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If you are cruising the Great Loop during the holiday season, you might be wondering how to capture familiar traditions aboard your boat. You are away from the routines you once relied on, and your family may be gathered somewhere you are not. Your onboard space is far smaller than a house. But celebrating from the water can be wonderful when you embrace the moment rather than trying to duplicate every detail from life on land.

Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors for helping make the 2025 Fall Rendezvous our biggest and best one yet! Also, please help us welcome one of our newest sponsors, Maritime Medicine, helping you stay safe on the water. 

There are countless moments during your Loop when friends and family may want to join you onboard—cruising past the Statue of Liberty, riding across the Big Chute Marine Railway, or taking a side trip into Nashville. But no time draws loved ones more than the holiday season. The desire to gather with family doesn’t disappear just because you’re several hundred miles from home, enjoying docktails under the Florida sunshine.

We've got all the best Great Loop gifts this holiday season!

If you look upon the Gulf crossing with some degree of trepidation, you are not alone.

Thinking about crossing the Gulf? "You Make the Call" assists in educating Looper Captains in making their own decision regarding crossing the Gulf.

For most Loopers, one of the most anticipated—and sometimes anxiety-inducing—segments of the Great Loop is the crossing from Carrabelle, Florida, to Tarpon Springs. This stretch offers Loopers two distinct options: the Direct Gulf Crossing or the Big Bend Route. Each has its own character, challenges, and rewards. Understanding the differences between these routes will help you make the right decision for your vessel and crew.

Help us welcome Albany Yacht Club, Angler Marine, and Pelican's Perch Marina & Boatyard. We encourage you to support the businesses that support the Great Loop!

Carolyn & Peter Westbay have brought you down the lower half of the inland rivers and Eddy & Linda Johnsen take you across the Florida Panhandle. You can't go wrong with all of these amazing anchorages!

This month, we continue down the inland rivers with Carolyn & Peter Westbay (and their feline crew), picking up where we left off in Paducah and taking you all the way to Mobile.

Help us say thank you to all the sponsors who helped make the Atlantic City Looper Lifestyle such a success! In addition, we welcome Islands East Advisors who would love to help you plan for your life on the water. Please support the businesses that support the Great Loop!

As we set out on America's Great Loop, there were several things that intimidated me. Locking topped the list. Give me docking in high winds any day, over going through a lock! However, 150 locks later, I've changed my tune. Here's why...

Loopers will soon be headed down the Inland Rivers. Cruising the rivers is a little different and we reached out to Wes Litsey, who has cruised thousands of miles on the rivers to share with us what you need to know before you go.

One thing all Loopers will be doing is eating and there's nothing better than checking out the local cuisine. Butter tarts in Canada, seafood along the coast, and oyster roasts in the south are all regional specialties you don't want to miss. But you'll find local favorites at every stop along the Loop and we begin our tour of Must Eats in Wisconsin ~ one bite at a time.

You may not think twice about jumping into the water in the marina. You want to cool off after a long day cruising. What could go wrong?