It’s that time of year again. You know, when you stop measuring the power of your Yamaha outboard in terms of horsepower and start thinking in terms of reindeer power. Boat ownership and holiday season are a magical combination.
Not only does having a boat make it easier on everyone who plans to buy you a gift (“Just get him or her something awesome for the boat!”), but it even opens an incredible variety of great holiday experiences. What follows is Yamaha’s guide to Holiday Boat Destinations.
Table Rock Lake. Ridgedale, Missouri
There’s an awful lot to like about the holidays on Table Rock Lake. The bass fishing here is good enough to have been attracting anglers and tournaments for decades.
Big Cedar Lodge sits on the shores of Table Rock. It features a full-service marina, a broad assortment of great restaurants, and wonderful accommodations. There are world class golf offerings and Big Cedar’s Christmas Lights displays (including a golf cart tour through a majestic trail through the Ozarks) are nothing short of spectacular.
Table Rock Lake is also a hop skip and a jump away from Branson and its wonderful variety of experiences and accommodations. A trip to Table Rock Lake on your boat this holiday season might become an annual tradition.
.jpg "BoatersLogVol13No33HolidayDestinationsimage2-(1).jpg")
Newport Beach, California
The southern California waterfront has been attracting boaters and visitors for generations. And with good reason.
It is beautiful, there are incredible dining and shopping options, and it is wonderfully accessible by boat. Newport Beach showcases this appeal as well as perhaps anywhere in Southern California.
If you’re after a holiday experience on your boat, Newport’s 116th annual Christmas Boat Parade is something not to miss. Running nightly from December 18-22, 2024, you can observe the party from your boat after spending the day enjoying all that the waterfront has to offer. You can even register to participate on your boat.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga’s waterfront is home to a wonderful, month-long array of holiday festivities. Perhaps the highlight is the Reindeer on the Riverfront and Lighted Boat Parade. This takes place on the Chattanooga Green on November 29 from 4:00-8:00 pm.
On this great evening of family fun, holiday spirit takes over downtown Chattanooga. Festivities include the boat parade, live reindeer, fire pits, face painting, an appearance by Santa Claus, holiday music and fireworks.
The holiday festivities in Chattanooga are capped off by New Year’s on the River. Taking place on a riverboat, this night rings in the New Year with great food, live entertainment, a DJ and more.
Lake Guntersville, Alabama
Lake Guntersville hosts not only exceptional bass fishing, but a well-appointed holiday lineup as well. Headlined by the 2024 Lake Guntersville Christmas Parade on December 14—it runs through downtown and you can register to participate.
On December 3 there’s a Christmas tree lighting and a live rendition of the Night Before Christmas on Friday, December 6. What’s more, from November 29-December 31, Arab City Park is transformed—hosting an incredible display of more than 2 million Christmas lights. The region’s holiday festivities wrap up on Saturday December 28 with a New Year’s
Eve Eve Eve at Dave’s Music Hall. For a complete line-up of shows and festivities, visit this website.
Islamorada, Florida
Islamorada makes the list because it’s a wonderful place to visit by boat—any time of the year. Bringing your boat during the wintertime means you’ll be in the middle of sailfish season offshore. You’ll have a shot to catch tarpon, bonefish, snook, snapper, and grouper inshore. And because you’re visiting the most subtropical aspect of the contiguous United States, you have a pretty great shot at enjoying weather that is significantly warmer than it is in most other parts of the country.
Islamorada also hosts its 20th annual Holiday Fest 2024 on Friday, December 6. Held on the Great Lawn at Founder’s Park, Holiday Fest is headlined by Holiday Fest Snow Mountain—a pile of more than tons of cold white stuff. Islamorada’s official Christmas tree is 35-feet tall. It will be shooting shaved ice through its branches.
The festivities also include a Christmas Bazaar and a “Rockin’ with the Rescuers” themed Holiday Parade that kicks off at 7:30. The parade takes place in Founder’s Park.
Holidays on Your Boat Checklist
No matter how you holiday on your boat, here are a few things that will make the experience better.
1. Warm Clothes and Layers—you can’t go wrong by bringing a couple extra layers and maybe a blanket or two. It might be colder than you expect, especially if you’re out late.
2. A Water Bottle Full of Hot Chocolate or Warm Apple Cider—there’s no better way to celebrate the season and stay warm than with a specialty holiday-themed beverage.
3. Check All of Your Lights (Before You Go)—if you plan on taking in a parade, you might be out later than you think. Be sure your nav lights and spotlights are in good working order.
Back to Blue Life
Not only does having a boat make it easier on everyone who plans to buy you a gift (“Just get him or her something awesome for the boat!”), but it even opens an incredible variety of great holiday experiences. What follows is Yamaha’s guide to Holiday Boat Destinations.
Table Rock Lake. Ridgedale, Missouri
There’s an awful lot to like about the holidays on Table Rock Lake. The bass fishing here is good enough to have been attracting anglers and tournaments for decades.
Big Cedar Lodge sits on the shores of Table Rock. It features a full-service marina, a broad assortment of great restaurants, and wonderful accommodations. There are world class golf offerings and Big Cedar’s Christmas Lights displays (including a golf cart tour through a majestic trail through the Ozarks) are nothing short of spectacular.
Table Rock Lake is also a hop skip and a jump away from Branson and its wonderful variety of experiences and accommodations. A trip to Table Rock Lake on your boat this holiday season might become an annual tradition.
Newport Beach, California
The southern California waterfront has been attracting boaters and visitors for generations. And with good reason.
It is beautiful, there are incredible dining and shopping options, and it is wonderfully accessible by boat. Newport Beach showcases this appeal as well as perhaps anywhere in Southern California.
If you’re after a holiday experience on your boat, Newport’s 116th annual Christmas Boat Parade is something not to miss. Running nightly from December 18-22, 2024, you can observe the party from your boat after spending the day enjoying all that the waterfront has to offer. You can even register to participate on your boat.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga’s waterfront is home to a wonderful, month-long array of holiday festivities. Perhaps the highlight is the Reindeer on the Riverfront and Lighted Boat Parade. This takes place on the Chattanooga Green on November 29 from 4:00-8:00 pm.
On this great evening of family fun, holiday spirit takes over downtown Chattanooga. Festivities include the boat parade, live reindeer, fire pits, face painting, an appearance by Santa Claus, holiday music and fireworks.
The holiday festivities in Chattanooga are capped off by New Year’s on the River. Taking place on a riverboat, this night rings in the New Year with great food, live entertainment, a DJ and more.
Lake Guntersville, Alabama
Lake Guntersville hosts not only exceptional bass fishing, but a well-appointed holiday lineup as well. Headlined by the 2024 Lake Guntersville Christmas Parade on December 14—it runs through downtown and you can register to participate.
On December 3 there’s a Christmas tree lighting and a live rendition of the Night Before Christmas on Friday, December 6. What’s more, from November 29-December 31, Arab City Park is transformed—hosting an incredible display of more than 2 million Christmas lights. The region’s holiday festivities wrap up on Saturday December 28 with a New Year’s
Eve Eve Eve at Dave’s Music Hall. For a complete line-up of shows and festivities, visit this website.
Islamorada, Florida
Islamorada makes the list because it’s a wonderful place to visit by boat—any time of the year. Bringing your boat during the wintertime means you’ll be in the middle of sailfish season offshore. You’ll have a shot to catch tarpon, bonefish, snook, snapper, and grouper inshore. And because you’re visiting the most subtropical aspect of the contiguous United States, you have a pretty great shot at enjoying weather that is significantly warmer than it is in most other parts of the country.
Islamorada also hosts its 20th annual Holiday Fest 2024 on Friday, December 6. Held on the Great Lawn at Founder’s Park, Holiday Fest is headlined by Holiday Fest Snow Mountain—a pile of more than tons of cold white stuff. Islamorada’s official Christmas tree is 35-feet tall. It will be shooting shaved ice through its branches.
The festivities also include a Christmas Bazaar and a “Rockin’ with the Rescuers” themed Holiday Parade that kicks off at 7:30. The parade takes place in Founder’s Park.
Holidays on Your Boat Checklist
No matter how you holiday on your boat, here are a few things that will make the experience better.
1. Warm Clothes and Layers—you can’t go wrong by bringing a couple extra layers and maybe a blanket or two. It might be colder than you expect, especially if you’re out late.
2. A Water Bottle Full of Hot Chocolate or Warm Apple Cider—there’s no better way to celebrate the season and stay warm than with a specialty holiday-themed beverage.
3. Check All of Your Lights (Before You Go)—if you plan on taking in a parade, you might be out later than you think. Be sure your nav lights and spotlights are in good working order.
Back to Blue Life
