Longtime cruiser and Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net Contributing Editor, Captain Jim Healy, offers thoughts on his and his wife Peg’s favorite spots along the Atlantic ICW. Some of these ports are probably on your list as well and, of course, there are a number of SSECN Sponsors in these stops. And if this will be your first trip along the Atlantic Waterway, you will do well to heed Jim’s advice and visits and navigation.

Elizabeth City, NC, and the “Albemarle Loop:“ Elizabeth City is the anchor town on the Dismal Swamp Route of the ICW southbound from Norfolk/Portsmouth.  Elizabeth City has a marvelous small museum dedicate to the region.  The Elizabeth City Public Wharf is the Harbor of Hospitality.  Docks are free, albeit without services.  This is a favorite stop for us to relax and refresh.

The Albemarle sound is a shallow body of water; the “deep water” range is 12′ – 18′.  These waters are home to many crab fishermen; crab pot floats are to be found virtually throughout the sound.  The sound lies geographically East-West, and the prevailing winds are from the West and Southwest.  Winds greater than 15 kts can raise uncomfortable beam seas for North-South crossings.  Winds greater that 20 kts can produce uncomfortable chop in all directions.

While not technically part of the ICW, this “loop” is centered around the ICW Routes from Norfolk/Portsmouth to the southbound ICW at the Alligator River in North Carolina.  The “Albemarle Loop” [see /154885] is a cruising route that touches some wonderful and oft-overlooked venues.  On the Crystal Coast, the towns of Manteo and Ocracoke are excellent stops.  On the Western Albemarle, the towns of Edenton and Plymouth are delightful.  The history of the Albemarle dates to the earliest English colonists.  At Manteo, visit the Lost Colony Plantation.  At Edenton, visit the revolutionary period Chowan County Courthouse, St. Paul’s Church, learn of the ladies of the Edenton Tea Party, and visit many other historical sites.  Here is a link to information on the Albemarle Loop: http://albemarleloop.com.

Beaufort, NC: This is a seaport town near Morehead City; it’s a very pleasant, laid-back, “chillaxin'” place with a small but well done Maritime Museum, many shoppes and some nice local restaurants.  For those who might enjoy a short off-shore (maybe 10 miles) cruise, depart the Beaufort Inlet and head out the the bight at the Cape Lookout National Seashore.  It a large, well protected anchorage, with access to the beach for campfires and swimming.  The bight itself is well protected from winds and ocean sea states, but the trip out and back can be too much for some if the wind offshore is up. Plan accordingly.

Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA: magnificent old southern cities with many points-of-interest and fine restaurants; our strategy is to take a tour bus around the city.  Look for a tour company that has same-day on-and-off privileges.  (We do this every time we arrive somewhere we’ve not been before, including Canada).  We take the entire tour circuit first, then go back to places that we think we’d like to know more about.  At Charleston, start at the Welcome Center.  Or, take the tour boat to Fort Sumter; nice aquarium near the Ft. Sumter ferry docks.  In Charleston, there is a water taxi from the Charleston Maritime Center that goes back and forth to Patriot Point, which is where the USS Yorktown is located.  In Savannah, there is a nice stage theater within walking distance of the downtown waterfront (http://www.savannahtheatre.com).  The Savannah waterfront is very interesting, with a large riverwalk, wonderful park overlooking the River, and large shipping and commercial traffic as well as every kind of small-boat and pleasure craft.  There are several architecture tours in both cities, and both have lots of weekly and seasonal activity for visitors.  From Savannah (there are marina options in downtown Savannah on the Savannah River or at Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope), boaters can also visit Tybee Island (light house and Fort Pulaski).

Fernandina Beach, FL: City is easy walking distance right at the foot of the docks at the Fernandina Harbor Marina.  Take the tour to Fort Clinch.  Visit the house where the Pippi Longstocking movie was filmed.  Visit Billy Burbank’s trawl net factory; they make shrimp nets; they’re open to the public for tours, and it’s a very interesting afternoon.

St. Augustine, FL: The St. Augustine light house is open to the public; the Catholic Cathedral Basilica would be of architectural interest to all; the Fort itself (Castillo de San Marcos) is wonderful, and the docents that do the historical interpretation are excellent.  There are many restaurants within walking distance of the St. Augustine City Marina.  We like the a1a Ale House.