Help: Planning for Valentine's Day ...

[Hai Nhi]

Greetings everyone.

I posted this over iboats.com forum, but I'd like to try here too for more exposure.

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I'm planning a surprise trip for my wife (& me) on this year Valentine's weekends. We've never gone anywhere pass Bay Bridge from our "home" port in San Leandro marina (we live in Hayward so that's been our first and only marina we launched from in the last 2-3 years). And the longest we've stayed out is about 2 hours or so.

I talked to a guy in Oakland yesterday, and he suggested that I should start from Emeryville Marina, visit Angel Island, tour Sausalito's houseboat community and back. And maybe stop/anchor at anywhere interesting/scenic for lunch/break/rest during the process.

Please advise if that sounds good enough for our first special day out (whole day)? Any addition/alteration/alternate to the plan is welcome.

I'm also very interested in trying to overnight on my boat once to see how it is so I can convince my wife to do it more often. Any suggestion on places we could slip for the night, lunch/dinner, etc... would be appreciated. We could do it at this same time, or some other time. If on other time, I could probably start early on Friday (maybe get to the dock at 4-5-6pm), some cruises then stay overnight, wake up early & watch the sun/cruise the fresh air, more cruises/visit a couple of spots, then head back. Hahaha. But of course, I'm not sure about the gritty details yet.

We will bring our boys, 4 & 6 with us. Boat is 2002 Sundancer 280, on a trailer from Hayward.

Thank you.
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[FootballFan]

One of my favorite valentines day memories....

My wife of 27 years, soon to be 28,

Last year we decided to go to the Miami boat show. You know I had to work boating in here somehow.

Miami boat show is always over valentines day - well most years.

Staying at the Four Seasons Miami.

Our very first valentines day years ago - we cooked spaghetti and meat sauce together - since then every year that is the meal. I called the hotel - was not on the menu - but guess what. In typical Four Seasons fashion that's what we ate in the room that night. Spaghetti and meat balls.

Room service was fantastic.

To all - hope you have great valentines day memories and create new memories.... the fun never stops.

 

[Hai Nhi]

Thanks, FootballFan, for the inspiration.

I'm not sure if I've created any memorable valentine's day with my wife yet. This would be my first "real" attempt. So hopefully it'd work out good.

 

[Searaybio270]

Didn't do this on a boat (Feb in Md) but a couple of years ago I put together a Valentine's Day dinner for my wife at the house. My step-son was probably around 14/15 at the time but I included him to be a part. I had Presecco wine for us and sprite for him for when she walked in. We bought cards and for sure flowers (Red roses). I had shrimp and scallops cooking for appitizers to start. I made a large, what we call an Italian salad, Probably b/c I am Italian and a seafood pasta dish as the main course. I also had her favorite dessert. With all the courses I had different bottles of wine and for sure an after dinner wine to go with the dessert. I didn't let her go upstairs when she got in. We took her coat and had her in the kitchen with us. Now after dinner I said she could go upstairs and we followed. I had rose pedals across the bed and into the bathroom. In the bathroom I had candles lit (had the Step son do it) before she went in. We also ran her a very hot tub of water with all types of bubbly stuff in it. I set up my IPAD and Beats speaker and put on some music and we let her be. I did go up and check on her - Yes, I did, but to make sure I knew when she was ready to get out of the tub. I heated up the towel for her so she would have a nice warm towel. Some after bath lotion. When she came down she looked rested and very happy. We had a nice glass of wine and the three of us talked. All and all a wonderful night.
Just an idea.

 

[Hai Nhi]

That's a very nice setup. My wife would LOVE that kind of treat.

This year I really want to take her out for boat trip though. First is for our Valentine's day. Second is for her to feel more in love with boating once she sees what we can do with the boat. (In the past we would only run out to under the bay bridge and back, plus go to lake for summer camping. Not so much on longer cruises around the beautiful Bay yet).

 

[HUMPH]

Just saw this thread (a bit too late) so I am guessing you took your trip already. Starting in Emeryville is good but check the charts and make sure you stay in the channel. Run past the Embarcadero in SF and check out the sites, go around Alcatraz then through raccoon straights to Sausalito. Be careful if you get near the houseboats, it gets shallow. You can stop for lunch at Sam's in Tiburon on the way to Sausalito. Cool little spot.

As far as anchoring overnight, I would head up to the Delta. Mildred Island is a safe anchorage as is Mandeville Tip. Let me know if you need help finding a good spot...

 

[Hai Nhi]

Thanks Ken for the tips. I didn't see this post till now

On that fateful day , port side engine wouldn't start. It ruined my whole plan .

Right now im still troubleshooting it in one of the threads here in CSR.

I sure will bug you again for advices on where to go after I get the boat running again. I'm very itchy about going out boating.

Will be be down in Sacramento boat show next week just to scratch my itch a little bit. Hehe

good day.