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Yes Charleston has a prominent water culture. An ocean, a lake, a harbor, 4 rivers, creeks, marshes, bays, and an intracoastal waterway, and the occasional kayaking through downtown. Water is big part of it, from the leisure to the food.
Anything comparable to Miami will be elsewhere in Florida - hats off to Key West (which has even more of a boating culture than Miami) and the Tampa Bay metropolitan area.
But other than those Florida cities - it's really difficult to find a comparison to Miami. With Miami's climate (year-round boating), topography (canals, man-made islands, keys, sandbars, biscayne bay, the atlantic ocean) and lifestyle emphasis, it's a package hard to beat if you're a boater.
Anything comparable to Miami will be elsewhere in Florida - hats off to Key West (which has even more of a boating culture than Miami) and the Tampa Bay metropolitan area.
But other than those Florida cities - it's really difficult to find a comparison to Miami. With Miami's climate (year-round boating), topography (canals, man-made islands, keys, sandbars, biscayne bay, the atlantic ocean) and lifestyle emphasis, it's a package hard to beat if you're a boater.
That's the problem with this country: everywhere else, the weather and/or water gets too cold.
Anything comparable to Miami will be elsewhere in Florida - hats off to Key West (which has even more of a boating culture than Miami) and the Tampa Bay metropolitan area.
But other than those Florida cities - it's really difficult to find a comparison to Miami. With Miami's climate (year-round boating), topography (canals, man-made islands, keys, sandbars, biscayne bay, the atlantic ocean) and lifestyle emphasis, it's a package hard to beat if you're a boater.
Southern California, Seattle, South Florida, Tampa area
In Miami the waters tend to be very busy with all types of boats, yacht/yacht parties, jet skiing etc.
What other cities are fun places to also do similar activities? Here in NYC I’ve been seeing a growth of jet skiing in the summer, how about places like New Orleans and Charleston SC?
I will add Chicago (from me of course). Though it isn't tropical Coastal Florida .... in summer has plenty of harbors and yatcts and yacht parties and jet skiing. Lake Michigan along Chicago's shores are buzzing with boaters. Also it has beaches .... but cool waters till August. It clearly has a Coastal city vibe and Lake Michigan and size is as a inland sea.
That's the problem with this country: everywhere else, the weather and/or water gets too cold.
Hawaii is even warmer than South Florida in the winter and while Southern California is chilly, you can still boat year round there, if you want. The biggest thing that propels South Florida above these places is the sheer amount of protected harbors that South Florida has. Biscayne Bay is basically a salt water lake - allowing smaller craft to safely pleasure cruise. Not all of the boats need to be rated for the open ocean.
When it comes to the Great Lakes or Minneapolis - well there we're talking about a smaller window to enjoy boating. And less varied waterways compared to South Florida. In South Florida, you can stay in the protected waterways of Biscayne Bay or you can venture out into the open ocean.
There is the also added excitement of relatively nearby countries that can be reached by Boat, as well as many keys and Islands.
Hawaii is even warmer than South Florida in the winter and while Southern California is chilly, you can still boat year round there, if you want. The biggest thing that propels South Florida above these places is the sheer amount of protected harbors that South Florida has. Biscayne Bay is basically a salt water lake - allowing smaller craft to safely pleasure cruise. Not all of the boats need to be rated for the open ocean.
When it comes to the Great Lakes or Minneapolis - well there we're talking about a smaller window to enjoy boating. And less varied waterways compared to South Florida. In South Florida, you can stay in the protected waterways of Biscayne Bay or you can venture out into the open ocean.
There is the also added excitement of relatively nearby countries that can be reached by Boat, as well as many keys and Islands.
Hawaii is far out in the Pacific, so doesn't really register to me. And while Southern California has a reliable mild winter climate, of course, the water is very chilly.
The warm waters are great not only for the general vehicular water activities, but also the more nature-based explorations: scuba-diving, touring, etc. This is due to the creation of exciting marine environments (i.e. sea-grass meadows, coral reefs, etc) not possible in colder waters; and on top of that, the warm water allows friendlier accessibility, unlike cold water that requires a wetsuit.
Pretty much the whole Southern US would be like Florida if not for the cold. Places like Australia and Brazil are truly lucky for having such expansive areas of warm water.
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