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Issue Date: Chesapeake Bay Magazine - June 2007
MARINA HOP: A Cultural Journey | The
Colonial Beach Yacht Center on the Potomac was just the right spot for
an inaugural spring overnight.
by Jody Argo Schroath
We're not
making this trip just so we can ride around on golf carts," I said
defensively, as my husband Rick and I kicked back to ride an early
spring southerly halfway up the Potomac from the Yeocomico River to
Colonial Beach. He had asked why I had insisted that Colonial Beach be
our first overnight of the season. "And we certainly aren't doing it
just to make a few bets at the new Riverboat," I continued, "or to loll
about on the beach—it's still too cool." It was really because docking
at Colonial Beach Yacht Center is as easy as slipping into bed, I
thought to myself, and so the perfect place to start the cruising year.
"No," I insisted, "we are going for the . . . uh . . . culture. Yeah,
that's right, culture." On the second Friday of each summer month,
Colonial Beach features an Art Walk along its boardwalk. Plenty of
culture there. So even though this was a Friday in April, not June, it
pays to practice, right?
"Well, then
it's almost time to tune up the landing drill," my husband replied,
"because here's the green "1" off our port bow." We let the marker slip
past our stern, then trimmed the sails and turned west to find red "4"
at the tip of Gum Bar Point and the entrance to Monroe Creek.
Colonial
Beach Yacht Center sits right on the point, with its docks on the creek
side, a location that makes it an attractive stop for boaters coming
and going from Washington, D.C., about 60 miles upriver—it's the first
marina south of the capital that can accommodate big transient boats
(up to 100 feet and eight-foot draft) and for other Potomac River
cruisers like ourselves, who are just looking for a little "culture."
Squeezing
through the creek's cozy channel, we dropped our sails and motored
directly into our slip at the transient dock. Colonial Beach Yacht
Center has 20 slips for boats on the move, with six to eight feet of
bottom room at the dock. Transients can also find overnight berths
farther up Monroe Creek at historic Stanford Marine Railway, charming
Nightingale's Marina & Motel and newly expanded Winkie-Doodle Point
Marina.
"When we
come back in the summer, we can call ahead to arrange for a golf cart
to be dropped right here," I said, clambering out of the boat with a
dock line. Golf carts are the transport of choice for residents and
visitors alike, officially sanctioned by city ordinance, and readily
available from Metro Golf Carts (824-224-2278).
"Until
then," Rick said, "how about a walk around the marina? I really like
all those nifty dome-shaped covered slips, and then I vote for dinner
at Dockside." Since Dockside Restaurant features an English pub as well
as an excellent restaurant and is owned by actual Brits, I agreed. That
would be enough culture for one trip. Besides, the Yacht Center can
practically be a tourist destination in itself. In addition to Dockside
Restaurant, it features a full-service yard and fuel dock, playground,
small store, heated and air-conditioned bathhouse, picnic facilities
and its own beach. And speaking of the beach, ask Yacht Center owners
Kyle and Relda Schick why it's known as Ghost Point. It's a good story
. . . and very cultural.
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