By Staff
Waterhead™ Watersports
October 12, 2011

Waterheads who want to experience the best in all water sports and beach activities need to look no further than the Atlantic Coast of the United States to find a buffet of activities and locations from which to enjoy fun in the sun and on the water. From Maine to the Florida Keys, there are marinas, beaches, waterways, reefs, fishing piers, wildlife sanctuaries and many local attractions to visit and enjoy for Fun on the Atlantic Coast.

The Intracoastal Waterway travels from the northernmost state of Maine down the coast through the northern states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.  Waterheads will love Maine’s Acadia National Park, the only national park in New England. During the summer season the park has a calendar packed with special events. Swimming at Sand Beach offers brisk 55 degree waters that will keep any waterhead “chilled”.  Multi-day kayaking trips are offered as well as kayak, canoe, sail and motorboat rentals. All towns along the coast offer launching areas near town docks and municipal piers. Commercial excursions for fishing, sailing and whale watching are available.

New Hampshire makes the most of their 18 miles of coastline.  They are proud of their old-time family beaches with activities for all ages, from the very young to the elderly. Along with an annual volleyball tournament and sand-sculpting contest, Hampton Beach is a state park with swimming, fishing, boating, an RV park camp and lifeguards. This is the place for waterheads to dock their recreational boats.  Portsmouth has a marina and fishing pier, as does Rye with its Harbor Marina and Rye Harbor State Park.  Odiorne Point State Park offers canoeing and boat ramps with a lot of fishing while Wallis Sands State Beach offers the best family beach experience.

Fun on the Atlantic Coast can be found in abundance in Massachusetts, which is a waterhead paradise with nearly 400 coastal spots offering water recreation of all types.  Boston is home to Revere Beach, the very first public beach in America. The town of Ipswich has one of the most picturesque beaches for swimming in all of New England. Boston Community Boating offers Friday Night Sails throughout the summer through Labor Day.

Buzzard Bay offers the most challenging sailing on the East Coast. In the Boston area a waterhead can find instruction in sailing, sea kayaking, rentals and trips for all skill levels. Charter boats for pleasure cruises, nature watches and fishing excursions abound.  Nantasket Beach and Cape Cod’s Nauset Beach are the places to catch waves for surfers. The Nantucket Boat Basin offers showers, bathrooms, utilities and Internet access for serious boaters who need to come ashore for a time. Cape Cod offers Jet Ski rentals, banana boat rides, parasailing and great fishing guides. Martha’s Vineyard is another outdoor paradise. Make sure to use the public beaches though, as some are private.  Salt water fishing requires a state permit if you are 16 or older. The South Shore areas of Boston are the hot spot for beaches and public water sports of all varieties.

Rhode Island’s gorgeous 400 miles coastline varies from thundering surf and fantastic views to the sheltered beaches of Narragansett Bay, which are protected by “breakwater” barriers. With dozens of town beaches and wonderful state parks like Captain Roger Wheeler State Beach on the Narragansett Bay, Burlingame State Park in Charlestown and Charlestown Breachway State Beach and Camp Area, Rhode Island rightly claims its coastline is the state’s greatest natural resource.

Salt water fishing is the state’s leading sport and marlin, giant blue fin tuna and swordfish are the prize catches.  Fishing areas include the in-shore surf and off-shore game fishing. Waterheads may experience bottom fishing and rock casting in the protected bay shoreline areas. Nature watch cruises take viewers out to spot whales, sea turtles, sharks and pelagic birds.  Canoe and kayak tour trips are available and trans-Atlantic races often leave from here.

The city of Newport is the “sailing capital of the world” because of hosting the America’s Cup. Boating is the favorite pastime of the state’s residents and they enjoy challenging sailing opportunities through their coastal waters. Over 100 boating events per season occur here.

Connecticut offers great boating trips for those without their own nautical transportation. Here the beaches and trips emphasize history and family fun.  Waterheads can tour Black Rock Harbor aboard the Chief, a 40 foot Navy launch.  Amistad, the Freedom Schooner, offers public and private sails and tours.

The Quinnipaick, the flagship of the city of New Haven, offers evening cruises with lobster dinners on the 91 foot wooden schooner. The re-creation schooner Mystic Wheeler provides one, two, three and five day sailing adventures. There are lighthouse cruises, afternoon and sunset boating excursions on Long Island Sound and a 2 ½ hours Marine Life Study Cruise available.  Sign on for an hourly, half- or full-day sail on Long Island Sound. 

Family-friendly beaches abound for those interested in swimming, tanning and picnicking for the day or week. Hammonasset State park in Madison has three different beach areas as well as a nature preserve. Hammonasset Beach is the state’s largest and hosts beach volleyball and a paved trail for roller bladders. Many Connecticut beaches are along Long Island Sound and feature extras such as playgrounds, boardwalks, carousel rides and waterslides.

New York state and New York City offer some beautiful beaches to give city dwellers a break from glass and concrete and a chance for sun and fun. Staten Island has South Beach and nearby Midland Beach, which are a paradise for kids and their families. There are playgrounds and other attractions here as well as shopping and dining places.

Brighton Beach hosts families for the summer, Orchard Beach welcomes Bronx residents and Gunnison Beach provides New Yorkers with a spot for nude sun bathing. The Main Beach on East Hampton is the place for celebrity and people watching. The Rockaways offer more privacy and the 140 acres of natural wilderness of Fort Tilden State Park, with its hiking trails. The peninsula beach of Rockaway on Long Island’s South Shore has been the destination for surfers since the Hawaiian father of surfing gave a demonstration of the sport there in 1912.

Fun on the Atlantic Coast is found in abundance in the six states on the Intracoastal Waterway in New England. It may also be found at many other coastal destinations along “the ditch”, as boaters refer to the waterway. Waterheads have a wide variety of choices for boating, water sports, swimming, fishing and enjoying a day in the sun along the Atlantic coast.

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