up!!! U can go 2 Mac, TC, Leland, all over!!!! Gorgeous waters!!!! good luck Tracy

It's where i'll most likely be so if you decide your going there, drop a line.

The places Brian listed are great if your staying at their condo but unfortunately most marina's are not setup well for transient visitors staying on their boat versus their condos.

http://www.crazyhorsemarina.com I think they offer transient power, etc. and the bath/showers are hit or miss. It's where we are, and the wife is satisfied with that aspect 50% of the time:rolleyes:

I don't know about the others offering power,

http://www.baysidemarinasml.com/ Clean facilities and nicely run place run by a good guy named Dale. They might offer transient shore power hookups.

http://www.crystalshoresmarinaresort.com/ decent bar/rest on premises as well as clean bathroom facilities

http://www.halesfordharbour.com/ I think under reno with new docks completed and a new restaurant now open. A buddy just moved his 50 ft houseboat there this week.

If you decide to do Buffalo/Niagara, you can either trailer from lake Erie to Lake Ontario, but the locks do take about 14 hours to cross between the lakes, so that will eat up and entire day. I would suggest Thousand Islands

I vote for #3 and go to Torch Lake at least one day!

I would go with either the Upper Chesapeake or 1000 Islands.
They are two of the best boating spots in the world with plenty of places to stay, visit, eat and drink at.

Chesapeake wins hands down for most boater friendly locations and activities.

1000 Islands is one of the most spectacular places to see by water with plenty of places to stay and things to do.