2-3 weeks, but where to go??

Newbie

Newbie

New Member
Oct 22, 2007
858
Apex, NC
Boat Info
'01 230BR
Engines
350mag B3,
We are trying to plan out a 2-3 week trip in the first part of august but since it will be the first time doing this, we could use a little help. As of now the only thing we know for sure is that we will be leaving Topsail Island heading north with 2 kids (ages 3 & 9) We are trying to find places to stop along the way that will interest both kids. Its hard to find things a 9 yr old boy will enjoy as much as a 3 yr old girl. Heres a few places we would like to stop over at.

Beaufort/MH City
Oriental
Belhaven, wife's family
Ocracoke
Elizabeth City
Manteo
Dismal Swamp Canal, water levels permitting
Where else??

Also, with it being our first long distance cruise, I could use a little help on how to plan it. Should I be making reservations now for slips or a day or so ahead of time? I don't think it will be a problem midweek but may be hard to find a slip Fri and Sat? We also have the Albemarle and Neuse to contend with so weather will be a deciding factor on making those crossings which in turn makes it hard to reserve in advance.
We plan to go at a leisurely pace, just taking it easy. So we aren't sure if 2 weeks is enough time to do it but, if we make it to Va, what are the can't miss places on the lower Chesapeake?
Also, since its our first, what are the do not forget to bring, plan for etc. items that I may not know of yet? I guess this is where my screen name really holds its place since we don't really know what were doing yet with a trip like this. Any info on where to go or ideas for planning and what to bring are greatly appreciated. SB
 
We keep our boat in Hampton, VA (temporarily, just for June and July). Norfolk is about a 30 minute cruise from there. Norfolk would be a great stop, lots to do and see there. Hampton is a fun place too.

We have had no issues with slip reservations this year. Just made four for next week. We are cruising to Cape Charles for 2 days and then VA Beach for 2 days next week. It will be our first time on the Bay.

Also, my father-in-law went from DC to the Bahamas and his wife blogged the trip. Perhaps some of her entries while going through NC will be of help to you:

http://capitolhill2.blogspot.com/

If you can make it to Norfolk, another 1 hour os so up the James is Williamsburg and Jamestown. Bush Gardens and a huge water park are in Williamsburg.
 
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I assume you are coming up the ICW and not going on the outside out of Oregon Inlet?

You may want to explore the James River and select Kingsmill on the James as a destination point. ( http://www.kingsmill.com ) You will find Busch Gardens there as well and that is great for kids... they even have stuff for the 3 year old (Land of the Dragons if my memory serves me right). They also have Water Country USA. I know they have shuttles that run to Busch Gardens but I'm not sure about Water Country. You can drink beer in the Festhaus while the little one is playing in Land of the Dragons. They also have roller coasters the 9 year old can ride... they treat you good if you stay at the marina. And they charge you for it. It's about 20 miles north of Norfolk. There is also Smithfield along the way and you can see the fortunes made in pork bellies.

If you go on the southern bay, you may want to hit up Yorktown. They have new town docks and the Yorktown Battlefield is there... bring kites, model airplanes/rockets, etc... fly the kites and shoot the rockets at the tourists.

If you head further up the bay you can get to the Rappohanock and hit up Urbanna. Neat little town but not much for kids. The Tides Inn is also there at Irvington.

I'm not a big fan of Bay Creek at Cape Charles. The town is pretty much a dump. The marina is nice though. Hampton has the Virginia Air and Space Center which is also NASA Langley's visitor center. If you stay in Norfolk, stay across the river in Portsmouth at the Tidewater Yachting Center. Portsmouth also has a neat children's museum that is a short walk from the marina.

Those are a few suggestions.
 
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I agree with much of what Gary said, however, we stayed at Yorktown last year and there is no protection for the slips. The boat rocked and rolled all night, took several hours to clean the sides up from the bumpers. There is a marina across the river (not sure of the name) but if I go back that is where I will be staying. Other than that a very fun place to visit. Also, can anyone recommend a nice marina in VA Beach. We have some friends there with a house and want to go visit for a few days. Thanks and good luck on your trip Newbie.
 
"Also, can anyone recommend a nice marina in VA Beach. We have some friends there with a house and want to go visit for a few days. Thanks and good luck on your trip Newbie."

On the advice of some fellow boaters, we picked Fishermans' Wharf. We will be there next Wednesday and Thurday night. Ask for Paula when you call.

Gary, what's up with Bay Creek Marina in Cape Charles? That is where we have reservations next week.

Dido Gary's comments on Kingsmill Marina in Williamsburg. Not cheap, buy a fantastic resort, especially if you golf, which I do not, though I play a golfer on TV. Smithfield Station is a nice stop too, has a pool for the kids, 10 minute walk to town.
 
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Newbie - no matter what you end up doing, the ICW and all is very nice in the areas you are traveling. There's a lot to do in the Manteo/OBX area - some nice restaurants and such. There are several marinas to choose from - Pirates Cove is probably the nicest and has Hurricane Moe's to eat at overlooking the water. We're looking at doing the Dismal Swamp trip up to Hampton this summer so I'd be real interested in what you find for water levels and lock operation. Elizabeth City is also nice and it's usually not very crowded so finding restaurants, etc is pretty easy. Sightseeing in this area is really kinda limited - the aquarium in Manteo is nice but would require either a taxi or car rental. Good luck in your planning and if you have any questions about the OBX area just let me know.
 
Thanks for everyones advice. Kingsmill sounds like a definite stop...if we make it that far. Gary and Mrs Robinson, are any of the James River plantations accessable by boat? Just for the day, not overnight. My wife has been buggin the crap out of me to go up there and see some of them.
Tdapple, manteo is one of our longer planned stops, at least 2-3 days. I would like to really check out the area since I have a chance to get a slip at a new marina/development there for a great price. My father is a partner in it so we may take one. SB
 
I'm a little far for a boat trip to Williamsburg, but we spend a week there every summer. It is a fantastic family destination. Yorktown and Jamestown are great too.
Williamsburg has lots to see and Busch Gardens is probably the nicest theme park we've ever been to. Water Country USA is a great family choice too.
If it were closer for us we would definetly make it a boat trip.
It would probably be pretty cool to cruise past the plantations on the James River. I've been to them by land and they are impressive.
 
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I do not think any of the plantations have water access. We have been to most by car and always walk to the water. I have never seen a dock. I guess with a ding you could anchor and ding in. You could always rent a car for the day from Williamsburg. From there you are 30 or so minutes from the plantations.

Learn the bridge/lock schedules in the ICW too. Find out what channel they monitor.
 
Bay Creek Marina is a nice marina. They probably have the best docks I've seen *anywhere* on the east coast. The problem is that is appears to grand plan to build up that place is running out of money. The pool, for example, is this little bitty thing and it was supposed to be their "temp pool" until more of the condos were sold and more stuff was developed. Well..... along comes this real estate mess and I believe the condos are over 50% vacant and development stopped on the place. They have a very nice store front area and restaurant, but there just isn't much traffic... I don't see how the stores will stay in business... or the whole entity is going to stay in business which is a shame. I know someone who bought one of the little houses in town as a vacation home and the town just never really has grown much. You have to remember that Cape Charles' main industry was the concrete plant that was built there to build the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel...

I hear that there is a big yacht servicing company (for like 100+ foot yachts) that is going in there which should help but the town there is pretty much a ghost town.
 
The public docks in Beaufort, NC are the best to stay at in that area. If they are full try the Moorehead City Yacht Basin. I have stayed at both. (Beaufort has better restaraunts.) You should not have any problems in NC with a 340. From Wilmington it only takes about 5and 1/2-6hrs to get to Belhaven. Thats if you go straight across from the Masonboro inlet to Beaufort. The other inlets coming out of Wilmington are not to good to get in and out of. From Moorehead/Beaufort to Belhaven its a 3-4hr. ride at an easy pace. You can shoot me an email for anything you need to know as I could right an awfull long blog here. We live in Belhaven and dock our boat at the house. Hope we can help. Mick & Denise
 
Thanks Mick. I may have a few questions as time goes by.
I spoke briefly with a friend this AM who was somewhere up in your area this weekend. Not sure where exactly but he hit bottom in the channel, a stump or piling, and sunk his Viking :smt089
Total loss.. Apparently wherever he was, the channel is in really bad shape. 2 of the other boats who showed up to help struck bottom too but only props, shallower draft. I'd be willing to bet he didn't check the local notice to mariners for current conditions but it sucks that no one has marked an area like that. SB
 
Two years ago when I headed across the Albemarle Sound heading to the Alligator River, there was a guy on a boat that struck bottom right in the middle of the channel before the bridge on the north side. When I got there about 10 minutes later, my depth gauge went to 1.5 feet and I was right smack in between the red and green day markers.... If it was a new viking booking along at 30+ knots and drawing 5+ feet, that would rip the rudders off a boat and sink it. Gotta be careful down there and watch the Notice to Mariners from the USCG. Even then... it happens.
 
I didnt get much of a chance to chat with him, he was down there assessing the damage. Whatever he hit was hard, ripped a 2'x4' hole in the hull and sank it within a minute he said. Luckily it was an older Viking, 150k value or so. But he said he's had it, done with boating. Both Cats were overhauled recently, one of them twice. I'll have to try to talk him out of that though, I need a good friend with a sportfisher since my 340 is not very fish friendly.
On another note, someone else I spoke with over the weekend told me of people in the Belhaven/Bath area stretching cables just under water to catch props. Good way to get business if your shop has been slow I guess. Any truth to this??
 
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