Florida Boating Destinations: visit the boating capital of the world

Headed to the Sunshine State for some Florida boating destinations? You aren’t the only one.  In fact, Florida has the most registered recreational boats than any other U.S. state and welcomes at least 100,000 out-of-state boating vessels on any day.

 

From Pensacola to the Keys, Florida is the boating capital of the world. It’s the ideal location for fishing, sightseeing, island cruising, sailing, diving, beaching, and hitting the top boat shows.

 

With more than 2,000 miles of coastline, Florida encompasses 11,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 7,700 named lakes.  Florida boating destinations and activities are endless year-round, but here are a few of our top picks.

1. Fort Lauderdale
The waterfront destination is most known for its 24-mile span of golden beaches, arts, culture, shopping, attractions, and events. From the water, Fort Lauderdale has been called the Venice of America with more than 300 inland waterways.
 
Fun Fact: Among one of the largest events in the state of Florida and in the world, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, returns to the water from Wednesday, October 27-Sunday, October 31, 2021.
 
Attending the event by boat and need a place to dock? Check out our selection.
Live in the area and have an empty private dock? Rent it!  List it today and make boat show attendees happy knowing they are docked in a safe haven.
2. Jacksonville
Jacksonville (Jax as locals call it) is the perfect destination in Northeast Florida for outdoor adventures, boating, world-class fishing, surfing, coastal cuisine, and bird-watching.
 
Fun Fact: Jacksonville proudly boasts the largest urban park system in the country, with more than 80,000 designated acres, including the 46,000-acre Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.
3. St. Augustine

Florida’s Historic Coast includes the coastlines of St. Augustine and the surrounding areas with beaches from Ponte Vedra Beach to Crescent Beach and all in between. Home of the PGA Tour and the location of THE PLAYERS Championship, St. Augustine is one of the state’s top golf destinations.

Fun Fact: The region is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States.

4. The Florida Keys/Key West

With more boating opportunities than any other place on earth, The Florida Keys stretches from Biscayne National Park 125 miles to Key West in the southwest. Home to world-class fishing, diving, snorkeling, and cruising, The Florida Keys is the perfect destination for water sport and adventure enthusiasts. 

Fun Fact: Fort Jefferson in Key West is the port town, which was the inspiration for Jimmy Buffet’s song Cheeseburger in Paradise.

5. Pensacola/Fort Walton Beach/Destin

Three of Florida’s prime sailing and fishing destinations include Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, and Destin – the gems of Northwest Florida.  Known as the Emerald Coast, this region is one of the top boating destinations in the state.

Fun Facts:  Pensacola the place where all naval pilots train; it also is home to the impressive National Naval Aviation Museum and the Blue Angels Naval aerobatics team.

Destin is widely known as the “world’s luckiest fishing village.”

The possibilities are infinite in Florida. We’re just getting started.  We hit the peak of our favorite Florida boating destinations with these five top spots. Visit our blog in the near future to gather details about other amazing regions in Florida. 

 Stay safe and happy boating!  Florida, here we come!