Three or four years ago, Waterway Guide had me write a number of "Goin' Ashores," little essays about sundry ports of call. This was for the Chesapeake Bay edition, the first year they separated it from the ICW. My "beat" was the Potomac south on the Western Shore, down to Newport News, Portsmouth, Norfolk, etc. and a couple of spots on the Eastern Shore (I recommend Cape Charles for another unusual spot). I drove to all these places (it would have taken months if I'd even had a boat and I was writing in February!). Most of my pieces are still in the later editions (they got their money's worth). It was great fun, and I had fun writing some of them! (there are some real off-the-beaten-track places in the region).