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echoes Mr. Carson’s about the physicality of sailing:
sailing is a workout.
But it can be so much more.
Family sailing provides an unrivaled opportunity for
family bonding, developing independence, and creative
learning, but keeping two children entertained
in the smallish space of a boat is no easy task, she
says. Fortunately, when it comes to boating, there
are no shortage of tasks to be done.
“It was really an educational experience for them.
Navigation requires math and geometry,’’ she says.
And trusting a young mind to help supply a boat
for a week can become a lesson in project management
(at times this lesson is for both student and
teacher). Involving the kids with chores around the
boat teaches discipline, a sense of order, and how to
think creatively when solving problems.
“Once on a smaller boat we didn’t have a shower belowdeck,
and so in the morning we filled an inflatable
raft with water, let the sun heat it all day, and
the kids could take a warm bath before bed at a
night,” Ms. LeVeque says.
The response is instant when asked about a favorite
Great Lakes destination. The North Channel.
An archipelago shelters this waterway from the
forces of Lake Huron, and provides countless secluded
coves to drop anchor, relax and explore,
similar to Mr. Kreucher’s route to Desolation
Sound. Quaint fishing and boating villages, wilderness
areas, and meeting other boaters are just a
few of the things to do; when you’re not stargazing
under the vast night sky.
Beware, though. The sound of cannon fire off the
portside bow may greet you soon after leaving the
Channel. Before returning a volley, know that it’s a
reenactment taking place at Fort Mackinac (“Mackin
aw”), perched high on Mackinac Island. In addition
to being a prime location for the military (it
traded hands several times during the War of 1812),
the Island was the headquarters for John Jacob Astor’s
fur trading business until the mid 1800s.
Today though the entire Island is on the National
Register of Historic Places and is a hugely popular
tourist stop. Getting around on land requires a
horse, a bicycle, or your own two feet since “horseless
carriages” have been banned since the 1890s
and the Island strives to maintain its historic character.
Arrive by yacht and the main port is minutes
from Main Street where restaurants, Ye Olde Souvenir
Shoppes, and the Island’s namesake fudge is
sold by the quarter-pound (in peak season they’ll
sell 10,000 pounds of the stuff, per day). A few
minutes from downtown and the Island has several
top tier hotels and B&Bs for those who might want
a break from the waves. Plus, after several days on a
boat, simply being able to walk in a straight line for
more than your boat’s length can seem like a luxury.
Depart from the Island heading 260-ish degrees and
you’ll soon cross under the Mackinac Bridge and
into Lake Michigan. Ms. LeVeque suggests visiting
places like Harbor Springs, Petoskey, and Charlevoix.
They’re all mainland towns popular with
boaters and connected to Arizona via our mighty
highway system or Pellston Regional airport; easy to
have friends join in and resupply for the next stage
of your adventure.
Each town has a distinctive character and is worth
finding a spot to tie off and explore. Petoskey is full
of charming Victorian homes surrounding a quaint
downtown. Charlevoix is a very popular stop, especially
for those heading further south into Lake
Michigan or across to Wisconsin. And you’ll find
the biggest boats along the docks in Harbor Springs.
With all those nautical miles under her belt, Ms.
Leveque looks back most fondly at the time her
family spent together. Yachting, she said “promotes
family experiences more than other holidays. The
kids are not off on their own; you’re together, doing
things together.”
But if conveniently entertaining friends and family
in luxury is your top priority, look no further
than San Diego. Forget about the winds of the Pacific
Northwest shivering your timbers, or chasing
mishandled halyards up the mast in Lake Michigan.
Libby Cohen has a few tips to share for those interested
in entertaining at sea, SoCal style.
Ms. Cohen and her husband Joel initially fell in
love with boating while zooming around on Bartlett
Lake but spent most of their time on the water
cruising from their home port in San Diego.
“I love being on the water. Everything about it. And
San Diego is a totally different experience on a boat
versus being on the beach,” Ms. Cohen says. “Plus
it’s the perfect family time.”
Initially drawn in by a love for all things water, the
Cohens soon realized that few activities were as ideally
suited for family time and as an escape from
the daily grind back home. Echoing Ms. LeVeque’s
earlier comments, cruising San Diego was a great
way to get everyone together, bringing along family
and friends and meeting new people who shared
their passion.
But unlike Mr. Kreucher or Ms. LeVeque who prefer
sailing, Ms. Cohen said “we really used it like a
condo. It’s easier to just turn the key and go. Plus
you have more usable space than a sailing yacht.”
And that extra space came in handy for hosting
guests, enjoying weekend trips along the coast
up to Newport or south to Ensenada. Catalina
and Balboa Islands were also favorite places
to party, make new friends, and meet up with
other boating buddies.
Proximity puts San Diego on top for Arizonans, especially
for the weekend or week-long warrior. The
Cohens could be from their desk to the docks in
no time, uncorking a bottle of wine just in time for
sunset over the Pacific.
Regardless of where you shove off for ports unknown
or the craft in which you choose to do it,
time aboard is a great way to spend time with family
and friends, decompress after a long week (or long
decade) at the desk, and learn something new about
yourself and the world.