Holidays are a special time when you get to celebrate days like Christmas and New Year's with family and friends. The weather gets nice and cool, you exchange gifts and tell stories with the people who mean the most to you. After a long year, times like these are needed as a nice getaway from all the noise of life. For the boating enthusiast, times like this can be made even more special. There are plenty of activities you can do aboard your boat that relate to the holiday season. You can decorate your boat, do gift exchanges aboard, go on special excursions, and more. Here are a few ways you can implement this with your own crew and vessel.

Boat Decorating

Just as you would do at your house, put some lights around your boat! This is a great way to show your holiday spirit while on the water. If you have kids, this is also a great way to get them involved with the boat and show them around the vessel. And depending on what you celebrate, you can put themed candles or wreaths around as well to really make your boat pop.

Don’t forget the greater social aspect of this as well. You can find other people's boats that are decorated and strike up a conversation about your respective designs. Boating has always been a social hobby, and something as simple as decorating is no different. There are even entire boat parades with lights, music, and food, which will be mentioned in just a bit.

Gift Exchanges

The spirit of the holidays is all about giving, and why not do this aboard your vessel! You don’t have to stop there, either, as you could do boating-related gifts that can really make an enthusiast of the hobby's year. A good gift exchange is also a good time to share some food. You already have all your favorite people together, so having that holiday feast aboard can really make the event one to remember.

Specialty Excursions

If you’ve already gathered the family for gift exchanges, a specialized trip can also be great. Take your close ones on that trip you’ve always wanted to take with them. Sometimes it's that sunset cruise, traveling to a small island you’ve always wanted to visit, or taking a dip in a perfect snorkel spot, but now it can be that time you really get out there.

Holiday Boat Parades

Most boating enthusiasts are all too familiar with holiday boat parades. A huge event that gets people from all over the boating community to showcase their own personal holiday décor. Whether you are in the parade or just watching, it is a special time either way! If your boat is in the parade, it can be very rewarding to see others who share the same passion for decorating their own boats. Even if you are just watching from the dock, there are usually vendors and events that coincide with the parade. Either way, you get to experience a great show that can be very fun for the whole family.

What more can really be said about the holidays? It is a time many of us look forward to all year to be able to spend that quality time with people who we consider close. For those boating enthusiasts, there are many different activities that can be done that will really spice up the holiday. Boat decorating with the family, gift exchanges leading to special outings, and the very popular boat parades are just a few of those things. Decorating a boat is not only good fun for the family, but promotes seeing other boaters with decorations and striking up a conversation. Doing a gift exchange abroad is also a good way to put a spin on the classic tradition. A special boating trip and boat parade are also essential for any boater celebrating the holiday. The most important thing, of course, is the people you have around you for the holidays. They make things like this possible, and it’s always important to remember that during the holiday season. Whatever you choose, it is sure to be a special holiday season out on the water. Have a festive and fun time, and happy holidays from Monterey Boats!