www.iFourWinns.com

When I was stationed in Groton, Ct there was Paul's Pasta on the Thames River. Best Lobster Manicotti there is! Too bad thier dock wasn't big enough for our Sub!

I was up there about 10 years ago on a bussiness trip, and couldn't help myself. The only reason I'd ever head back that way again.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

The Allatoona Yacht Club is our restaurant of choice given we are members. We have four children and one in a wheel chair so the days of cruising to a nearby eatery is now out of the question. Good food.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Down at Lake Norman NC there are 10 or 12 places with docks for boaters, a few more are private. The most upscale open to the public is the North Harbor Club in Davidson. Vinnies in Mooresville gets a lot of the NASCAR people and has great steamed oysters. The Rusty Rudder and Midtown Sundries have live entertainment some nights, beer specials every night. Jokers Dueling Piano Bar at Queens Landing is the only real night club on the lake. Queens Landing also has a floating bar, 2 dinner yachts, outside bands in the summer, and by far the most boat slips so it's the number one destination.

For us here in SW Florida there are many places to choose from but the most popular spot is Cabbage Key. It is a barrier island in the Pine Island sound about a 20 mile run up the intercoastal water way. What makes it unique is there are dollar bills covering the walls and ceiling and great Key Lime pie. It was said to be the place that inspired Jimmy Buffets Cheese Burger in Paradise. http://www.cabbagekey.com
Another pretty good spot is Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grill on Ft Myers Beach it is owned by a local author Randy Wayne White who writes mistery novels that take place in SW Florida http://www.docfordsfortmyersbeach.com and the yacht club we are members of the Royal Palm Yacht Club in Fort Myers is always a great spot for Sunday brunch.

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2008 318 Vista "Ka-wai-ola"
350 MPI/BravoIII DTS Seacore
2006 1500 Key West -70 Yamaha
Previous Boats
Key West 2300CC
Pacemaker 270 Sport Fish
290 Sea Ray

I agree with winedown.. I keep my boat a little North of Annapolis around Baltimore. And we have lots of places to go on the water. We have Jellyfish Joel's at Farely Creek (Personal Favorite for their amazing Rum Runners), Rock Hall's many dock up restaurants and bars, in Middle River MD, we have a great place called The Riverwatch, for live bands, great food and drink, as places in Baltimore and Annapolis, the Red Eye Dock Bar on Kent Island, is entertaining. We also can take trips down the Chesapeake Bay, like St. Michaels which has many Restaurants.

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I'm going to cheat a little and add a place that we stopped at last summer while cruising down the Ottawa River - It's the Chateau Montebello, a five star resort that hosted a G10 Summit a couple years ago. It has a full marina (my 205 was by far the smallest boat there...), and one of the most lavish buffets around! After five days sleeping on the boat, it seemed a little surreal strolling in and sitting down (in shorts and sandals) to a fine-dining experience, and sampling incredible food and impeccable service. Here's some shots:

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2005 Sundowner
2008 Highlander V6

Especially on a Sunday afternoon in the summer.

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'01 Vista 298

well let me know next summer when you guys are out on the water, be awesome to raft up-- you guys ever go over to Farely Creek?? you will love it!

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Only a couple of our normal day lakes have restaurants on them and they're mediocre. We go to the Mississippi several times a year and there are quite a few decent places along there. Among them is Slippery's Bar and Grill, in Wabasha, Mn which was made "famous" because it was Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau's favorite hang out in "Grumpy Old Men". It's a pretty decent place but definitely a bar and grill place.

But after much thought, my favorite "boating restaurant" has to be someplace I'm sure you're all familiar with:


Ok, in reality it's probably not just that but just about any fast food place that's quick and easy to get in and out of after leaving the lake. And since we're usually in a pretty good mood after a day on the lake, the kids get to decide and they usually pick McDs.

Honestly, no I don't like the food, but it's become tradition and I know it sounds silly but I'll forever remember the family sitting around the table in our lake gear, windblown or wet hair and sunburned checks, tired, eating a happy or value meal talking about the day that had just transpired. I hope that among other things the kids will always remember that too. "it's about making memories" is something my wife and I tell each other often (usually when things don't turn out as planned).

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2005 Horizon 230 5.7 GXi/DP "Nauti Addiction"
Towed with a 2003 Suburban Z71

I understand 100% and it is about tradition and making memories. Since moving to the general Washington DC area we're started our own Thanksgiving tradition. Every Thanksgiving morning we hop in the car and head into DC to visit the museums and monuments. Thanksgiving Day "dinner" is the same thing every year - McDonalds at the National Air & Space Museum. I don't recall exactly how this tradition started other than one Thanksgiving we decided to head into DC for the day and discovered that the museums were open and empty. We've gone back every year since.

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'01 Vista 298