Do you fancy a sailing vacation of a different kind? How about sailing on a lake? With Lake Champlain, one of the largest lakes in the USA, you have 800 kilometers of varied and historically rich shoreline. Start your Lake Champlain yacht charter from Plattsburgh (NY) on the western shore of Lake Champlain. Over 70 islands from small to large make the shoreline diverse. Large parts of the shoreline belong to nature parks and offer the opportunity to experience the beauty of nature under calm sailing conditions. For example, the Indian summer, which bathes the lake in a red-orange light.
Climate: kühlgemgemä⊤igt, continental character, in the summer months 18 to 27 degrees
Sailing season: May to October
Popular Yachts | Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain| Cabins: | 3 | Berths: | 6+1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: | 2017 | Sail | Battened |
| Yacht-ID | 31893 | L/D: | 11.23 / 1.50 |
Yacht charter Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is located in North America, in the states of Vermont and New York and also has a small stretch of coastline in Quebec, Canada. You can reach the starting point Plattsburgh via the airports in New York City or Montreal and from there by train. The marina has been in existence since 2015 and offers everything you need for a carefree start to your charter vacation. The town itself has everything you need for a pleasant stay ashore with cafes and restaurants. Stroll from the shore of the lake along the Saranac River boardwalk or through one of the city's parks. At the north end of Cumberland Bay, where Plattsburgh was founded in 1788, is the town beach. Here you can rent a kayak and explore the bay. You can end the evening at the beach bar.
If you are interested in the history of the area, this is the place to be. Lake Champlain has been the site of historic events throughout the centuries. The region has much to tell: as a frontier water between the Iroquois and the Algonquin Indians, then discovered by the French at the beginning of the 17th century, conquered by the British in the Seven Years War, as the scene of the Battle of Valcour in the American War of Independence, and made American territory by the Americans in 1804 in the Battle of Plattsbourgh.
Relaxed sailing surrounded by green nature
The port of Plattsburgh offers an ideal starting point for a yacht charter Lake Champlain. Situated relatively centrally on the west coast of the lake, here you can choose the direction for your sailing vacation on the lake depending on wind and weather conditions. Turning north, you will pass the larger islands of Grand Isle and North Hero Island. Here you can stop off at your leisure. Perhaps take a hike through the lush greenery of the islands, or perhaps you'd rather set out from the popular anchorage in "Deep Bay" on a bike ride through "Point au Roche State Park." Stop at Isle la Motte, where the black marble-like stone was once quarried in the Chazy Fossil Reef to serve as building material for important structures such as the Brooklyn Bridge. Since 2009, the area of the former quarries has been designated a National Natural Landmark because of the large number of fossils trapped in the rock.
East of the island on a land spur is the "Alburnes Dunes State Park". It includes a wide sandy beach area and large wetlands, which many species of animals use as breeding and retreat sites. On the northeast coast of the island just before the Canadian border is the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. In this 2.6 hectare area, hiking trails allow visitors to discover the natural habitat of raccoons, moose, red foxes, porcupines and many more mammals. Bird species such as the osprey, kestrel and goshawk also find a protected retreat here.
Nature parks, historical places and city strolls
There are also a number of nature parks to the south of the lake. The estuary of the Ausable River on the west coast even offers the possibility to meet a bald eagle at the "Ausable March Wildlife Center". Golf lovers can swing a club in nearby Port Kent, and Robinson Crusoe feelings can arise on the small, uninhabited island of Schuyler Island. The east side of the island offers a good view of the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. Here lies Burlington (Vermont), framed by the Green Mountains in the background.
Burlington was founded as early as 1763, but only gained its great importance in 1823 with the opening of the Lake Champlain Canal as a trading port, which created a continuous shipping connection between New York City and Montreal. Today, Burlington is the largest city in the state of Vermont and the seat of the county government. Divers can enjoy guided dives to several wrecks that have sunk off the city. ECHO, a Lake Champlain science and nature museum located in Burlington, specializes in educating families about life in and around the lake. The "Waterfront Park" directly connected to the museum offers the opportunity for a leisurely stroll or even a brisk bike ride along the lake. If you prefer a more lively atmosphere, you can visit the large marketplace on Church Street. Here you will find cafes and restaurants, small souvenir stores and stores for an extended shopping spree.
The small town of Westport on the east coast is considered the gateway to the Adirondack Mountains as seen from Lake Champlain. The mountain range accompanies the western shore of the lake for almost its entire length and offers excellent hiking terrain. Westport is also the origin of the famous Adirondack Chair, a comfortable garden chair with a backward sloping backrest and particularly wide armrests. An indication that long evenings at the cozy campfire are a perfect match for a yacht charter Lake Champlain.
In the south of the lake, close to the Lake Champlain Bridge, one can once again immerse oneself in the history of Lake Champlain with Fort St. Frederic (1734) and Fort Crown Point (1759). The two forts, the first under French and the second under British leadership, followed each other in their construction but were not occupied at the same time. The nearby "Champlain Memorial Lighthouse" was established as a working lighthouse for the 300th anniversary of the discovery of the lake in 1912. Since 1926 it has been only a mere monument, without a beacon.
Do you appreciate The USA as a destination, but don't want to sail on an inland waterway? Why not start in the south from Miami? From there, the island paradise of the Bahamas with the tourist magnet Nassau is not far away. If the history of Cuba and the sailing area on the south coast of Cuba appeals to you, then Cienfuegos is the right place for you! Almost at the same latitude as Lake Champlain, but on the west coast of America, is Sidney, Canada. Experience the impressive natural landscape of the Gulf Islands National Park and the Canadian coast.
