Category: Boat Tour

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SoFlo Boat Show 2024

A few weeks ago, Scott and I headed to the SoFlo Boat Show in Miami. This was the 2nd annual show and it was located at the historic Miami Marine Stadium. Nestled on Virginia Key, the Miami Marine Stadium has a rich history dating back to 1963, renowned for its iconic modernist design by architect Hilario Candela. Originally built for powerboat racing, it quickly became a versatile venue hosting concerts, sporting events, and more. After decades of disuse and a successful restoration effort, the stadium now serves as a vibrant hub for events like the So Flo Boat Show, attracting boating enthusiasts from around the world to explore the latest in maritime technology and watercraft.

The SoFlo Boat Show Set-up

The show ended up being much bigger than we expected. They had a large indoor tent, which was air conditioned and much needed as the real-feel for that day was about 105 degrees!

Inside they had your boat accessories and run about boats under 42′. Outside, they had a huge selection of food vendors, plus others miscellaneous vendors including clothing, grills and much more.

Yachts on the Docks

There were about six finger piers with about 20 boats on each dock in the marina. Scott and I headed over to the first dock to work our way to the other end. Along the way, we found these awesome floating chairs. I should have caught the name of the manufacturer, but I forgot to.

The first two yachts we looked at were the Okean 57 and the 52. Okean Yachts, renowned for their innovative design and superior craftsmanship, are revolutionizing the luxury yacht market. With a commitment to blending contemporary aesthetics with functionality, Okean Yachts offer unparalleled open-space concepts and seamless integration with the ocean environment. These Brazilian-built yachts are celebrated for their expansive deck areas, innovative fold-out terraces, and luxurious interiors, making them a top choice for discerning boating enthusiasts. Experience the ultimate in maritime elegance and cutting-edge design with Okean Yachts, where every voyage becomes an extraordinary adventure.

What to Expect at SoFlo

Most of the boats in the marina were under 40′ and were center consoles or runabouts. It was so hot that we could barely stay outside. In addition, since we had to remove our shoes to tour most of the boats, our feet were burning from the teak or synthetic teak in the sun.

On Display Inside the Tent

Thank God the A/C was on full blast as everyone was dripping wet walking around outside. Scott and I have not spent much time on any center console, and we were able to tour a gorgeous Bahama Boat Works 41GT center console. Be sure to tune in to our YouTube channel for that tour!

We did tour an NX 360 cruiser, which reminded us a little bit of a Regal or Sea Ray Sundancer. The finishes were not quite the quality though.

At the end of the day, we’re glad we checked it out. We were there about 2 hours, enjoyed a great lunch and learned something new (Miami Marine Stadium) once again. If you’re in the market for a center console, this is a great show to attend. They were providing sea trials for serious buyers too.

As always, thank you for following blog. Please be sure to follow us on our YouTube channel (link below) and on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

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Pontoon Cruise Down the ICW

Last week Scott and I took a pontoon cruise down the ICW from Deerfield to Delray Beach. Overnight Boat Rentals gave us a deal on the boat for a few hours. Overnight boat rentals offer daily and weekly boat rentals, so it’s a great option for people who want to boat, but not own one. Scott had never driven a single screw or a pontoon boat, so this was a fun experience.

We picked the boat up at Sullivan Park in Deerfield Beach where they have a few public docks available. Brandon, the owner of Overnight Boat Rentals was waiting for us with the captain.

Godfrey Pontoon

Our pontoon was actually a “tri-toon” as it had three pontoons underneath it. It was 26′ in length and had plenty of room for entertaining. It had a side entrance door along with a stern and bow door for easy access.

The helm offered a very comfortable captain’s chair along with the control panel with all of the necessary electronics from Garmin. It also had a Bluetooth stereo by Fusion.

The pontoon was powered by a single Yamaha 150hp outboard. It also had a super sturdy swim ladder and a “Power-Pole” (see black pole to the right). When engaged it keeps the boat from rotating while on anchor.

There was plenty of storage throughout the boat, to help keep your accessories, like lines, fenders and the anchor tidy.

Heading up the ICW

Scott was back at the helm and happy as a clam as we headed up the ICW. Most of the route was a no wake zone, so we took our time enjoying the view. We had the boat for 3 hours, so we figured we’d head north for an hour and half and then turn around.

We did have to wait for a couple of bridges. The clearance on these was only about 7′ at high tide and with our bimini top, we knew we were too tall.

The sites along the ICW

As we arrived in Boca, we came across a large sandbar. At 12pm, it wasn’t that crowded but when we returned, it was packed!

The view never gets old, that is for sure!

Soon, we left the giant mansions and were surrounded by mangrove trees. We had hoped to see a manatee, but no luck. Perhaps the people below saw one?

I’m digging the names of these two yachts – I see a theme here! My style that’s for sure!

On our way back, it was much busier and far more crowded than when we left.

We had a great time spending the day on the water. Our only disappointment was the rude boaters who didn’t follow the “no wake zone” rules – below is a great example. It was a wash machine in the ICW!

A big thank you to Brandon at Overnight Boat Rentals! Just as the title says, they have overnight and weekly rentals available. I think Scott and I will definitely look at renting one over night and head north to explore more.

As always, thank you for following our blog and journey! Be sure to subscribe to our channel (see link below) and follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

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2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show

This year, Scott and I were able to attend the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show together. Last year, he was still in Seattle and for the past year, I’m always working a show. In March I left OneWater Yacht Group to join 26 North Yachts as their CMO, so I had time off to attend the show with Scott.

Just like last year, the weather was hot and unforgiving. We arrived to the show when they opened and walked the super yachts first.

This is a very upscale show and here you can find not only your next yacht, but your Bentley too.

Vendor Tents at 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show

As you can see by the map below, there are a few vendor tents at the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show, but not nearly the size as the ones at the Fort Lauderdale or Miami International Boat Shows.

Check out this cool “bar set” from Docktails. Next boat we get, we are installing this!

So many cool things at the 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show

From vintage yachts, to slick cruisers to fast boats; you will find everything at the Palm Beach Show. Since the layout is not nearly the size (Thank God) as Fort Lauderdale, you can cover the entire show in one day easily.

Since the layout is not nearly the size (Thank God) as Fort Lauderdale, you can cover the entire show in one day easily. That was especially nice, since it was so hot the day we attended.

2017 Hatteras 75′ Tour

Scott and I were able to tour so many awesome yachts and we were thrilled to get a tour of this 2017 Hatteras M75 yacht featured by 26 North Yachts. As you know, we’ve toured two other Hatteras yachts – one was a hoarder home and the other was an older 52′ Hatteras. This yacht at the show, was absolutely stunning and we could definitely live on this boat. For a full tour, be sure to check out our YouTube episode posted this week (see video at the end of this blog).

The 2017 Hatteras M75 Yacht offers a sleek and contemporary design, spacious living areas, and exquisite finishes. With its four beautifully appointed staterooms, expansive flybridge, and advanced navigation systems, the M75 delivers an unforgettable yachting experience. Discover the epitome of elegance and comfort on the water with the 2017 Hatteras M75 Yacht.

After leaving OneWater Yacht Group, I took some time off before joining 26 North Yachts. Scott and I took a last minute vacation to Barbados, so be sure to tune in to follow us on that adventure.

As always, thank you for following our blog! Be sure to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel for future tours and adventures. You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

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Trawlerfest in Stuart Florida!

Back in March, Scott and I attended Trawlerfest in Stuart, FL. Trawlerfest is a big event in the PNW and we have never been before, so we thought this would give us a great opportunity to tour some trawlers. Recreational trawler boats are typically designed for long-distance cruising at a slower pace, with a focus on fuel efficiency, comfort, and safety. They are often equipped with a displacement hull, which allows them to travel at low speeds while using less fuel. As a result, they are very slow and their cruising speed is less than 10 knots, which is why we haven’t been interested in buying one.

We decided to head to Stuart, FL to check out the town and see what Trawlerfest had to offer. Stuart is less than 2 hours north of Fort Lauderdale. Trawlerfest was held on Hutchison Island, west of the city at a very small marina. Scott and I stayed at the Marriott Hutchison Island Golf Resort, so we could walk to the boat show.

Trawlerfest in Florida

When we arrived to the show, it was not what we were expecting. Remember, for the past year we have been attending major large shows like Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach.

They had a simple check-in tent with a few surrounding vendors in the hotel’s parking lot. (not sure why the first few photos have a strange filter on them, making them look like they are from the 1960’s?)

The actual boat show, was only on the first dock (this photo is actually pretty old, as the other dock was ruined by a storm).

Touring the boats

Overall, there were about twelve boats to tour at the show. There were a couple of Nordic Tugs (see our most viewed video here, where Jeff lives on a 32′ tug). In addition, there was an old Californian, a new Fleming, Greenline and a Ranger Tug.

The first boat we toured was a Ranger Tug. Having never been on one, we were actually pleasantly surprised by its features. The galley offered plenty of space, a large fridge and freezer and lots of daylight.

Under the settee, you will find a pantry and the washer/dryer!

1989 48′ Californian

Next we decided to tour a 1989 Californian. This boat really reminded us of the Ponderosa we stayed on in Gig Harbor, WA back in December 2021. For 48′ this yacht had the space and feel of a 60′ yacht.

Though this was a 1989, she was in very good condition. In fact, the owners actually live aboard this yacht and it shows the love they have given her.

The salon was nice and roomy, the galley had tons of space and the master stateroom had a full walk around bed.

2016 Fleming 65′

When Scott and I first moved into our slip at Elliott Bay Marina, we became friends with our neighbors Doug and Jules who owned a 75′ Custom Delta. Jules was an avid yachter and always told us to buy a Fleming (she doesn’t know our budget! LOL). This yacht is for sale for $3,800,00. Finally, we had the opportunity to tour one and it did not disappoint.

The galley was bigger than our kitchen in our apartment! Imagine the spread you could put on this counter?

This yacht had an 11′ center console tender on the flybridge, yet there was still plenty of room up top.

2003 Nordic Tug 42/44

I have a friend who lives near Jupiter, so I texted her to see if she would be at the show (because she is in the marine business) and she replied that she was not going, but that her dad had his 42′ Nordic Tug in the show. Scott and I were talking as we walked towards the dock and I said “we need to find Sea Gypsy, that’s Katie’s dad’s boat”. Suddenly, the man in front of us, turned around and said “I’m Katie’s dad”. LOL! He and his wife are from the PNW and recently finished cruising the Great Loop. Now they are heading home and selling their tug.

For only 32′ this tug has tons of big boat space! It’s perfect for just two people.

If it had been closer to Fort Lauderdale and had a slip, we would definitely consider buying her!

That’s a wrap!

The entire show took us about an hour to tour. Since it was a smaller show, the boats tended to get pretty crowded and we didn’t feel like fighting the crowds on all of them.

Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center

After the boat show, we walked about a mile to the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. This is a 57-acre marine life nature center. When we arrived, they were feeding sting rays and we got to feed them by hand!

We then walked the nature trail to the ocean. The walk took about 15 minutes and was pretty cool. However, be sure to wear your bug spray!

There is lots of information when you reach the beach and you can continue to walk down the beach. We chose to turn around and go back.

Back at the nature center, you can walk all around the turtle sanctuary.

If you haven’t been to Stuart Florida, I will tell you it’s a very sleepy town. There’s not much to do, especially on Hutchison Island. Your only option for dining on the island is the restaurant at the Marriott or another cafe’ which was only open for lunch. It did look like a great place to play golf and just unwind. I don’t think we’ll be heading to Stuart anytime soon.

As always, thank you for following our journey! Please subscribe to our blog and our YouTube Channel (link below). Follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Soon, we’ll be heading to the Palm Beach Boat Show and then Barbados! So tune in.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

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Quick update on Boating Journey

Since our last post, a lot has happened and we wanted to give you a quick update. Right after the Miami Boat Show, I (Ally) spent three days in Miami on a photo shoot for Sunseeker. Then in March, Scott and I attended Trawlerfest in Stuart, FL and the Palm Beach International Boat Show. In the upcoming episodes and blogs, we’ll go into details and take you on some great tours.

In addition, I accepted a new position as Chief Marketing Officer with 26 North Yachts here in Fort Lauderdale. Since it will be a while before I can take any vacations, we took a week off and headed to Barbados (more on that later).

Boat Tours and Trips

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be bringing you lots of great boat tours, including a Sunreef 68 Catamaran, Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht, Fontaine Pajot 67, Leopard 53 Catamaran and much more. We’ll also take you on a quick tour of both boat shows and bring you along on trip to Barbados.

As always, thank you for following our journey. Be sure to subscribe to our channel (link below) and blog to stay updated. You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

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Yacht Tours at the Miami Boat Show

Last month, we attended the 2023 Miami Boat Show. This is a great show to see every kind of boat or yacht in the industry. As we mentioned in our last blog, they have a number of different displays at the show, so it a show to put on your bucket list.

You can find all of our yacht tours on our YouTube channel. Thank you to all of you who have subscribed and are following us! Wow, has our channel grown and we are truly grateful.

2023 Lekker 44

Our first yacht tour was a 2023 Lekker 44 from the Netherlands. Per their website “When LEKKER’s founder (Meindert Wolfraad) travelled the world, he discovered that the Amsterdam way of living appealed to people everywhere. Moving around on your own terms, taking control – whether it’s on the road, the canals or open sea. The freedom to move your own way. So that even the most free-spirited people don’t get caught up in everyday life.” This was a pretty cool boat that is not only comfortable, but very fast with a top speed of 57 mph.

2023 Privilege Signature 580 Catamaran

You might remember that we chartered a 43′ power catamaran last year during our trip to the British Virgin Islands. While it was a nice cat, the “guest sleeping quarters” were extremely tight and uncomfortable. Our next yacht tour was the Privilege Signature 580 and you have plenty of space on this yacht! (of course this would be a lot more expensive to charter too). This yacht we could live on and cruise the world.

2022 Azimut 72 Fly

If 58′ isn’t big enough for you, check out our next yacht tour on the 72′ Azimut Fly. This yacht has four staterooms, four heads PLUS crew quarters! Powered by twin MAN V12 1400hp diesels, her top cruising speed is 32 knots! Her exterior has been designed for luxury and comfort, as you relax on under the canopy on the bow’s sun pad. Cruising on this yacht through the Bahamas would make a dream vacation.

Cool surprise!

During the show, I passed by Captain Sandy Yawn a number of times. We’ve tweeted back and forth here and there. I had just finished reading her book, “Be the Calm or Be the Storm”. This is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it. Here’s a quick link to the book. When I saw her in the lobby of my hotel, I had to stop and tell her how much I enjoyed her book. She then said, “let’s get a photo”. What a fun surprise!

What’s next for us?

We’re excited for what 2023 has on our plates. This week we’re headed to the Palm Beach International Boat Show and since Ally isn’t working the show, we will be doing the tours together. Why isn’t she working? Tune in and find out what her next adventure is. Next week we leave for Barbados and it’s our first visit there. Barbados is known for their amazing snorkeling and beautiful beaches, so this is a much anticipated trip.

As always, thank you for following our journey. Please be sure to subscribe to our blog and our YouTube Channel (link below) and follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

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The Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2022

Last month Scott and I attended the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show for the very first time. This is a five day show held at the end of October and while I worked the show, Scott got a chance to tour it.

This show is so large that it’s the largest in-water boat show in the world and includes seven locations. We only visited the Bahia Mar exhibit where I was working. See photo above.

There’s no way I can possibly describe the show in a blog, as it’s just massive and you’ll see I say that over and over in our YouTube episode. The Bahia Mar exhibit included brand new boats and yachts from manufacturers and brokerage yachts and superyachts. Plus, it had huge displays of vendors everywhere you turned. The best part about the electronics tent is they kept it cold as a meat locker. This was a very pleasant treat as it was extremely hot during the show.

Super Yachts Everywhere

They had a super house boat – if that’s what you call it? I wish we would have toured this!

Unlike most shows we have attended, this is a manufacturer show, similar to an auto show. The manufacturers go all out to build massive VIP tents that are actually air conditioned (well, at least Sunseeker was where I was working!).

No matter if you are looking for a center console, a catamaran or a yacht, the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show is where you will find your boat. This has been one of the best things about moving to Fort Lauderdale, is the access to so much boating!

Tour the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show on our YouTube Channel

If you plan on attending the show, give yourself at least three days to cover the show and that’s probably just for Bahia Mar. Scott was there two full days and he barely touched the display. I had displays from one end of the show to the other and over five days I walked 42 miles! We want to thank Informa and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show for welcoming us as Influencers to the show – it was quite the experience. Until next year!

As always, thank you for following our blog and please be sure to check out our YouTube channel (see video below). Please be sure to subscribe to our channel and follow us on our next adventure. Next week we’ll share more boat tours from the show and later this month we go on our very first cruise! Stay tuned.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

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1996 Hatteras 52′ Tour

Scott and I toured a 1996 Hatteras 52′ Yacht this week that is for sale by Denison Yachting. This yacht is a fantastic liveaboard and it comes with a liveaboard slip. It is moored in the Loggerhead Marina in Hollywood, FL which is about 40 minutes south of us.

Since this yacht is 26 years old, I was expecting it to be run down and stinky. To my surprise, this yacht is in fantastic condition and has no smell at all! Wow, that has to be a first for us. It was nice to tour a Hatteras and see how it should look like. Remember last summer, when we flew to Fort Lauderdale and toured a Hatteras? I still can’t believe that yacht was for sale!

Tour this Hatteras 52′

Normally in my blog, I write about our latest YouTube episode. This time, I decided to keep it short and have you watch the tour on YouTube. Pictures just don’t do it justice. What I loved about this yacht, is that the owner made it very homey. It has couches that you would find in your home, he created an office space and the salon even has a fireplace. That’s exactly what we’re looking for.

You are probably wondering if we are interested in it for ourselves? It’s almost in our budget and comes with a liveaboard slip, so why are we not jumping at the bit you ask? Well, tune in to our channel in the coming weeks, as we will talk about boating in Florida. Insurance, financing and the costs of slips are much different than Seattle and that’s because we are in Hurricane territory. We won’t be buying a boat until at least next Spring after we do our research and figure out what we can afford. Plus our lease isn’t up until April and our plan is not to have a condo and a boat.

If you are interested in this yacht, contact Paul Denton at Denison Yachting. You can find his information and the listing here.

As always, thank you for following our journey. Please be sure to subscribe to our channel and follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Tune in next week, as we head to the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, MD.

Cheers, Scott and Ally

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2022 Palm Beach International Boat Show

2022 Palm Beach Boat Show

I had only been in Fort Lauderdale two weeks, when I had to work at the 2022 Palm Beach International Boat Show. The show ran from May 24th thru May 27th. As you know, I’ve worked many shows in the Pacific Northwest, plus Scott and I have been to the Miami and Annapolis boat shows. The Palm Beach International Boat Show was unlike any other show I have attended.  The show is located in downtown Palm Beach along Flagler Drive and it features over $1.2 billion dollars worth of yachts and accessories.  Here I saw hundreds of boats on the water including 8’ inflatables to  Superyachts up to 300 feet in length. There was also a huge display on land, including boats, accessories and food vendors.

OneWater Yacht Group Display

While I’m used to working a very large space with over a 100 boats which are mostly runabouts, this was a very different experience.  OneWater Yacht Group had fifteen yachts on display and we had a large tent with an open bar for guests to relax in.

Chris Craft had a very cool design center at the show, which was a show stopper.

The Sunseeker Predator 65 made its’ global debut during the show and it was awesome to be a part of such a media frenzy. We had magazines lined up to do a feature of this beautiful yacht.

So many yachts at the Palm Beach International Boat Show

Everywhere I turned, there were huge displays and gorgeous yachts.   I did have the opportunity to tour one of our superyachts on display, a 2005  Palmer Johnson 123. You can say we are not in Kansas anymore! You can find a link to the yacht here.

The superyacht marina was massive. One yacht was so big it had a helicopter and submarine on board. I took a stroll over to the super yacht display to meet a mutual friend.

I was stunned by not only the size of the vessels, but also the level of luxury each manufacturer put into their displays.

The Palm Beach International Boat Show also features smaller boats

From the super yacht marina, I headed over to the smaller boat display. Here they had runabouts, towboats, inflatables, center consoles plus cigarette boats and some very unique vessels. It was obvious that speed is a necessity here, with so many boats having four or more outboards.

One crazy thing I saw was a swarm of bees on a rocket launcher. The following day, that swarm must have been swatted at, because they were flying thru the show and it was crazy!

One irony of working the show, was that the Sea Ray display was right across the water from our tent. If you have been following me over the years, you know that I spent a lot of time marketing the Sea Ray L590 Fly that we (former company) had in stock for a long time. Soon after, we brought in the Sundancer 320 and 370 Outboard, which I spent months marketing. Here these three models were staring at me the entire time during the show!

Vendors at the Palm Beach International Boat Show

The vendor tents had a ton of vendors on display featuring everything from shirts, fishing equipment, boat accessories to food and beverage. I wish I would have spent more time checking out the vendors, but I was working the show and didn’t have time to wander.

Working the Palm Beach International Boat Show was a great experience and I can’t wait for Scott to be able to experience it next year. If you have not attended this show before, I highly recommend it.

As always, thank you for following our journey. Be sure to subscribe to our vlog (video link below) and follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Tune in next week as we start our five day road trip moving from Seattle to Fort Lauderdale. Cheers, Ally

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Staying at Grande Bay Resort in St. John

grande bay resort

Wanting to relax a few days after our charter, Scott and I reserved a condo at Grande Bay Resort in St. John. In our last blog, we returned our Leopard power catamaran to the Moorings base the night before our charter ended. The next morning,  Scott and I jumped on the Fast Ferry  back to St Thomas first thing in the morning.  However,  the ferry we took back, was not the same ferry or company we took to Tortola. 

 Instead of having an upper deck on the ferry, we had an interior seating only. It had three seats on either side and was set up like an airplane (they even played movies!) Unfortunately the weather was terrible and we had about 6 to 7’ swells. To say that it was an uncomfortable ride is an understatement.

To top it off we had to take another ferry from Charlotte Amalie to St John and head back into rough seas.  As you can see by the photo below it was not a fancy ferry.

Grande Bay Resort & Condos

 For this year’s visit we stayed a little closer to town and we reserved a fabulous condo with a wonderful view.  The condo was nice and open with nice appointments.

After checking in,  we headed in to town to grab a cold drink and unwind. Our first stop was the Tap & Still Cruz Bay Pub. They were very friendly and quick with the cocktails!

After a round of drinks, we decided to explore a bit more of St. John that we didn’t see last year. A few blocks later, a huge squall came thru and we had to find shelter quick. Luckily, for us we ran into another bar Meada’s Garden (though it was outdoor!).

The owner was serving cocktails at the bar and we found out that the restaurant was only a few months old. We decided to make dinner reservations for our third and last night in St. John as he was so friendly and fun to talk to.

Best Restaurants in St John

Since Scott and I were here to relax and unwind, we made it our goal to visit the best restaurants on St. John. One of which, we visited last year, The 1864 in the Mongoose Station. Turns out we sat at the exact same table! The food was even better than last year. If you are in St. John, this is a must.

You can’t skip breakfast if you have a full day’s worth of activities. On our first morning, Scott and I headed to High Tide on the beach. We had dinner there last year and this time, we bellied up to the bar for breakfast. The service was fantastic, the drinks were strong and the food was delicious!

On our second night, we made reservations at a very small steakhouse, called Dave & Jerry’s Island Steakhouse , which was walking distance from Grande Bay Resort. It came highly recommended and one of the owners actually greets every guest. It’s a bit tight, as they only have about 9 tables inside, but it’s worth it. Scott and I should have split a steak, as I could barely make a dent. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a photo before I dove in!

Renting Another Dinghy

Last year, Scott and I rented an 11′ dinghy from Wharfside Watersports to explore the shores of St. John. Read that blog here. That dinghy was great, but it wasn’t big enough to handle the big swells through the channel, so this year, we rented a Zodiak for $595 for a full day so we could explore. After breakfast, we headed to the office, where we stumbled upon the broken props they set up outside their office. LOL!!

As we were getting our instructions, we learned that unlike the 11′ Highfield dinghy we rented last year and visited numerous beaches, the Zodiaks were not allowed on the beaches. Uh ho! However, the Zodiak was a great dinghy and handled the swells very well. Our plan was to visit Maho Bay beach to snorkel with the turtles. After we made our way to our destination, we realized that if we jump in the water, we need to be able to pull ourselves back into the boat.

Unfortunately, the boat had a very small swim ladder, big enough for one foot and only one handle to pull yourself up with. It was too risky, so we simply cruised around dodging a rain storm. After a few hours, we were tired of fleeing the rain storms, so we headed back to Grande Bay Resort condo to relax by the pool.

The rain squalls never let up, so we left the pool and decided to enjoy downtown St John and a few local bars.

Time to head home

Our trip to St. John was short, but enjoyable. We highly recommend taking a few days to unwind on land after a boat trip. Though we had a round trip ticket on the private ferry, I refused to get back on it. Instead, we paid $15 each and hopped on the government operated ferry and headed back to Red Hook. Red Hook is on eastern side of St. Thomas, which required us to take a longer taxi ride back to the airport, but it was worth it.

Next on our journey, is our move to Fort Lauderdale, FL! So much is happening in our lives and we’re excited to share it with all of you.

As always, thank you for following our journey! Be sure to subscribe to our blog and vlog (link below). You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. See you next time in Florida!

Cheers, Scott and Ally