Do you sail where you call home or are you eager to experience new sailing grounds? The United States has an ample amount of options when it comes to sailing and they each come with varied sailing conditions. The next time you plan a sailing vacation consider one of these destinations.
Florida
What is it about Florida that makes us want to visit? Is it the great Cuban food or the long stretches of sand or the vast multicultural population? I think it might be the varied sailing grounds from Key West to the Gulf to the east coast of Florida. Warm weather and plenty of sailing schools to choose from make Florida a prime destination to choose to work on your sailing skills. Find a school and book a week in the sunshine state. A must-do in Florida, you have to have Key Lime Pie.
Find an American Sailing School in Florida. There are over 35 Sailing schools in Florida. Use this search tool to help you find one near you. https://americansailing.com/find-sailing-school/
This is a small sample of the sailing schools in Florida:
Chesapeake Bay
There is a deep history in the Chesapeake Bay that includes the formation of the country, the fishing industry, and even slavery. The diverse sailing grounds of the Chesapeake allow you to explore small towns with rich cultural significance and major hubs that drive the shipping commerce on the east coast. You’ll indulge in crab cakes and you will sail through history and ecology lessons along the way. The Chesapeake is that bucket list item that you did not know you needed to have.
Find an American Sailing School in the Chesapeake Bay. There are over 20 sailing schools in and around the Chesapeake Bay. Use this search tool to help you find one near you. https://americansailing.com/find-sailing-school/
Newport, Rhode Island
Sailing past the Castle Hill Lighthouse feels like sailing should feel. The wind is brisk and the scenery is iconic. The area is dotted with classic sailboats and the history of the sport seems to bleed into every facet of the community in Newport, Rhode Island. Newport is the epicenter of sailing in the United States and sailing on Narraganset Bay feels like a must-do for every person who loves sailing. Don’t ignore the lively atmosphere on Thames Street in Newport and make a vacation out of expanding your sailing education.
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The Pacific Northwest
Sailing in the shadow of majestic snow-capped peaks or along coastlines that vanish into deep green temperate rain forests awaits you in the Pacific Northwest. The San Juan Islands possess a beauty that is magnificent to experience from the deck of a sailboat. Yes, you can visit Seattle but small spots like Port Townsend and Anacortes are the stars of the show. Bring a heavy sweater because cozy evenings are part of the itinerary and wildlife viewing is almost a given.
Find an American Sailing School in The Pacific Northwest
San Francisco Bay
If you enjoy current, high winds, and unpredictable sailing conditions well then you need to sail the San Francisco Bay. You’ll foul weather gear in the middle of summer. You will learn all about fog and navigation. This area is serious about sailing skills but it is also a beautiful spot to sail. Depending on the experience you want out of your sailing adventure you can choose where to begin from. With such varied sailing, you’ll almost forget that San Francisco is a fun city to visit.
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Great lakes
The lakeside destinations alone will attract you to the Great Lakes for a sailing vacation but don’t discount the varied conditions and the ample opportunities to improve your skill set. Visit the tiny islands and the hidden anchorages and get to know a new sailing community. The Great Lakes as a sailing destination is a hidden gem that every sailor should discover.
There are over 20 Sailing schools on the Great Lakes. Use this search tool to help you find one near you. https://americansailing.com/find-sailing-school/
This is a small sample of the sailing schools in the Great Lakes:
Texas
It is possible that you do not equate sailing with Barbecue and breakfast tacos but you should. Brisket on a beam reach is how sailing should be explained when considering a visit to Texas to work on your sailing education. Some of our highest-rated schools are in Texas and that is reason enough to find your way to some lake sailing or sailing in the Gulf.
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Los Angeles / Southern California
Sailing in Santa Monica Bay is a relaxed affair. The wind consistently comes up after 11am and it does down by 5 pm. It is a daysailors paradise as you sail north for an hour and then you head northwest for an hour and then southeast for an hour and then you can fly a spinnaker home and your day is complete. It is very predictable and you can bet you’ll have pleasant weather 12 months out of the year. If there is a place where learning to sail has ideal locations it is Los Angeles sailing out of either Marina Del Rey or Redondo Beach. Oh yeah, while you are in Los Angeles, there are so many things to see you might need a few extra days for sightseeing.
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Colorado
Fresh mountain air and high-altitude sailing are what Colorado is all about. In Colorado, you fit in sailing between skiing and mountain biking. The sailing schools will get you prepped to bareboat charter elsewhere but you will become a very good sailor in the reservoirs and lakes of Colorado. Summer sailing in the Rockies may not fly off your tongue but imagine summer in the mountains with a few days of sailing.
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Responses
Yeah! Thanks for ignoring Maine, it’s already too crowded. I’m heading to Colorado!
I have enjoyed sailing schools on Captiva Island, Newport & San Diego. I now must try the San Juan’s to experience all 4 corners
You missed one of the best – NORTH CAROLINA 🙂
Come on, Maine is not included in the 9 best places to sail in the US? Are you kidding me? How you could not include Maine in this list is beyond understanding. Please ask anyone who sails a lot where they want to go and number one on their list is Maine.