Mai Thai Wanderings: July 2024

Imagine a half dozen Krispy Kreme donuts delivered to your boat every day. Or a marina persuading you to stay for the famous St Patrick's Day Parade by offering two free nights. Mind you, this was no rinky-dink marina, this was Palmer Johnson, now Thunderbolt Marine, that did refitting and boat works for yachts over a 100 feet! Such was our firsthand experience with Southern hospitality. What a sweet welcome to Savannah.

That was twenty-three years ago. Last May, we were excited to visit Savannah again. It was raining when we arrived, so we spent the evening enjoying the hot tub at the hotel. The weather was much better the next day. We woke up early, eager to check out the city. If there's one thing we remember about Savannah, it's the majestic oak trees with the Spanish moss hanging off them. The iconic Forsyth Park is dotted with these trees. This is our first time visiting this park. The fountain, modeled after Paris' Place de la Concorde's, is simply magnificent. With wide paths and benches, the park is an excellent place to chill, stroll, jog and people watch. We could hang out here all day, but we got other places to explore.

The eclectic Collins Quarter overlooks the picturesque fountain

Mills B. Lane House on Gaston Street overlooks Forsyth Park

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) also on Gaston Street

Next stop: Chippewa Square, one of the 22 squares in Savannah. We didn't know it at the time, but we had sat at a cafe overlooking this square. It is made famous by the movie Forrest Gump, where actor Tom Hanks sat on a bench regaling his extraordinary life to passersby. The bench is now in the Savannah History Museum, but tourists still flock to Chippewa Square looking for it.

We ventured down to River Street. The riverfront was rather quiet this Monday morning.

The swift current and the busy commercial traffic on the Savannah River are reminders as to why we did not call on Savannah proper back then.

Savannah did not disappoint. We still love it, just as much as the first time. Savannah is chock full of history, architecture, lovely homes, parks and squares. If you haven't been to Savannah yet, hopefully this post will entice you to visit.

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday and Altered Book Lover.

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We're fortunate to have lived in several cities that are in the vicinity of some of the best beaches in the U.S. Cruising up and down the East Coast and along Florida's gulf coast has given us the chance to discover many hidden gems and secluded stretches of shoreline. With so many beautiful beaches out there, we're always eager to explore new spots and uncover future favorites. For now, here are our top 10 favorite beaches - listed in no particular order.

Thanks to our cousins who live in San Francisco, we got to visit the stunning Baker Beach one January. The huge waves are excellent for surfers, not so much for swimming. Rip currents also pose a danger. But Baker Beach is perfect for fishing, strolling and people watching. And the view of the Golden Gate Bridge is absolutely breathtaking.

Baker Beach, San Francisco, CA

There isn't a beach on Cape Cod we don't like. If we have to choose one, we'll pick Race Point Beach, on Cape Cod National Seashore in Provincetown, where we went last summer. We're not fond of the cold waters of the Atlantic, but the towering sand dunes stretching as far as the eye can see is simply amazing. as you make the drive from Province Lands Visitor Center to Race Point Beach. If you're lucky, you may see seals, whales, and even sharks. The beach is pristine and so relaxing, especially after visiting the LGBTQ+ capital Provincetown.

Race Point Beach

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware exudes old-fashion charm, a reminder of the good old days when life was simpler and safer. Aside from the beach, the mile-long boardwalk is lined with ice cream and taffy shops, arcades and thrill rides. It is so safe you or your kids can hang out all night long without any worries, but bring lots of quarters for parking! At least, that was the case the last time we were there.

Rehoboth Beach

Another national seashore we absolutely adore is Assateague National Seashore in Berlin, Maryland. Not only is the beach fantastic, the wild horses roaming around freely are quite a spectacle. We had a memorable family reunion here one August, see blog post Horsing around Assategue, not far from Rehoboth Beach.

South Ocean Beach, Assateague Island National Seashore, Md

Forget Sanibel. Seven miles of pristine beaches littered with shells await you at Cayo Costa State Park, south of Boca Grande, west of Fort Myers, Florida. As of October last year, ferry service and overnight camping are no longer available, but it is still open to private vessels - boats, dinghies and kayaks. You'll find not only shells, but wildlife galore.

Cayo Costa State Park, Florida

We love Longboat Key and have anchored on Sarasota Bay several times. How can we forget the time when we were out exploring the beach by dinghy, a water police ticketed us for not having enough life jackets for everyone? We've never been fined before, but acquiesced knowing this area gets very rowdy in the summer time. A blogger we follow has more detailed information on Longboat Key and anchoring here.

Longboat Key on the gulf side (photo credits: Phan Thai)

Partygoers on Memorial Day weekend

Every year around Thanksgiving Treasure Island plays host to the sand sculpture competition Sanding Ovation. Three miles of expansive beaches with sparkling sand line the gulf, making it the perfect venue for the event. No need to sweat the parking, there is plenty around. Across the street from the beach is the Publix supermarket, where you can pick up your lunch or snacks. Talk about convenience!

Treasure Island Beach Sand Sculpture Competition

The next three beaches on my top 10 favorite beaches list are Caladesi State Park, Siesta Beach and Fort DeSoto Park. They are usually on Dr Beach's list of top 10 beaches in America, an annual list that comes out on Memorial Day weekend. This year Caladesi made the list again, at number 4. I have written many posts on these beaches over the years, see links below.