Lifestyle
Southern Jewel
When the Cherokee Bluffs Dam was finished back in 1926 and the Tallapoosa River began backfilling more than 44,000 acres of land southeast of Birmingham, it created what was then the largest man-made body of water in the world. And while it may no longer be No. 1 in the record books, Lake Martin […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
River Lore: The Wabash
On a journey that lasted 18 cold days and nights, George Rogers Clark led a force of 175 American and French militia from Kaskaskia, Ill., to Vincennes, Ind., with the goal of capturing Fort Sackville. But this was no road trip. To reach Vincennes, the oldest city in Indiana, Clark and his men marched […] Read More
Great Lakes on the Rise
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Great Lakes are expected to stay within two to 16 inches of their long-term averages next year. This is a vast improvement from a year ago, when lake levels had hit their lowest point in recorded […] Read More
Heartland Lighted Boat Parades
Nothing says Christmas like boating, right? OK, we’ll admit that lighted boat parades aren’t as common in the Heartland as they are in, say, California, but that doesn’t keep some festive folks from adorning their boats with all kinds of twinkling regalia, donning ill-advised decorative sweaters and making merry for the enjoyment […] Read More
Owning a Boat with Friends
These days, there’s renewed interest in going boating on a budget — something I’ve been doing for 40 years. One way is through what the boating press calls “fractional ownership,” where you share a high-end, pricey boat with others like a condo timeshare. Another cost-cutter is to go in with another boater in a […] Read More
Ghost Hunting on the Delta Queen
Some say the ghost of sea captain, Mary Greene, haunts the place she died, the sternwheeler steamboat, Delta Queen, now a “hotel” in permanent dock in Chattanooga, Tenn. And well she may, since Mary was as wedded to the rivers of the Heartland as to her husband, Captain Gordon Greene. Mary Becker […] Read More
Spirit of Illinois
Has a state ever been so misrepresented? It’s nicknamed the Prairie State, yet Illinois is edged on three sides by water, borders a Great Lake and is bisected by a major water thoroughfare for recreational boaters and the marine transportation industry. So say what you want textbooks, we know the true spirit of this […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Fall Fests
Marked by a pleasant change of color and climate, fall offers boaters in the Midwest a chance to enjoy their favorite pastime from a whole new perspective. What’s more, a variety of annual festivals spread throughout the region add to the seasonal opportunities with their autumn-inspired flavor and attractions. No, it’s not too late […] Read More