10 Fascinating Nautical Facts

American counties directly on the ocean shoreline account for less than 10% of the continental U.S. land mass. Yet, about 40% of our population lives in those counties. If you're among the other 60%, you can still be seaworthy. Here are some useful tips to prove your saltiness.

*Rhode Island is not an island. It is however called the Ocean State.

*The Florida Keys are the only place in the continental U.S. where one can, on foot, watch the sun rise and set in the ocean.

*Have you seen those black and white oval bumper stickers that say "OBX?" They're referring to the Outer Banks; a series of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina and the place where the Wright brothers first flew an airplane.

*Alaska has the most ocean coastline at 6,640 miles. New Hampshire has the least at just 13 miles of ocean access. Bonus fact: New Hampshire does have Smuttynose island where a horrific crime occurred in 1873.

*Probably the most famous sailing race in the world is The America's Cup. We won it every time from 1851 to 1980.

*Every region has its signature cuisine. Some important (and delicious) coastal ones include New England clam chowder, Maine lobster bakes, Maryland crab cakes, Louisiana crawfish boils, salmon in the Pacific northwest, and fish tacos in southern California.

*That line of kelp, seaweed, and debris right at the high tide mark along the beach is called the wrack line. From the phrase "wrack and ruin," it is where the remains of shipwrecks were found.

*Sea glass, the weathered and frosted pieces of glass you might find along the shoreline and often used to make jewelry, has been tumbling in the tides for twenty to thirty years to get its appearance.

*The basic daiquiri, one of the most popular beach drinks, is just rum, simple syrup, and lime juice.

*Here's a bunch of interesting marine facts.

Whether you wade in the waves every day, or your visit to the ocean is a planned and treasured vacation, you can have a bit of the nautical world in your life all the time. Summer is coming...ocean time. Mix up some daiquiris, plan a clam bake or just put some fish on the grill, decorate with Outdoor Nautical Décor, and phone some friends. Whether you're in Nantucket or Des Moines, the sea is calling.

We can help. contact us for ideas.