ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT RENDEZVOUS
Mystic Seaport, CT
Into any and all things vintage in vessels? Take a trip to this year's Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous, which showcases classic sailboats, cruisers and runabouts July 28-29, at Mystic Seaport. This waterfront event displays nearly 35 classic crafts at the legendary maritime destination and serves as a fun networking venue for avid boaters. mysticseaport.org

CAJUN PRIDE SWAMP TOURS
LaPlace, LA
Boaters addicted to TV shows like "Swamp People" and "Gator Boys" will relish the chance to see these intriguing creatures up close and personal through Cajun Pride Swamp Tours located in LaPlace, Louisiana. This privately owned, wildlife refuge is just 25 miles from New Orleans. cajunprideswamptours.com

DC DUCKS TOURS
Washington D.C.
Travel D.C.'s highways and waterways by way of the popular duck tour. The bus/boat is a smart move to discover how the city developed its massive monuments, museums and malls. From there, this creative form of transportation will take you into the Potomac River for a casual cruise to give you another picturesque perspective of America's front yard. dcducks.com

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
Duluth, WI
Experience this eccentric form of water entertainment at this year's Dragon Boat Festival held Aug. 24-25, on Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota. The now 16-year festival is a community fundraising, fellowship and fun tradition open to first-time paddlers to veteran racers who have an affinity for competition, adventure and boating. lakesuperiordragons.com

GENERAL JACKSON SHOWBOAT CRUISE
Nashville, TN
A Nashville star of the waterways, the General Jackson Showboat cruises the Cumberland River and entertains guests with grand performances celebrating the South. The General Jackson is one of the largest showboats ever built. It can accommodate up to 1,037 passengers, features a twostory Victorian theater and spotlights Music City's rising stars in the entertainment industry. generaljackson.com

LADY LIBERTY TOURS
New York, NY
After exploring family boating hotbeds in a few of New York's five boroughs, visit this iconic, colossal carving symbolizing democracy and freedom via ferry only. Boat tour service Statue Cruises gives you instant access to the Statue of Liberty National Monument, known as one of the world's most famous landmarks. The ferry ride also includes a tour inside the popular Ellis Island National Immigration Museum. statuecruises.com

LAKE HAVASU CITY PARTY COVE
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Tagged as Arizona's playground, Lake Havasu stretches 400 miles of coastline, beams sunshine for 300 days a year and opens up 60 miles of navigable waterways to boaters. The lake's scenic, rippling canyons and tranquil waters cater to party and high-performance boaters to family and sightseeing ones. golakehavasu.com

MICHIGAN MARITIME MUSEUM EXPERIENCES
South Haven, MI
The maritime museum doesn't just provide research and education about the Great Lakes. You can actually go on water in historic replicas like the 1800s Friends Good Will, which includes a 6-pound pivot cannon and billowing sails, or the 1941 USCG Motor Lifeboat 36460. michiganmaritimemuseum.org

BASEBALL'S HOME
Cooperstown, NY
Boaters devoted to one of America's favorite pastime will find the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum as an impressive visit near Otsego Lake. Cooperstown is located at the Southern tip of Otsego Lake, which is undeniably a boating oasis. Otsego Lake is 7.8 miles long and flourishes with rainbow trout, yellow perch, bluegill and both largemouth and smallmouth bass. thisiscooperstown.com

BEAUFORT PIRATE INVASION
Beaufort, NC
Swashbuckling fun awaits at this legendary adventure held August 10-11 in the historic seaside town of North Carolina's Crystal Coast. Along Beaufort's waterfront, ship invasion re-enactments, street sword battles and pirate performances fill the area for this year's theme "The Battle of Blackbeard"—commemorating the 300th anniversary of the infamous pirate. beaufortpirateinvasion.com

BARREN RIVER LAKE
Lucas, KY
Barren River is a 10,000-acre lake and outdoors paradise in Lucas. Enclosed by plush, tree-covered hills, the lake is in the south-central section of the state in open grasslands called "barrens." The countryside site satisfies boating, fishing, camping, hiking, swimming and horseback riding. Its marina includes a launching ramp, 100 open slips, 40 covered slips and boat rentals as well. parks.ky.gov

BASS LAKE
Yosemite, CA
Voted one of the top "10 Best Lakes in California" by Sunset Magazine, this lavish lake in Yosemite features pristine waterfalls and is bound by granite peaks and mountainous pine forests. The nature sanctuary supplies fishing with bass, crappie, catfish, carp, rainbow trout and bluegill in its waters. It's full-service lakefront marina provides boats, kayaks, paddle boarding or jet ski rentals. basslake.com

BLUE MESA RESERVOIR
Gunnison, CO
One of Colorado's largest bodies of water, the reservoir is the ideal destination for leisurely boating and hardcore fishing. It's also the largest lake trout and Kokanee salmon fishery in America. Stretching nearly 96 miles of shoreline, the reservoir harbors narrow canyons, staggering mesas and tapered lakes that highlight the natural beauty of this mountain state. thebluemesa.com

ELEPHANT BUTTE LAKE
Elephant Butte, NM
Located at New Mexico's largest state park, Elephant Butte Lake is the state's largest body of water. It provides boating and fishing opportunities, accommodating various watercraft. The lake includes two marinas and is laden with recordbreaking crappie, bluegill, and striped, black and white bass. Boaters can travel the 43-mile-long lake's trails and sandy beaches, too. newmexico.org

HERRING BAY
Annapolis, MD
The essence of boating along the Chesapeake Bay, Herring Bay in Maryland's countryside welcomes you to classy beachfront and boat living. This quaint waterfront community features historic maritime villages, dockside restaurants and top-ofthe- line marinas like Herrington Harbour—dubbed "Best Resort Marina on the Bay" and "Best Boatyard on the Bay." visitannapolis.org

HILTON HEAD ISLAND
Hilton Head, SC
Designated Travel + Leisure Magazine's "Best Island in the United States," Hilton Head Island is nothing short of stunning beachfront property. Native to the island: lagoons, harbors, marinas, fishing, watersports and boating. You may even spot dolphins at play. Its waterways come with ample fishing spots, deep-sea expeditions and crystal ocean views. hiltonheadusa.com

LAKE BLACKSHEAR RESORT
Cordele, GA
This getaway offers lake-loving sunsets, leisurely fishing and charming views of nature in the middle of Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park—recognized among the "Top 100 Family Friendly Places to Boat and Fish in the U.S." The 8,700-acre lake is home to catfish, bass, crappie, bream and plenty of "secret" fishing holes for hardcore sport fisherman. lakeblackshearresort.com

LAKE LEWISVILLE
Lake Lewisville, TX
Cool off days from The Lone Star State's heat through this trending rest-and-recreational water refuge. As one of the largest lakes in North Texas, Lake Lewisville spans 29,000 acres and extends for 233 miles of shoreline. A popular watersports venue, it also accommodates boaters who enjoy skiing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, fishing, swimming, and partygoing. lake-lewisville.org

LOCK WALL ONE MARINA
Pittsburgh, PA
Boaters who are diehard football fans will appreciate docking in downtown Pittsburgh. This pet-friendly marina gives instant access to the city's stadium, restaurants, casino waterfront entertainment. You can easily shop at The Waterfront, Pittsburgh's premiere lifestyle mall with more than 70 stores, eateries and amusement along the Monongahela River. lockwallonemarina.com

PENSACOLA BAY
Pensacola, FL
If you want to dock and explore waterways away from your boat, a good-time option is Pensacola's plentiful boating adventures. From dolphin cruises to inshore/deep sea fishing charters, the bay affords emerald water experiences along the Gulf of Mexico. Incredibly adventurous, then you have to try scuba diving since Pensacola is known as a worldclass diving destination as well. visitpensacola.com