Cruising US east coast and homeschooling

[FecklessDolphin]

We will have two children (8 and 10) aboard as we cruise the US east coast this summer and fall. What are some cool places with educational potential / historical significance that we should not miss or which lend themselves to a visit by boat? The site of the Boston Tea Party? Mt Vernon? How far can we get up the Potomac with a 53' mast?

[psk125]

The French frigate Hemione (also worth looking up) sailed to Mt. Vernon in 2015 with lowered topmasts, so you might want to check how your mast measures up compared to theirs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CzptlrHEdA

They probably haven't built any low bridges since then. Other sites might include Baltimore: Fort McHenry, inspiration for the national anthem, Philadelphia, our nation's capital for 10 years following the adoption of the Constitution, Execution Rock in Long Island Sound- where the British chained American prisoners and let the tide come in... Fairfield (burned by the British during the Revolution) New Haven - where the Amistad is based - New London - tour of the USS Nautilus, Mystic Seaport, New Bedford, Fall River MA (USS Massachusetts etc.) Plymouth MA (The Mayflower may be back from repairs in Mystic by the time you arrive) Boston, as you mentioned, Salem, Newburyport, Gloucester, Marblehead, Portsmouth, Portland, Castine... the options are quite extensive. This is not a complete list.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by FecklessDolphin

We will have two children (8 and 10) aboard each as we cruise the US east coast this summer and fall. What are some cool places with educational potential / historical significance that we should not miss or which lend themselves to a visit by boat? The site of the Boston Tea Party? Mt Vernon? How far can we get up the Potomac with a 53' mast?

All he way to dc and if you haven’t been there that’s a must stop (no better deal in the world than seeing dc from a mooring there)

On way St Mary’s is interesting. The museum in Solomon’s is good. The menahanen museum was interesting. Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampton. Yorktown and Jamestown. Mt Vernon can be gotten to by anchoring out an$ dinghying into

[Miguelso]

We did the east coat (Chesapeake to FL) with kids that age two years ago. Baltimore Inner Harbor has a lot of activities for kids and you can visit Fort Mc Henry. You can easily get to Washington DC and get a mooring ball where you can walk to the mall and the Smithsonian. I would say with kids that age Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown are a must. We anchored in the York river close to Yorktown and then uber to Williamsburg and Jamestown. There is a marina there where you can leave the dinghy for a small fee. There is a navy museum in Norfolk and you can visit the Battleship Wisconsin. In Charleston, SC you can visit Patriot point and Fort Sumter. My 10 y/o was studying Virginia history and the Civil War, so it was a field trip almost every day. St, Augustine in FL is a nice place to visit too. We still have our boat in the Chesapeake so let me know when you Guys are around.

[Bean Counter]

Cape Canaveral Space center.


St Augustine ghost tours, lighthouse climb.



St Michaels maritime museum (Chesapeake)

[travelerJ]

Originally Posted by Miguelso

We did the east coat (Chesapeake to FL) with kids that age two years ago. Baltimore Inner Harbor has a lot of activities for kids and you can visit Fort Mc Henry. You can easily get to Washington DC and get a mooring ball where you can walk to the mall and the Smithsonian. I would say with kids that age Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown are a must. We anchored in the York river close to Yorktown and then uber to Williamsburg and Jamestown. There is a marina there where you can leave the dinghy for a small fee. There is a navy museum in Norfolk and you can visit the Battleship Wisconsin. In Charleston, SC you can visit Patriot point and Fort Sumter. My 10 y/o was studying Virginia history and the Civil War, so it was a field trip almost every day. St, Augustine in FL is a nice place to visit too. We still have our boat in the Chesapeake so let me know when you Guys are around.

I agree with what you are saying, Baltimore is a good reference to go with children, and Washinton too, there are parks, aquarium, monuments and there is also The Maryland Zoo

[Sparx]

Have to agree with all the Chesapeake recommendations. There is lots to see in the Chesapeake. July and August is hot and mostly light air on the Chesapeake. Which is why we go to Maine...

Maine...enroll the kids I a week of camp at numerous places. The Wooden Boat museum. Running ferral on any of numerous Maine islands. Blueberries!

[Sparx]

+1 for St Augustine. Lots of history there. The Spanish Military Hospital is quite the learning opportunity regarding 16th century medicine.

The town is very walkable with lots to see.

[PAlter]

If you get to New England, a few great places to visit by boat include:
Sag Harbor, NY, Mystic Seaport/Mystic CT, Various Museums + Yacht Restoration School in Newport RI, the Herreshoff Museum in Bristol RI, Boston MA, Portland Maine, Camden Maine, Castine Maine, Brooklin Maine, various islands off Maine coast, Southwest/Northeast Harbor, Maine

Have Fun !!! The northeast coast of US a great place to sail ...

[Lowcountry]

Charleston, SC is FULL of history, not the least of which is Fort Sumter.