Occoquan offers a scenic spot for boaters to relax and enjoy the historic waters. Boaters can boat around the river and then secure a line and come onto solid ground for a bit of shopping or to enjoy a meal.
For those who love boats but don’t own them, Carefree Boat Club is a private club that offers unlimited use of a wide range of boats. Being a member eliminates the need for a car with a boat hitch as the company keeps their boats in rented boat slips right in town.
Carefree Boat Club has 13 boats located in Occoquan to choose from, but members can also travel to all 18 locations nationwide and use the boats there. A new location is coming soon in the Virgin Islands. There are about 50 boats in local marinas and about 500 members in the DC metropolitan area.
“The boat club is unique in that it allows people that don’t have the inclination to own and maintain their own boat to have the opportunity to enjoy boating and that’s why we say 'boating without owning, it’s about time' here,” said Jessica Clark, Vice President of Member Relations for Carefree Boat Club.
Membership at Carefree Boats Club varies depending on length of contract. Members must sign up for a minimum of one year and pay a one-time initiation fee which together equals about $8000, but discounts are provided when members sign up for longer contracts. If a member chooses to pay for only one year and then sign up again years later, no additional initiation fee will be charged the second time around.
Members must pass an on-the-water training course held by the club before getting a boat on the water. Boats can be reserved online by members up to 24 hours in advance. Boat season at Carefree Boat Club runs from April through November. For more information on Carefree Boat Club, visit their website.
Madigan’s Waterfront Restaurant provides a boat-friendly dining experience, as it lies along the water in Occoquan and offers both a pier for free public docking as well as boat slip rentals. Use the free docking option to come aboard at Madigan’s for an hour or two and enjoy a meal at the restaurant or drink and music at the Tiki bar. The boat slips can be rented all year long by contacting the restaurant owner, Chris Madigan, and setting up an appointment through the restaurant at 703 494-6373.
