My 10 Favorite Populated Anchorages I've been a latitudinal cruiser and tend to stay in one spot for a long period of time. Therefore, my list of favorite places is relatively short and concentrated. Here they are in no particular order. - Oxford, Maryland
On the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay, Oxford is on the Tred Avon River, a little further south than the more-visited St. Michael's. It's much smaller and quieter than St. Michael's. There are also a number of other great anchorages on "the Tred."
- New Bedford, Massachussetts
I spent a few weeks in New Bedford, initially to sit out some nasty weather. The town's whaling heritage, including its homage to Herman Melville and Moby Dick, was interesting for me, since I knew next to nothing about this once significant maritime business.
- St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
This was our home base when Brandy was in the Virgin Islands. I preferred this anchorage over any in St. Thomas.
- Cartagena, Colombia
A safe and beautiful haven along an otherwise dicey coast. High rise hotels and casinos lining the far side of the anchorage are more than offset by the old colonial walled city with its narrow streets and balconies. The anchorage is off Manga, the site of the old mansions of the coffee barons of ages past. Gabriel Garcia Marquez's book Life in the Time of Cholera is a wonderful story that takes place in Cartagena.
- Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Costa Rica has a thriving "eco-tourist" industry, and many of the anchorages along the Pacific side reflect this. I enjoyed many of those spots (see my next list for some examples), but Puntarenas figures in my memory as a true Costa Rican town, existing for the benefit of the locals rather than visiting tourists. I enjoyed being part of the rhythms of everyday life here and getting to know some wonderful Costa Ricans.
- Charleston, South Carolina
We wintered over at Ashley Marina, within easy access to the historic part of Charleston, during the winter of 2003-04. Charleston is a southern jewel with a large dollop of history in its streets and buildings, and is worth visiting for more than just a few days. Take a couple of walking tours to really get a feel for the town.
- Coronado, California
This was a favorite spot when we wanted to get away from the dock during the time we lived in San Diego. The beautiful Victorian-style Hotel del Coronado occupies part of the skyline, and there is a municipal golf course on one side of the anchorage that gives the place an open feel. Dinghy into town and walk around town, which is a combination of old and new architecture. There is a 72-hour limit for anchoring here, so it's not a long-term proposition.
- La Paz, Mexico
Like Puntarenas, La Paz is a working town far enough away from the tourist area of Los Cabos to keep everyday life real. This is a prominent cruiser venue, and there is a lot of activity oriented around visiting and resident boaters. The anchorage is an estuary with strong tidal currents. The winds can be strong here too, and the combination of wind and current orchestrates the "La Paz Waltz," with anchored boats moving in different directions according to their sizes and shapes.
- St. Augustine, Florida
We stayed a few days here in our trip down the ICW in the spring of 2003, and would have stay longer if the schedule had permitted. We stayed in a marina on this visit, but won't do so again. There are great anchorages on either side of the double bascule bridge that spans the waterway. The town is lovely and quiet in spite of the heavy tourist traffic here.
- Provincetown, Massachussetts
A popular destination for boats visiting Cape Cod, Provincetown is another town with a lot of tourist traffic. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful anchorage and a great shoreside experience.
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