10 Best Places to Boat in the US

In keeping with our countdown of the best of the best for grilling and BBQ, here are the best places to boat in the US. We looked at the different states and determined which lakes, oceans, and rivers had the most satisfying accommodations for you boaters out there.

We grabbed some information from BoatingLife.com and found these top 10 places:

#1: Seattle, Washington
This is one of the best places to live and boat. Surrounded by green forests and and expanse of secluded oceanfronts, no wonder it's the ideal spot for tourists and locals alike.

#2: Benton County, Arkansas
This city had been undiscovered for the longest time, but now it is one of the fastest growing communities. They have smooth lakes with over 30,000 acres of water perfect for all types of boat enthusiasts. Beaver Lake is the top spot for locals stretching 90 miles.

#3: Tampa Bay, Florida
The farther south you travel, the more ocean you come upon. This city has over 100 tributaries in its bay and has become renowned for sightseeing and recreational boating. You can even park you boat in a slip near downtown as you browse shops and restaurants nearby.

#4: Knoxville, Tennessee
Most people question boating in TN, but what they don't think about is the expansive Tennessee River which flows right through downtown. It is a popular place for camping and fishing as well as tailgating on boats during football season.

#5: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale has over 165 miles of canals and waterways making it the Venice of the US. So many people practically live on the water, there's even a water bus system. People can travel around the town without ever setting foot on land.

#6: Otter Tail County, Minnesota
We all know Minnesota is called the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but what you don't know is the Otter Tail County itself has 1,048 lakes all self-contained. Though they don't have much of a summer, people in this county still spend at least one day a week on the water year round.

#7: Finger Lakes, New York
One of the prettiest lakes up north, Finger Lakes gives way to so many activities during the summer including trout derbies, day cruises, and picnics. It has one of the largest surges in lakefront development making it one of the top places to live.

#8: Austin, Texas
The Highland Lakes region of Texas is a string of six lakes best known for it's fishing, boating, and retirement living. The two big lakes Lake Austin and Lake Travis give way to water skiing, wakeboarding, and big boating through the year.

#9: Oconee County, South Carolina
Many lakes surround this county creating a rise in a more affluent crowd purchasing summer homes and college students utilizing the waters for recreation. Though it is mostly quiet, more communities are being built to draw more permanent living arrangements for people wanting to spend more time on the water.

#10: San Diego, California
San Diego is well known for it's warm weather and sunny skies which isn't too far off the map. Locals enjoy floating cookouts, day cruises, and parking their boats to watch concerts at the amphitheater. It has become extremely popular to boat around the town, but has also become increasingly difficult to find housing on San Diego's waterfront.