With so many exciting, beautiful places to visit and nearly perfect weather year-round, it is no wonder Florida has earned its reputation as the boating capital of the world. In fact, there are plenty of incredible ports of call right here on the East Coast. Let’s take it from the top, shall we?

Up north, there’s Jacksonville, which caters to the boating community with a variety of waterfront festivals all year long, a world famous kingfish tournament and a wide array of marinas, including the Metropolitan Park Marina right downtown. Jacksonville is also known as the gateway to Florida’s largest interior waterway – the St. Lawrence River.

If you’re into soaking up history and taking in the sights, St. Augustine, with the oldest masonry fort in the contiguous United States and its quaint streets filled with great shops and restaurants, is a beautiful seaside city to explore.

Next is Daytona, “The World’s Most Famous Beach,” which is the epicenter for NASCAR and comes complete with its own boardwalk and everything you could ask of a seaside town. Then, just to the south, you’ll find Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, about 45 minutes from Orlando and home to one of the cruise terminals and Kennedy Space Center. There’s also Miami Beach, which is bustling with an electric nightlife like no other.

And so we reach the bottom which should certainly not be at the bottom of your list – the Florida Keys, where you can boat around small islands such as the Marquesas and the Dry Tortugas or birdwatch through the tranquil Largo Sound Channel. Then, of course, you’ll need to experience the unique, laid-back lifestyle of Key West with a margarita in hand.

There’s a whole lot more along the way, so don’t beat yourself up if you feel compelled to continually add more fun-filled stops as you go!