Getaways: Fast Boats Galore

This Fourth of July weekend more than a dozen drivers and their million-dollar boats — and 50,000 speed fans — will head to the Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival off Lido Key, where Florida launched its first races 25 years ago.

The races are a great place to fuel your fantasies. Watching is free, and the eight days of festivities include rare perks:

» The coolest boat race on land: A parade down Main Street in Sarasota lets you see the boats in all their sleek angles and glorious colors up close and at speeds where you can see them for more than 10 seconds.

» Wading in the water: The triangular Grand Prix course of 6.5 miles off Lido Key leaves room for spectators in
boats on one side and also a long inshore space, where beachside fans can get out of the sun and watch the races half-submerged.

» Dry pit, wet pit: See drivers and crews prep their boats, first in Sarasota’s Centennial Park and then in the docks at the nearby Hyatt.

» The big event: On Sunday, July 5, the top boats fire up at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and roar around the course for 50 miles or more at rocket speed.

Tags: Dining & Travel