Upper Chesapeake and Potomac Suggestions

[Progress]

On my way from Toledo to Charleston I'll be passing thru the area the end of Sept or 1st of Oct. I've made the trip before but this time I'll be heading up the Potomac to drop off my "crew". So I'm looking for suggestions on where to stay etc.

My normal cruising day is around 6hrs (150 mi) cruising, tie and clean up, couple of hrs walking and/or tourist, restaurant for dinner (I like to eat almost as much as cruise), a little quite time, and bed.

Itinerary:
Day 1 NYC - Cape May
Day 2 Cape May - Annapolis or (suggestions?)
Day 3 Wherever - Lower Potomac (suggestions?)
Day 4 Wherever - Downtown Washington DC (suggestions?)

Regrettably I won't have much time to really tourist this trip; but I guess that why I have to keep redoing it each year. (This is my 5th yr and 10th trip.)

Thanks.

 

[Mikemapva]

Rick,

The only area that I can think of in the Lower Potomac that meets your requirements is Colonial Beach as it is the only real "town" that has any touristy things to do. At that, it's not a tourist hot bed, but it does have a downtown area, a town beach on the Potomac, and a little area to walk around. There are several marinas there, and I've only stopped at Bayside Marina which also has a seafood restaurant attached called the Happy Clam. The largest marina in town is the Colonial Beach Yacht Center which is the first one you see when you enter Monroe Bay from the Potomac.

If you didn't have the tourist requirement, I would recommend Port Kinsale as a stopping point (you can see Gary's separate thread for pictures), but it really isn't near anything.

Once you get to DC, I believe that the only 2 marinas that have transient slips are Gangplank and James Creek. Gangplank probably has the location advantage, as it's right by the DC seafood market, and it's an easier walk to the subway (Metro). James Creek has fuel and is probably less expensive, but it's also less convenient.

Hope this helps. I'm sure others will have additional suggestions.

Mike

 

[Redhook98]

I live in Colonial Beach and can second this. It really is th eonly touristy place to stop on the Potomac south of DC. I keep my boat at the Colonial Beach Yacht Center. Like Mike said, it is the first marina when you come though the channel. They also have a great restaurant and bar called Dockside and full facilities. You can rent golf carts and see the town as well. Hope this helps.

 

[themikehyde]

Redhook, we keep our boat at monrooe bay marina. We have to hook up sometime.
Mike