Sexy boating destinations are; in the eye of the beholder
5/24/2005 6:46:16 PM by JANA SOELDNER DANGER
Water is primal. It bringsout basic instincts of themost pleasurable kind.Water is sexy. Its the source andorigin of the life force. People whospend time on the water know this.What boat owner doesnt fantasizeabout finding that perfect, privateplayground -- a secluded beach justright for romance. Warm, gentle surffor skinny dipping without reservation-- in buttery sunshine or undera sky heavy with stars. For someboaters, this is the definition of a sexydestination.
For others, the idea of a reenactmentof the famous beach scene inFrom Here to Eternity might seemwet and messy; not to mention therisk of getting sand where they leastwant it. For them, a sexy destinationmight be a party place. Aspot to congregatewith other boaters showingoff firm, toned and tanned bodies inskimpy suits or no suits at all. Aplace where the taste of icy beer tempersthe heat of afternoon sun, andthe day slides languidly into evening.
For still others, a sexy boating destinationfeatures fine dining andexcellent wine, hot, sensual dancingtill sunrise, and a hotel room with asoft bed instead of an onboard bunk.
South Florida offers all kinds ofboating destinations where fantasiescan become realities. Wave SouthFlorida asked some longtime boatersto disclose their favorites.
Its not necessary to venture farfrom home, said Albert Zabala of Hi-Lift Marina in Aventura. KeyBiscayne is a little hidden treasure,he said. There are beaches, docks, apark and a picnic area. Its beautiful,and a lot of people dont know youcan stay overnight there.
Searching for eye candy? Thesand bar at Sands Cut is great,Zabala said. There are always a lotof people there some are wearingsuits, and some arent.
Sand bars seem to have a way ofdiminishing inhibitions. For afavorite destination, Id have tochoose the Islamorada sand bar, saidEddie Leon of Plantation Boat Mart inTavernier. Its a place where a lot ofpretty people congregate, both visitorsand locals -- wearing very fewclothes.
Stewart Jones, president of thePompano Beach-based Florida PowerBoat Club, is also a fan of theIslamorada sand bar. Its a popularplace to beach your boat or raft up,he said. When the tide goes out, thebar breaks the surface, and peopleplant lounge chairs in the sand, runwith their dogs, or play with footballsor Frisbees.
Islamorada is a favorite club destinationfor other reasons, too. It offersa variety of resort facilities, andtheres more night life than in someother parts of the Keys, Jones said.Islamorada dining options includethe Zane Grey restaurant, built by afriend of Ernest Hemingway. Thedark, Hemingwayesque décor is aperfect setting for the fresh fish andseafood served there. For shoppers,theres Worldwide Sportsman, anupscale toy store filled with boatingequipment. We call it Bloomingdalesfor the fisherman, Jones said.
More Keys to fun For boaters who visualize a sexydestination as one with hotel rooms,hot showers, and food that doesnthave to be cooked aboard, theres KeyLargo. It offers more in terms of dining,resorts, and boating activitiesthan anywhere but Key West, Jonessaid. Theres plenty of night life, adozen great restaurants, and places todance.
Gilberts Resort is the most popularstopover. It has 600 feet of dock,a beautiful tiki bar, and a graciousstaff who always treat us right, Jonessaid. Theres also the Key LargoMarriott on Blackwater Sound, andGus Grill, a favorite club restaurant.In the northern section of KeyLargo is Steamboat Creek, a favoriteof Hollywood resident and longtimesailor Joe Zang. There are severalplaces to anchor that are very protectedfrom the northeast wind. Whenits blowing everywhere else, theresprotection there, he said. Theresalso wonderful fishing, crabbing andlobstering.
In case the fish arent biting,Alabama Jacks restaurant is just ashort dinghy ride away.From Largo or Elliott Key to thenorth, its a quick trip to JohnPennekamp Park, with its fabulouscoral reef. That section of reef isworld renowned, Jones said.People come from all over to snorkelthere.
Then, of course, theres the kingpin:Key West. The fabled andfamous island is a lot more than teeshirt shops on Duval Street. Rather, itoffers a variety of experiences thatadd up to outstanding boatingadventures.
Key West from Miami is a nicetrip in a power boat, Jones said. Weoften go through the backwaters andthe bay, where theres scenery youdont see otherwise.
Turquoise water, colorful birdsand mysterious mangroves give thejourney an Oz-like ambience. Its notjust the destination, its the trip itself,Jones said. And once you get to KeyWest, theres so much to do. There arebeautiful nearby anchorages likeSand Key or Boca Grande where youcan be private during the day, picnicon the beach and relax on your boat.Then at night, you can come back toKey West for all it has to offer thedining, the culture, and people whocome from everywhere in the world.
For local color, visit Key Westsrecently renovated Historic Seaport.Youll see every kind of boat andboater there, from luxury yachts tofishing and shrimpers, Jones said.
Ariel Pared of Sea Vee Boats inMiami likes to use Key West as ajumping off point to visit the DryTortugas. Its about 72 miles fromKey West, and its very secluded.Theres an old fort [Fort Jefferson],and nice dock where you can tie up.If you get on either side of the fort,its pretty sheltered.
For awhile, overnight stays wereprohibited on the island. But youcan camp again now, Pared said.Theres very good fishing forgrouper, snapper, and king fish.
For stargazers only
Want to do some romantic nightsky-watching with your special someone?Try Little Shark River nearFlamingo in Everglades NationalPark. Its the darkest anchorage inFlorida, Zang said. There are nocity lights, and the stars come downto the tops of the trees. The sky isbreathtaking.
Or try another of Zangs favorites,Cape Sable, in the southwest sectionof Everglades Park. Theres a sandybeach, and mangroves. Its a developersdream, but thankfully, they cantdevelop it.
On to the islands &
The Bahamas are close enough tobe an easy destination at least forpower boats yet the flavor and cultureis much different than SouthFlorida. We often go to Biminibecause its close enough for daytrips, Pared said. We also like GreatHarbour [Berry Islands], which ismore secluded. Its like going back intime.
South Florida and the Keys maywell be the fishing and boating capitalof the United States, but even itpales in comparison to the islands inthe stream for sheer beauty andromantic ambience, says WaveEditor-in-Chief Ken Millman, a longtimesailor and regular Bahamascruiser.
There are remote areas in theBight of the Abaco and Eleutherawhere friends have told me theynever want to go home. Theyre serious!Millman said. Normans Castlein the Bight, Little Harbor andDouble Breasted Cay in the Abacosand Royal Island in Eleuthera aresome of his favorite areas.
As far as revealing his absolutefavorites, he says hell take their locationsand coordinates with him to thegrave. Theyre out there, and with alittle exploration they can be discovered,Millman said. But I wontintentionally help Californicate theBahamas.
Quickspalsh
SEXIEST BOATING DESTINATIONS
Heres a list of favorite boating and cruising destinations around andnear South Florida from some longtime local boaters.
- Key Biscayne - Sands Cut
- Biscayne Bay - Elliot Key
- Card Sound - Alabama Jacks restaurant
- Key Largo - Steamboat Creek, Key Largo Marriott, Gus Grill andGilberts Resort
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef Park
- Islamorada - The sand bar and Zane Grey restaurant
- Key West - Sand Key, Boca Grande, and Historic Seaport
- Everglades National Park - Little Shark River near Flamingo and CapeSable
- Dry Tortugas - Fort Jefferson
- 10. Bahamas - Bimini