It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year…

For kids, the holiday season undoubtedly qualifies as “the most wonderful time of the year,” just as the song says. But for grown-ups who love boating, fall can be almost as magical.

After Labor Day, most of the summer vacationers have finally gone home — and we get our SoCal boating harbors back. Our favorite local destinations — including Avalon, Two Harbors, San Diego and Santa Barbara — suddenly become a lot less crowded and more fun to explore.

The weather is still beautiful, warm and sunny. But we don’t have to elbow our way through a sea of people on shore, and there are plenty of guest slips and moorings available when we arrive.

Fall is also boat show season. And even those of us who aren’t shopping for a new boat will find much to see and do at upcoming events.

At the Lido Yacht Expo, Sept. 22-25, show-goers can get a rare close-up look at the 125-foot catamaranCheyenne that shattered the around-the-world sailing speed record in 2004. Soon, it will serve as the mothership for Virgin Oceanic’s planned submarine exploration of the deepest points of the world’s five oceans.

Show-goers can also step aboard the brigantine Irving Johnson, a 113-foot, 13-sail wooden boat that is the official tall ship of the city of Los Angeles. And they can see high-flying demonstrations of water-powered recreational jet pack flight from JetLev.

There will be more than 200 large and midsize yachts — brand-new models and ocean-tested brokerage boats, too — lined up in the water at the show, ready for visitors to step aboard.

This is an ideal place to see the latest design trends and advanced equipment, to get ideas for improving your current boat. But don’t be surprised if you find an incredible deal on one of those “dreamboats” that might be too good to pass up.

This year’s show will definitely showcase some of the best boats at some of the best prices in recent history — as well as attractive marine financing options.

So, if you think opening presents and finding out what Santa put in your stocking is fun, just wait until you walk the docks at this fall’s boat show. Take a look at what’s new, check out the show attractions and then enjoy a fall cruise to your favorite SoCal destination.

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