ICW Savannah GA to St Augustine Beach FL – looking for advice

[tcason]

Planning an ICW round trip over a long Columbus Day holiday from Savannah to St Augustine and looking for advice. Five day trip and want to stay four nights in different locations.
We are taking a boat without a cabin and therefore need to dock and then stay in motel/hotels along the way.

Using Active Captain it appears three good places to visit/stay are:

Jekyll Island
· Jekyll Harbor Resort Marina - http://www.jekyllharbor.com
St. Augustine
· Conch House Marina Resort - http://www.conch-house.com/marina.htm
Fernandina Island
· Fernandina Harbor Marina - http://www.westrec.com/fl-fernandina.html

Are there any places/hotels/sites/restaurants between Savannah and St Augustine that you would suggest/recommend?

Thanks!

 

[techmitch]

Hope this helps http://marinas.com/reservations/

 

[everthing's irie]

Fernandina Harbor Marina is a great stop. We spent 3 days there. Great marina, lots of restaurants, shops and a great old fort to see (Fort Clinch). You can see it from the coast. Its worth running out the channel to see it from the water and then take a tour on land.

Amelia Island Yacht Basin is near Fernandina. Stayed there for one night. I was not thrilled with it. Over priced and nothing within walking distance.

Enjoy the tides in that area. They are exceptionally strong. If you have never made the run...Cumberland Island is a nice adventure. Walking from the ICW to the ocean side is wonderful. Be aware of the tides. Dock on the outside of the finger when visting. At low tide you will only have 2 feet of water under you if you are on the inside of the finger.

As you head south from Fernandina be prepared for a boarding as you pass the sub base. It happens often and make sure to stay in the channel away from the base or a gun ship will meet you at top speed. (Guess how I know).

Jacksonville water front is a nice diversion. Shopping, food, etc.

The last time we made the run we had to stop short because they were working on lions bridge and only had it open for an hour a day. We missed the hour of passage:smt013.

Have fun I'm sure others can add to this.

 

[tcason]

bump

leaving Saturday Oct 09

 

[gwkiwi]

I just finished putting our way points into our new Coastal Explorer program and our trip is planned as: Charleston to Beaufort to Sunbury Crab Co to Brunswick to Fernandino Beach to Jacksonville.

There are some good anchoring spots and marinas listed on www.activecaptain.com a free website that is very informative.

We are leaving Charleston on the 29th so let me know how your trip goes and any trouble spots you come across as I know shoaling is a problem in certain areas. Try and time the tides so they are on your side.

Have fun look forward to hearing how your trip went

Gerald