subject: Angel Island And Beyond [print this page] Welcome to the Bay Area, a bay replete with overnight harbors and marinas. Those of you who enjoy cruising overnight will appreciate the affordability of camping nearby, while bigger boat owners can book themselves into comfortable hotels dotting the Bay. Most cruising services and charter boats offer weekend rates that begin on Friday and last through Sunday evening. In most cases, you can enjoy a hefty 10% to 20% discount to charter across the Bay, even Angel Island.
What kind of places can you look forward to cruising? The Bay offers some of the very finest anchorages and marinas in the nation. That's bold praise, to be sure, but it's accurate! By most accounts, the best anchorage in the area is Clipper Cove, located on Yerba Buena Island. This happens to be the coolest anchorage in the Bay during the muggy summer months. The breezes are legendary -- and unless you're in the know, the wait to anchor can be too.
While there are a number of private yacht clubs dotting the Bay, there are some fantastic public marinas you can take advantage of. Tie off your boat, stroll down the dock and take in the local cuisine. Some of the more popular marinas are Schoonmaker Point Marina in Sausalito and Bellena Isle marina in Alameda. A quick bite, a spot of shopping, maybe an espresso and you're off again.
If you're into parks, then you can't go wrong with Angel Island State Park. Accessible by boat and ferry from the cities, Angel Island has become one of the best kept open secrets for nature lovers in the Bay Area. Note, if you're keen on staying overnight, you'll have to pay for a mooring buoy. But, keep in mind they go fast, especially during the summer.
Remember, the entire Bay Area is your oyster! Head to San Francisco for the night life, head to Sausalito for the quaint shops, then head to Oakland for some down-home cooking and jazz. Jazz, you say? Indeed, smack in the middle of Oakland's Jack London Square is the world-famous jazz venue, Yoshi's!
