Carefree Boat Club members know the dilemma: You have this really wonderful boat you want to spend all your time on, but the need to see some of the city burns bright within you! Fortunately, we have some ideas that will let you enjoy the best of both worlds, as you zip along the waters, docking long enough to explore someplace new and wonderful, then hopping back aboard the water vessel of your dreams. Every minute of your day on the sea promises to be an exciting adventure you won’t ever tire of experiencing, but only when you become a member of the Carefree Boat Club! This guide will help you see it all from your Carefree boat.

Whale Watching for the Win

If you have never witnessed the sight of a whale erupting from the waters of the ocean, it is now time to change that fact! From the gray whales who migrate from December to April and blue whales who migrate from June to September, visitors are practically guaranteed to catch sight of the majestic mammals pretty much most of the year. Head out to open waters (perhaps following in the wake of the whale watching tour boats to ensure you get a free show) or hang close to the shore near the Cabrillo National Monument to ensure best views.

A Spot of History

The spot where the explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo first stepped foot on the land that would one day be called San Diego will give you chills as you dock your boat near the aforementioned Cabrillo National Monument at the Shelter Island Marina. The wild beauty of the shore has changed some since the 1500s, but if you squint your eyes just right you can convince yourself that YOU are the famous one and it will go down in the annals of history that you discovered paradise! After you have paid your respects to the monument of the man who made our lives so much better, take a quick hike on over to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and explore a little more. Giving you time to get your land legs back as well as allowing you to learn a little more of our state’s history, this breathtaking spot has been a popular photo spot for centuries; so do not forget your camera!

Coronado Island

Coronado Island has long been a popular tourist attraction for visitors to San Diego, and when you travel there by boat, the beauty is unparalleled as you watch the sun glinting off the water or spy the concrete/steel girder bridge that leads to the island from the water. Arriving by boat gives visitors a better opportunity to see just how special the island is, and when you land, you can play all you want! This is where the red-roofed Hotel Del Coronado has made its home for over 130 years, and even if you don’t plan on staying, it’s definitely worth a stop. After, head over to the Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill for a lunch on the patio, watching the boats go by; you won’t be able to keep yourself comparing your Carefree Boat Club vessel to the ones in your sight, but that’s ok. We know our boats will always come out on top!

USS Midway Museum

Of course, there are some boats with which we will not be able to compete, and the USS Midway Museum offers the perfect example as you explore an old aircraft carrier and all the maritime exhibits it holds. The USS Midway, decommissioned in 1992, now serves as a museum on the San Diego Bay, and when you dock your much smaller Carefree Boat Club vessel in the marina, you are free to spend as long as you want exploring what the ship has to offer! Offering an impressive collection of aircraft, the USS Midway Museum may help you extend your love of boats to the vessels that fly through the sky.

Mission Bay

Considered San Diego’s water wonderland, the adventures you can have on Mission Bay will ensure this getaway is one you will want to repeat time and time again. Docking your boat at Mission Bay Mooring, the beaches here are for family gatherings (this is where you get to live the dream of a bonfire on the beach), volleyball games, or just relaxing in the park on another beautiful day in paradise! Fiesta Island is on Mission Bay and is the perfect place for dog lovers to visit as it features one of the few remaining off leash beaches, much loved by dog owners all over the city.

There’s So Much to See and Do On Your Carefree Boat

San Diego is a paradise for so many reasons, including all the wonderful activities that you can partake in during your visit! If you haven’t already signed up for the Carefree Boat Club, what’s stopping you? If you have, register for your day of fun on the water in glorious San Diego today; we promise we have the perfect boat for you!