Boating Yachting Sailing

KnowWake continues to grow its global boating community by officially expanding into Caribbean and the islands of Hawaii.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — KnowWake (https://www.knowwake.com), a first-of-its-kind, waterway navigation app powered by real-time user updates, announces further commitment to boating, yachting, sailing, and maritime law enforcement communities by formally expanding into the Caribbean and Hawaiian Island chains.

Home to one of the world’s largest networks of boaters navigating together, KnowWake’s mission is to improve the entire boating experience by making it safer and more enjoyable for all. Driven by proactive reporting from on-water app users, as well as historical data sourced from the U.S. Coast Guard and local law enforcement and government agencies, the app consistently recommends the safest routes, the best places to go boating, and the proximity to critical marine services like fuel docks, marinas, and boat ramps.

“Following our goal to truly become a resource for global navigation, we are thrilled to be adding these regions and invite the community to open it up and have a look.” said KnowWake founder, Dan Karsko.

“With features that allow users to update the chart easily, we are growing faster than ever and getting the best information online quickly.”

A social navigation pioneer for the water, KnowWake has established its position as the leading app for boaters navigating the continental United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—including inland bodies of water, with more than 350 lakes and rivers, and all of America’s Great Loop. Leveraging mobile technology and a passionate community of boaters, sailors, anglers, kayakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the platform aims to redefine the ability of today’s navigation and communication tools.

Comparable to a Waze or Google Maps for the road, KnowWake creates an easy way to find dockside and waterfront destinations available by boat. Users will locate everything from local restaurants, marinas, fuel docks, launch ramps, dive shops, inlets, dive sites, snorkel areas, bridges, locks, and much more. This also includes the ability to share current location, save voyages and communicate within the app.

Story continues

To download KnowWake, please visit KnowWake.com. For more information on KnowWake’s privacy policy, visit KnowWake.com/legal/privacy.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/knowwake-announces-expansion-into-the-caribbean–hawaiian-islands-301233704.html

SOURCE KnowWake

Hundreds of passengers on four Cook Straight ferries were delayed for hours on Tuesday night as strong south-east gales made docking in Picton Harbour impossible.

According to reports, gales in excess of 40 knots gusted down Picton harbour, forcing ferries to seek calmer water in the Sounds.

A spokesman for Blue Bridge said on Wednesday that both Blue Bridge ferries had arrived safely into Picton after being affected by Tuesday’s extremely high winds.

“The Feronia docked at around 10pm last night and the Straitsman around 1am this morning,” the spokesman said.

READ MORE:
* Ferry berths after strong winds cause 12-hour delay
* Big brother is watching you … while you are boating
* Coronavirus: ‘Do not attempt to go boating’ during lockdown

“Both ships are running today but with significant delays to our services. All passengers are being informed of any impact to their sailings.”

Booking schedules for Interislander indicated that the 7.30am sailing out of Picton for the Kaiarahi had been cancelled, but Interislander general manager Walter Rushbrook confirmed on Tuesday morning the ferries were back on schedule, and he was confident any backlog of passengers would be cleared.

Ports Manager Rhys Welbourn said the ferries had been assisted with docking following normal procedures during high wind events.

Regarding reported damage to the terminal, he said he was unaware of any damage other than ongoing wear and tear, and had “not received any reports of damage related to last night’s high wind events.”

Marlborough Harbourmaster Luke Grogan commended the ferry companies for adhering to procedures regarding safe berthing.

“I’m happy that safety was upheld as paramount in very difficult and challenging circumstances,” he said.

The Dancing Hare, a 189 ft superyacht, is currently moored in Auckland after traversing the South Pacific and Caribbean Sea.

As displays of conspicuous wealth go, she certainly takes some beating with glass panels encircling the deck, wraparound glass railings, and accommodation for 12 guests — and up to 15 staff — in a master suite, four doubles and a twin stateroom.

The price? £11.8 million; at least that was the asking price when this behemoth was purchased in 2017.

Since then, Dancing Hare, flying under the flag of the Marshall Islands in the central Pacific, where she is officially registered, has been spotted sailing around the Galapagos Islands, St Lucia, Fiji, Tonga, and Bora Bora in French Polynesia. 

Those on board, according to online video diaries chronicling the cruiser’s progress, enjoyed everything ‘from diving adventures with sharks and turtles’ to watching ‘dolphins swimming off their bow’.

Yet few outside the boating world will be aware that the white and orange striped flag fluttering in the ocean breeze belonged, in a previous life 30 years ago, to one of the most famous — or rather infamous — yachts in the world.

Back then it had a very different name. It was called the Lady Ghislaine and the owner was disgraced newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell.

On the evening of November 5, 1991, with his empire, including the Daily Mirror, on the brink of collapse, Maxwell’s naked 22 st body was found floating in the Atlantic off the Canaries, having fallen overboard from the stern of his yacht earlier in the day.

It soon became apparent that Maxwell, who was 68, was not only bankrupt (about £1 billion) but had also pilfered millions from the Mirror’s pension fund.

Many believe his bitter rivalry with fellow media tycoon Rupert Murdoch was to blame for his downfall which ‘unhinged him’ and drove him to cripplingly over-extend himself.

But Maxwell must be turning in his grave for another reason.

For, three decades on, the Lady Ghislaine, Maxwell’s pride and joy which he christened after his favourite daughter, Ghislaine — herself mired in controversy and awaiting trial in New York on charges, which she denies, of trafficking underage girls with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein — has fallen into the hands of the Murdoch family after changing hands several times down the years.

The irony is beyond parody.

The latest owner of the twice-renamed, refurbished Lady Ghislaine (which was first renamed Lady Mona K before her current moniker of Dancing Hare) is none other than Rupert Murdoch’s ex-wife Anna, a new biography of Robert Maxwell reveals.

Scots-born Anna, 76, is the mother of three of Murdoch’s children, Elisabeth, 52, Lachlan, 49, and James, 48, who have all played prominent roles in their father’s media conglomerate.

Why, though, of all the yachts, in all the world, would the former Mrs Murdoch — now Anna Murdoch Mann dePeyster, having twice remarried since divorcing Murdoch in 1998 — have chosen to buy this particular yacht? Author John Preston offers the following explanation in the very final paragraph of his book, Fall: The Mystery Of Robert Maxwell, which features a photograph of the Lady Ghislaine on the front cover.

He writes: ‘In 2017, Rupert Murdoch’s former wife Anna decided that she wanted to buy a yacht. Their son James, a keen sailor, offered to help. A few weeks later, he found just what he was looking for — a boat called the Lady Mona K, on the market for $14.5 million [more than £11 million at the time]. His mother went to have a look and liked what she saw.

‘It was only after buying the Lady Mona K that Anna learned the yacht’s name had been changed years earlier. It had previously been called the Lady Ghislaine.’

Perhaps.

But The Times, one of Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers, knew about the yacht’s history, reporting shortly before the former Mrs Murdoch bought it from a Saudi Arabian lawyer, that the Lady Mona K was on the market and was in fact the Lady Ghislaine ‘with a refurbished guard rail’.

This was an open secret in yachting circles.

So would it be beyond the realms of possibility to suggest there could have been more to the acquisition than meets the eye?

That acquiring the old enemy’s once prized possession might have provided an unexpected incentive for the wider Murdoch clan, a kind of posthumous schadenfreude?

The Murdochs would be only human if they had. After all, their rivalry was the stuff of legend.

Anna and Rupert Murdoch were together for more than three decades, during which time Maxwell played the role of the pantomime villain, a Trumpian figure whose clashes with Murdoch, inside and outside the boardroom, dominated the 1980s and spilled over into bitter personal animosity.

The feud was even turned into a Jeffrey Archer page turner (The Fourth Estate), a thinly disguised account of the lives of the two tycoons. Anna had a ringside seat to the rivalry. It began in 1968 when Maxwell moved to buy the News Of The World but lost out to Murdoch — ‘an Aussie upstart’ — who was looking to crack the UK market.

‘Never has a man caught a bigger whale with a smaller hook,’ Maxwell said later, alluding to the fact that he felt Murdoch underpaid for the title, a deal which proved enormously profitable for him.

Murdoch would also outbid Maxwell for The Sun the following year and The Times and The Sunday Times in 1981.

When Maxwell finally bought Mirror Group Newspapers in 1984, his Daily Mirror slugged it out with Murdoch’s Sun, which culminated in a circulation war waged, to quote one colourful account from those times, ‘with bingo giveaways, bare-breasted pin-up girls and screaming headlines’.

In New York, they also owned rival tabloids. Maxwell had the Daily News and Murdoch owned the New York Post.

However, Maxwell’s spending spree in America, including paying $2.6 billion for publishing house Macmillan U.S., precisely because he was desperate to go toe-to-toe with Murdoch across the pond, left him heavily in hock to the banks — money he could not repay when profits fell, interest rates soared and recession loomed.

This was the background to his last fateful voyage on the Lady Ghislaine.

Just before 5am on November 5, 1991, Maxwell phoned the crew to complain that his cabin was too cold. The air conditioning was turned off. Sometime afterwards, he walked naked to the stern of the boat, probably to urinate, as he was prone to do. He was never seen alive again.

At about 6am, Kevin Maxwell rang his father. They were due to meet the Governor of the Bank of England in London, where they would have been grilled about the state of their business which left a multi-million-pound hole in the Mirror Group pension pot.

Maxwell did not reply. Around 12 hours later, a helicopter pilot with the Spanish national rescue service spotted the body of a man on his back, spreadeagled.

Was his death an accident? Did he jump? Was he pushed? The first scenario is most likely, but we shall never know for sure.

The Lady Ghislaine was placed in the hands of administrators and purchased, it is believed, for around £10 million by the aforementioned Saudi Arabian who reportedly sold the boat, by now renamed as the Lady Mona K, to Anna Murdoch three years ago.

The yacht, to borrow the description of one commentator, was a ‘four-storey, floating symbol’ of the brash, self-aggrandising attention-seeking Robert Maxwell himself.

It had a gymnasium and discotheque with decor which was ‘1970s Playboy Baroque’ and where guests wore bootees to keep the deep-pile cream carpets clean. The former Mrs Murdoch, who now lives in Florida with her third husband, property developer Ashton dePeyster, 74, must have gained considerable satisfaction giving her acquisition the ‘sophisticated’ refurbishment referred to in the sailing press.

The entire interior design was replaced by London-based designer Olivia Outred and the yacht spent seven months at the Balk Shipyard in Amsterdam getting a state-of-the art overhaul.

Nevertheless, the new owner — who is understood to have received a $100 million (more than £70 million) divorce settlement from her first husband — has kept a low profile.

She has not advertised her links with Dancing Hare, which was relaunched in May 2018 with a baptism by a priest and a christening by the captain.

The owners are listed as Moonstone Enterprises, incorporated in Delaware in the U.S. where state laws mean individuals behind such companies can remain anonymous. Monaco-based KK Superyachts, which brokered the purchase of the yacht, are the commercial managers.

At the time of writing, neither KK Superyachts or Anna Murdoch Mann dePeyster wished to comment.

But why settle on the name Dancing Hare?

One of Anna Murdoch Mann dePeyster’s favourite artists is the late figurative sculptor Barry Flanagan who was renowned for his bronze statues of hares which were exhibited in Europe and the U.S.

One such statue was called Dancing Hare. A symbol of everything the Lady Ghislaine was not.

• Additional reporting: Tim Stewart

Tributes have been paid to one of the country’s longest serving RNLI volunteers who is stepping down after almost half a century of life saving including a dramatic rescue of former taoiseach Charles Haughey.

Kieran Cotter (65) has finally hung up his souwester after 45 years with one of the busiest lifeboats in the country, the Baltimore RNLI. During this time he has risen from volunteer crew member to coxwain, a post he has held for the last 30 years.

RNLI’s Lifesaving Lead Ireland, Owen Medland, led the tributes to Cotter who joined Baltimore RNLI as a 19-year-old crew member in 1975, before serving as second cox to Christy Collins and later taking over as cox in 1989.

“It is true to say that the RNLI is built upon its people. And in Kieran the team in Baltimore have had firm foundations . . . Kieran has a remarkable record of life saving service and community commitment,” he said

“As with every volunteer this service would not have been possible without the support of family and we are equally grateful for this support which has enabled Kieran to serve his community so well.

“Kieran has left a legacy of lives saved from the sea and witnessed the evolution of the RNLI’s service provision in the area over five decades for which he should be justifiably proud. Thank you, Kieran Cotter.”

Natural leader

Baltimore RNLI also paid tribute, with chairman Declan Tiernan noting Cotter’s great leadership – including his ability to assess a situation and come up with a plan which the crew execute because of their confidence in his ability.

“Natural leadership is a rare gift which Kieran Cotter has in abundance. It is the ability to instil confidence and trust in the people around you, calmly dealing with new and unforeseen circumstances without raising your voice.

“Kieran Cotter gave 45 years of service to the Baltimore Lifeboat. And when you think that in 2019 we celebrated the centenary of the first lifeboat arriving in Baltimore, it really puts Kieran’s service into perspective.”

Tiernan noted that Cotter has won several awards for gallantry in the course of his career with Baltimore RNLI which has seen him involved in numerous rescues off the southwest coast of Ireland

“Most notably, in 1991 Kieran was awarded the bronze medal for gallantry and the Maud Smith award for the bravest act of life saving that year following the 26-hour rescue of the fishing vessel, the Japonica and her 15 crew,” he said.

Cotter told The Irish Times that his late father, also Kieran, had become involved with Baltimore RNLI when the family moved from Cape Clear to the mainland in 1970 and he simply followed in his father’s footsteps.

“I was into boating myself, I was in the merchant navy when I joined. I’d say I was probably down the station prior to joining because we lived only about 300 yards from the station and somebody said, ‘do you want to join’.

“It was perfect because I was in the merchant navy from 1973 to 1975 and I was in college in Plymouth at the time studying and I struggled with physics and that was the end of that and I sort of packed up going to sea then.”

One of the first major rescues in which Cotter was involved in was when a summer storm blew up during the Fastnet Race in August 1979 and 24 of the 303 participating yachts had to be abandoned, five sank and 15 sailors were lost.

“This was a severe summer storm and one of the problems is that small yachts and big storms don’t go. We got the call about 10pm and headed out for the Fastnet and the wind was very strong with quite big seas,” he recalled.

“We towed a couple of yachts – the first one we towed was a yacht called Regardless owned by Ken Rohan, the builder – we took him in tow at about 1am and we reached Baltimore maybe around 7am.

“The wind was still very strong when we got back to Baltimore. There was carnage around the harbour when we came in because there were yachts going here there and everywhere, all over the place.

“We weren’t long in when we got another call to say there was another yacht in difficulty south of the Galley Head and we headed out and came upon the Marionette and we towed her back to Baltimore and got in at maybe 7pm.”

Distress call

Cotter had graduated to second cox by September 1985 when he and his comrades under cox Christy Collins responded to another distress call that a yacht was in difficulty near the Mizen Head.

“I had been at a wedding and came home to discover there had been a lifeboat call to say a boat was stuck at the Mizen. So we headed out but we couldn’t see any boat when we got there and we had no idea who was on board.

“There was an inlet on the north side of the Mizen and we discovered the boat, the Taurima II, a 52ft ketch, had gone down and there were four in the life raft and one in the dinghy and we took them aboard and headed for home.

“My brother, Liam was among our crew and he suddenly recognised one of the fellows – it was Charlie Haughey and he wished him a belated 60th birthday – he had been taoiseach but was leader of the Opposition at the time.”

If the Haughey’s rescue ended happily, not all missions were so successful and Cotter remembers the sad sight that greeted them when they went to search for Castletownbere trawler St Gervais in November 2000.

“The St Gervais had left Castletown with a crew of four around midnight and about an hour or so later, her EPIRB [Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon] went off southwest of the Old Head of Kinsale, ” he recalled.

“Valentia Coastguard reckoned that she couldn’t be so far east so we traced back along the line from there to Castletown and as soon as we rounded the Mizen we could smell the diesel and see the wreckage – that was a sad one.”

While every rescue mission is carefully planned and co-ordinated, sometimes good fortune can also play a part as happened in August 2011 when Baltimore RNLI, with Cotter as cox, helped save 21 sailors from a capsized yacht.

“A good few of the lads would be into sailing and I would myself too so when I became coxswain we used to always try and fit in a training exercise out by the Fastnet during the Fastnet Race,” he explained.

“We were watching a couple of the boats when the weather freshened a bit and the boats speeded up so we missed some of them rounding the Fastnet including this big yacht, the Rambler.

“We had reached the Fastnet when we received a call to say a personal beeper had been activated and we were asked to proceed to the spot which was only 15 minutes away but visibility was poor, down to about a mile or so.

“After a while, one of the lads spotted a flashing light in the distance and we proceeded to the scene and found the crew on top of the Rambler which was capsized but there were four missing off the hull. We started to look for them.

“But the Wave Chieftain, owned by Jerry Smith, was out at the Fastnet with photographers and they found the missing four in the water and rescued them and we took the 17 off the hull so everyone was saved. It was a great result.

“We were lucky we were at the Fastnet and able to get to them fast because if we had to come from Baltimore it would have been another hour before we got out to the scene and light starting to fade and people in the water.”

New experience

While rescues and search operations have been very much the norm for Cotter over the past 45 years, July 2007 brought a new experience when Baltimore RNLI assisted gardaí in a major drug recovery operation.

“We got the call to head out to Dunlough Bay at the end of the Mizen. Castletownbere RNLI had got the call too so we both arrived at Dunlough Bay to discover a RIB [rigid inflatable boat] had capsized and its crew and cargo had gone into the sea.

“One fellow got ashore and raised the alarm before vamoosing back to the UK and a few more were caught by gardaí. But there was one chap in the water and Castletownbere rescued him and we picked up the drugs.

“We fished out 61 bales of cocaine – one 1½ tonnes of it – worth €440 million and we brought it back to Baltimore where we handed it over to gardaí. It was definitely one of the more unusual missions we were tasked with.”

Cotter is full in his praise for the RNLI and the support the organisation has given him and his fellow volunteers over the years in terms of training and equipment which has changed hugely since he joined in 1975.

“When I joined first we had a boat called Sarah Tilson. She had two 45 horsepower engines, capable of doing maybe eight knots and you didn’t have any navigational equipment other than a direction finder and certainly not radar.

“You had an RT radio, you didn’t have a VHF radio and you had an open aft cockpit with kind of covering over you when you sat in there but with the water flowing across the deck there you would be cold and miserable.

“When you compare the Sarah Tilson to the Alan Massey where you can do 25 knots and you’re inside a heated cabin strapped in with all this navigational equipment so you know exactly where you are, it’s chalk and cheese.”

Calling it a day

A busy shopkeeper right in the heart of Baltimore village, Cotter is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Brigid and their sons, Ciaran (33), Cillian (28) and their daughter Dearbhail (26).

Looking back on his 45 years in the volunteer service, Cotter said that he very much enjoyed the experience and the great camaraderie there is not just among the Baltimore Lifeboat crews but among RNLI members generally.

“I enjoyed it very much – there will always been hairy and scary times – lifeboating has risks. We often did searches close to the shore and that sort of thing but you have to be careful; and if you are, it should work out okay.

“Will I miss it? Yerrah, not really! There is a time for everything and the time for getting out of bed in two minutes is past my ability now at 65. I wouldn’t be getting out of bed and down the stairs the way I used to 40 years ago.

“At the same time, I’m maintaining my links with the service as I’m going to become deputy launching officer and I can stay at that until I’m 70 so I have another few years to offer and stay in touch with everyone in the lifeboat.

Are you fed up with WFH culture? I have been on the WFH boat for as long as I can remember and has nothing to do with the pandemic, but since we are talking about boats and homes, then this snazzy Star Ferry conversion yacht in Tai Tam deserves some attention and mention. Wrongly called Dot, this massive 6,000 square feet of living space can be your humble abode for a not-so-humble price of HK$21 million (roughly $2.8 million). Formerly known as Golden Star, this self-sufficient, chic dreamboat is ideal for sailing lovers worldwide. The owner repurchased the beauty in 2011 and spent 18 months having her converted at the Leung Wan Kee shipyard in Zhuhai. A full-time project manager was based at the yard to oversee the incredible and unique conversion. Let’s dive straight inside the image gallery of this wonderful home on the sea that has become available owing to the owner’s relocation:


This is a dot, formerly known as Golden Star. Asia Pacific Boating says Dot can be your home that spans over 6,000 square feet of living space and an additional 4,000 square feet for storage and utilities.

Dot has been redesigned, keeping New York-style lofts in mind. It features industrial-chic warm wooden brown floors and clean white walls.

The owner said, “For the layout, I worked with a house interior designer in France that I knew, who had renovated a huge Dutch seagoing barge for his own use.” the yacht houses spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a tremendous sense of space.

Other than the very impressively done four spacious cabins that also feature floor-to-ceiling windows, the most liked area has to be the dedicated cinema room that looks super cozy with oversized throw pillows, beige bedding, and complementing wooden accents.

The master bedroom study can also double up as a proper office as it is pretty massive. It can comfortably seat 3-4 people if you plan to have your office peeps over for a discussion.

As lavish as the cabins are, en suite bathrooms with full baths and separate showers did up with striking fixtures.

To make the most of this unique way of living, spend your days lounging on the top deck that offers a large space for al-fresco dining and sunbathing.

One will be able to spot the artistry of Golden Star on the deckhead and the teak deck. The owner makes it supremely comfortable by installing no less than thirty air-conditioners to battle Hong Kong’s summers.

The living area is one of the coziest spots to nestle in onboard the Dot. The owner and his family also wanted to retain some of the old boat’s artistry while adding high-end flourishes.

There is a dedicated dining area equipped with sliding doors that open up to allow sea breezes through the vessel to enjoy a meal along with family and friends.

Comfort is the name of the game here, and so is self-sufficiency. The boat has a 57,000-litre water storage capacity, with a roof water collection system. Dot can collect up to 5000 liters of water in a matter of hours. Dot is a water filter system to convert seawater during drier weather and has separate systems for cleaning and filtering seawater and rainwater.

[Via: Tatler Hong Kong]

Are you an outdoor enthusiast who thrives in the serenity of nature? Does your idea of a perfect vacation include a trip to a US national park? Well, what if you could live close to a national park and enjoy it year-round? Moving to a nearby city can provide quick access to activities such as hiking, biking, backpacking, fishing, and rafting all within proximity to your front door. Not to mention, all of the sounds and smells – birds chirping, marmots roaming (if you’re in the Olympics), and wildflowers blooming, who wouldn’t want to live near all that beauty and nature? If you’re a first time homebuyer or just looking to move, check out these cities located near a US National Park for your next home.

1. For a town near the Grand Canyon, check out Flagstaff, AZ

Known for its towering red rock formations and gaping river channels, Grand Canyon National Park is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. The canyon encompasses 277 miles of forest, desert, canyons, and the Colorado River. There are also many activities to partake in beyond standing on one of the rims and taking selfies. If you want to be mesmerized by turquoise blue tidepools, take a journey to Havasu Falls. Mule tours or helicopter tours are also a great way to explore the area in less time. For water lovers, book a rafting excursion down the Colorado River. Just outside the park’s boundaries lie the famous Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon where you can take beautiful pictures and explore slot caves.

Located around 2 hours from the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Arizona provides a vibrant city life with a small-town feel. Because the city gets four seasons, there are many activities to partake in year-round. During the winter, snowshoeing Arizona Nordic Village and skiing Arizona Snowbowl are popular activities. The spring and summer months are a great time to explore restaurants and microbreweries such as Dark Sky Brewing Co. During the fall, there are many nearby hikes like Humphreys Peak to take in the views. If you love a city vibe, downtown Flagstaff is filled with many small businesses and a growing art scene.

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 38
• Median Home Sale Price: $471,750

2. If you love the Rocky Mountains, check out Boulder, CO

If you want to explore the best that Colorado has to offer, check out Rocky Mountain National Park. Encompassing 415 square miles of breathtaking mountains, there are many sites to explore, streams to fish, and trails to ride. For pristine views, check out Chasm Lake, a highly trafficked out and back with stunning forests, mountain peaks, and serene waters. If hiking isn’t your thing, take a drive along Trail Ridge Road for views of the Rockies in every direction. 

Want to move closer to the Rockies? Boulder, Colorado is home to Pac-12 University UC-Boulder and is a college town that provides easy access to concerts, festivals, and sporting events. The city is located about an hour from Rocky Mountain but has many outdoor trails to explore within its proximity. Boulder makes living convenient with a robust transit system, lots of small shops, and farmers markets. Not to mention, the summer months tend to be warm. But readers be warned, prepare for the occasional hail storm.

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 57
• Median Home Sale Price: $715,000

3. For a city near Mount Rainier, consider Seattle, WA

On a clear day, Mount Rainier towers over the Washington state sky and can be seen from miles away. One of three Washington national parks, Mount Rainier is an active volcano that ascends 14,410’ into the air. The park itself is divided into five areas. One of the more popular areas, Paradise, is open year-round to visitors for summer and winter activities. Another popular area is Sunrise where you can take in stunning views and beautiful sunrises close to the base of the mountain. 

Seattle, Washington, also known as the Emerald City, is around two hours away from Mount Rainier National Park. However, there is no shortage of activities in the city itself. No, it is not always raining. On a sunny day, you can take in the city skyline at Gas Works Park, grab a bite to eat at Pike Place Market, or get a 360 view of the city from the Space Needle. With a median home sale price of $725,000, Seattle is becoming a popular destination to call home. There are also many career opportunities in the area being home to tech, real estate, food and drink, aviation, and manufacturing companies. 

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 74
• Median Home Sale Price: $725,000

4. A gateway town into Olympic, check out Gig Harbor, WA

Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse US national parks, with nearly a million acres and three different ecosystems including coastline, mountains, and temperate rainforest. Located on the Olympic Peninsula, the national park has many unique places to explore. If you love to be on the water, rent a kayak and explore Lake Crescent. For those with children, explore one of the many beaches with wildlife living in tidepools. For the summit chaser, head up to Hurricane Ridge to feel like you’re on top of the world. 

If you’re thinking about moving closer to the Olympics, consider the gateway town of Gig Harbor, Washington, which offers the best of small-town living with gorgeous views, small street shops, and beautiful houses. Located near Commencement Bay, there are a lot of water activities such as kayaking and boating. If you love to support small businesses, Harborview Drive boasts a handful of small shops and restaurants. For a fun day trip, visit Tacoma Narrows Park where you can picnic as you watch the boats drive by. On a clear day, Mount Rainier is visible right at your doorstep. 

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 65
• Median Home SalePrice: $635,000

5. Want to explore the North Cascades? Consider living in Bellingham, WA

Known for its pristine backcountry, North Cascades National Park is filled with blooming wildflowers, jagged mountain lines, and alpine lakes. While backpacking through Cascade Pass or Maple Pass is a popular activity, there are many things to do and see. For those who own boats, sailing the turquoise water on Diablo Lake is sure to be a memorable experience. If horseback riding is your thing, explore the main routes located on the Pacific Crest Trail. All of these activities are under the watchful eye of the stunning Mount Baker.

Consider buying a home in Bellingham, Washington, a city that showcases the finest that Washington state has to offer. Located around one hour from the North Cascades, this college town is a perfect place to raise a family as the city has many hidden gems. For those who love their beers, check out a local favorite Aslan Brewing Co. If you love to go on scenic drives, take a ride down Chuckanut for the best views of Bellingham Bay. Lastly, catch the farmers market every third Sunday in the Depot Market Square.

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 49
• Median Home Sale Price: $478,500

6. For a city near Yosemite, check out Sacramento, CA

Located in the Western Sierra Nevadas, Yosemite is around 1,200 square miles of beautiful waterfalls, mountain peaks, and diverse wildlife. There are many activities to please your outdoor cravings from biking through Yosemite Valley, rock climbing one of the many slabs throughout the park, or taking a guided tour to learn about its history. If you want to get up close and personal with nature, check out Vernal and Nevada Falls or try your luck winning a lottery ticket to climb Half Dome. If you’re looking for a piece of modern-day history, visit El Capitan where climber Alex Honnold was the first to free solo climb the vertical rock formation.

Located about 3 hours from Yosemite, Sacramento, California, the state’s capital city, blends the old and the new with many landmarks, sites, and modern architectures. The winter months are cold and the summer months can reach over 100 degrees. If you love trees, Sacramento is the place for you. The city has the most trees per capita compared to any other city in the United States. Sacramento’s National Historic Landmark district boasts many small shops, attractions, and restaurants. If you are looking for a day trip, the city is located only about two hours from Lake Tahoe and San Francisco.

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 45
• Median Home Sale Price: $400,000

7. To take in the coastal views of Acadia, check out Bar Harbor, ME

Named after the french colony of Acadia, Acadia National Park is known as “the place where the mountains touch the sea.” The highland Rockys and the Atlantic Ocean come together to create a beautiful US national park filled with color-changing trees, defying cliffs, and calm waters. If you want to get some exercise in, take a bike ride down the 27-mile Park Loop Road. For those who like to swim, take a dip at Sand Beach or Echo Lake Beach. For stunning views, hike the popular Beehive Trail. However, hike at your own risk, this trail is not for the faint of heart.

If you’re thinking about moving to Bar Harbor, Maine, this town offers a vibrant downtown district, tasty restaurants, and a unique microbrewery scene. While many people visit Bar Harbor during the summer and fall months, there is a certain allure during the snowy winter. Nearby lakes become ice skating rinks and downtown Bar Harbor is the perfect place to take a winter wonderland stroll. 

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 75
• Median Home Sale Price: $435,000

8. If you love the Great Smoky Mountains, consider Knoxville, TN

Want to check out America’s most visited national park? Great Smoky Mountain National Park sees 12.5+ million visitors per year because of its diverse amount of activities, breathtaking views, and scenic drives. For starters, take a drive up Cades Cove Loop to check out field views, looming trees, and restored buildings including a church, barns, and a windmill. For thrill-seekers, go whitewater rafting down the Pigeon River which boasts several class III and class IV rapids. If you want to take some time to explore yourself, visit Rainbow Falls for a stunning waterfall surrounded by greenery. 

Located about one hour from Great Smoky Mountain, Knoxville, Tennessee offers a suburban feel in a college town environment. Knoxville is a great place for families due to the many parks, museums, restaurants, and access to outdoor activities. For those who love sports, the University of Tennessee – Knoxville offers access to a great college sports program.

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 31
• Median Home Sale Price: $249,900

9. Looking to airboat the Everglades? Consider Miami, FL

The Everglades is an unparalleled landscape known as a biosphere reserve, wildlife habitat, and world heritage site all in one. There are many activities to embark on in the Everglades, but perhaps the most popular is taking an airboat tour through the wetlands. Make sure you don’t fall in or you might find yourself in alligator-infested waters. Once you’re done, hop on a bike and explore the Lone Pine Key Trail. If you are willing to get down and dirty, try slough slogging to really immerse yourself in the environment. If you want to stay for the weekend, consider camping in the Everglades at one of two drive-in campgrounds.

 If the sun, sand, and beaches are calling you home, Miami, Florida is the city to live in. With a vibrant nightlife and rich Latin American influence, the city is nothing short of a good time. If you want to check out some artwork, visit the Wynwood Walls for a colorful adventure. Maybe checking out wildlife is your thing – if so, grab a pair of snorkels and head to nearby Keywest. For the inner foodie in you, head over to Wynwood and do a food and beer crawl at local breweries like J Wakefield Brewing and Veza Sur Brewing.

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 78
• Median Home Sale Price: $360,000

10. Want to go stargazing at Joshua Tree? Look into Palm Desert, CA

No, we aren’t talking about the U2 album. Joshua Tree National Park, located in Southern California, boasts the beautiful Mojave and Colorado deserts filled with jagged rock formations and unique trees. One of the park’s most popular activities is rock climbing and bouldering – with an immense selection of over 8,000 climbing routes and 2,000 bouldering problems of slab, traditional, and steep face climbing. For those who want to spend the night, there are over 500 campgrounds to choose from where you can get a clear view of a sky full of stars.

About an hour from Joshua Tree, Palm Desert, California is an oasis that you may just call your next home. There are many activities to try, but the greatest thing is how many attractions come to the city yearly. If you love music and want to see leading artists, Coachella Festival and Stage Coach are regarded as some of the premier music festivals in the world. Maybe tennis is your favorite sport? The BNP Paribas Open brings the world’s greatest tennis players to Indian Wells. Within Palm Desert, there are a wide variety of restaurants, coffee shops, golf courses, and shops. However, the most alluring aspect of the city has to be the sunny weather year-round.

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 27
• Median Home Sale Price: $406,000

11. To get aerial views of Haleakalā, check out a city on Maui, HI

A dormant shield volcano, Haleakalā, translated to ‘House of the Sun’, is a US national park that blends outdoor beauty with Hawaiian cultural history. Legend states that the demigod Maui guided the sun across the sky as he stood on the summit to make the day go by longer. The park runs the volcano’s rim all the way to the Pacific Ocean shoreline. It is home to many endangered species such as the po’ouli bird and the Maui parrotbill. Popular activities include watching the Haleakalā sunrise, biking, taking a helicopter tour, or going stargazing. 

You might know the island of Maui, Hawaii as a tourist destination, but it’s also a great place to call home. The culture is laid back and you are sure to encounter friendly neighbors. While Maui is technically not a city, there are many cities on the island to consider. Whether you live in Lahaina, Wailea, and Kihei the weather is sunny most of the year. Living on Maui means access to world-class beaches, beautiful hiking, and delicious Hawaiian cuisine. 

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 28
• Median Home Sale Price: $744,000

12. For a town near Crater Lake, check out Bend, OR

Oregon’s only US national park, Crater Lake, was formed by the mighty eruption of Mount Mazama. Now it is known as the deepest lake in the United States and the place to go for pristine water and mountain range views. When visiting, you’ll love going on a bike ride along the 33 mile Rim Drive wherein you’ll get unparalleled views of the water. While fish might not have been native to Crater Lake, it has been stocked with seven different species for you to catch in nearby streams. Summer is not the only month you can explore the park, for camping enthusiasts, pitch a tent in one of the many campgrounds during the winter.

Bend, Oregon brings together the best of small-town and big city living. About two hours from Crater lake, the city offers four-seasons which makes living there enjoyable. If you enjoy brewery hopping, Bend is the place for you as it is known for its world-class microbrewery scene being home to Bend Brewing Co., Deschutes Brewery, and others. While walking downtown, you can easily visit the Deschutes River as it flows straight through the city. Bend is a family-friendly city with great schools and an abundance of parks, but it also is an outdoor playground with access to Mount Bachelor in the winter and many nearby hiking trails.  

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 33
• Median Home Sale Price: $549,000

13. Want to summit Denali? Consider Fairbanks, AK

Formerly known as Mount McKinley National Park, Denali National Park is one of Alaska’s most visited places and is known for its incredible wildlife, backpacking, and mountaineering. If you love animals, make sure to bring your binoculars to view the over 160 species of birds and 39 mammals. For those wanting to take in an aerial view, you can take a flight to see the mountain up close. Some planes can even park on top of glaciers. Maybe it’s your dream to summit a mountain? While this takes effort and practice, you can climb up 18,000 ft. to the summit of Denali. 

The third-largest metropolitan area of Alaska, Fairbanks is around two hours from Denali and boasts a small community feel. If you don’t mind winters, Fairbanks is a delightful place to settle down and possibly call your next home. The University of Alaska is in the city with a renowned land, sea, and space grant program. Downtown Fairbanks blends the old and the new with lots of restaurants, museums, shops, and a cultural visitors center. Perhaps the greatest aspect about living in Fairbanks is it is one of the top places to see the Northern Lights. This is definitely a bucket list item you will want to cross off.

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 33
• Median Home Sale Price: $250,000

14. If you want to go on a nature drive in Shenandoah, check out Richmond, VA

The most beautiful fall colors live in Shenandoah. Encompassing the Blue Ridge Mountains and around 200,000 acres of protected land, this US national park welcomes wildlife species and humans of all kinds. But be careful on the trails, there is a chance you could encounter a black bear. Popular activities include hiking the Old Rag Mountain Loop, going fishing at one of the park’s 70 mountain streams, taking a guided horseback riding tour, whitewater rafting the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, and passing beautiful trees while driving around Skyline Drive.

About 1.5 hours from Shenandoah, Richmond, Virginia is a great town worth considering for people who are looking for a simple, suburban feel and a place to raise a family. If you are into art, there is a thriving art scene with dozens of colorful murals and unique art pieces scattered throughout the city. If you want access to nature, there are many parks that border the James River. The city has quick access to travel with an international airport nearby. Some neighborhoods to check out include Church Hill, Rocketts Landing, and Carytown.

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 52
• Median Home Sale Price: $274,850

15. Itching to explore Zion? Check out Las Vegas, NV

Utah’s first national park, Zion is a beautiful US national park filled with Navajo Sandstone. Zion is an explorer’s dream. For those who aren’t afraid of heights, hike Angel’s Landing for a spectacular view of the canyon. But make sure you don’t look down. If you want to stay closer to the ground, the Narrows is another option that takes you through Zion’s slot canyon. Another fun activity is going canyoneering. Make sure you have a permit so you can repel and explore less-trafficked territory. If canyoneering is too intense for you, opt to climb one of the huge 2,000-foot cliffs. If you don’t want to walk, horses, mules, burrows, or even a jeep or ATV tour are good options to get around.

You might know Las Vegas, Nevada for its vibrant nightlife, highrise hotel-casinos, and showstopping entertainment, but there are many other unique aspects about living in the city. The largest city in Nevada, Las Vegas is an ideal place to live due to its no state income tax, warm weather year-round, and access to outdoors like Red Rocks Canyon National Conservation Area. For the sports fans out there, the city just acquired a football franchise in the Las Vegas Raiders as well as has the Las Vegas Aces and Vegas Golden Knights. If you want to do a permanent staycation, consider moving to Las Vegas.

• Walk ScoreⓇ: 41
• Median Home Sale Price: $314,900

When visiting national parks, please consider practicing Leave No Trace principles in order to mitigate the impact on surrounding areas and the environment.

*Walk ScoreⓇ and median home sale prices as of January 2021

Let’s face it — most freelance writers don’t have what it takes to be a professional athlete. And that’s okay. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t do an excellent job writing about sports, from reporting on the latest sports news to in-depth analysis about the in-game action.

There are tons of great freelance sports writing jobs out there, and they can pay really well in many instances (some of the sports blogging jobs we’ll reveal below pay $1,000 or more per article!).

Sports writing jobs can consist of everything from contributing to a dedicated team blog to interviewing athletes to covering breaking news to statistical analysis and more.

Admittedly, trying to land these gigs can be pretty competitive (who wouldn’t want to get paid to write about sports?!). But there are still plenty of opportunities out there to make money writing about sports.

In the guide below, you’ll learn everything you need to know to start getting sports writing/blogging jobs to further your freelance writing career.

 

How Much Do Sports Writers Get Paid?

Paid freelance sports writing jobs can pay from as little $25 all the way up to $1,000 or more per article. In general, you’ll get paid a lot more writing feature pieces for print sports publications as opposed to cranking out short news pieces on sports blogging jobs.

That’s not to say you can’t make money writing about sports online. As you’ll see below, there are many digital publications with sports writing gigs that pay well. But in general, print is where the real money is with freelance sports writing.

 

How Do You Become a Sports Writer?

The good news is there are more sports writing job opportunities available today than at any time before. Go back just a couple of decades, and the only real sports writing jobs were for newspapers or magazines. But that’s changed quite a bit.

Now, sports writers not only have newspapers and magazine opportunities available, but they can also write for different sports blogs, team websites, league websites, social media pages, email newsletters, or even their own blog.

If you want to get into sports writing, there’s no real secret to it. To become a successful freelance sports writer, all of the basics apply — create an online presence (actively build out your social media presence and create a great writing portfolio website), build out your network, get some samples under your belt (starting your own blog or guest posting on other blogs may be good places to start), and of course, make sure you’re actually knowledgable about sports.

I also highly recommend checking out the Freelance Writers Den, an invaluable resource for freelance writers looking to make more money. You can access over 300 hours of courses and training materials covering just about everything you need to know to make money writing by becoming a Den member.

27 Sports Writing Jobs You Can Pitch To Right Now

Ready to start making some money? There are opportunities in the list below to write about football, baseball, basketball, boating, hunting, fishing, and just about every other sport you can imagine. Check out this list of sports writing and blogging jobs below, study the editorial guidelines, and start pitching!

1. Cruising World

This popular boating magazine accepts pitches year-round despite their full editorial calendar. Guidelines can vary based on the type of article you’re doing, so make sure you read them fully at the link above. You can send your pitch by email to editor@cruisingworld.com.

Rates: $300-$1,000 for feature articles, $25-$200 for short news articles

 

2. Sport Fishing Magazine

This print and digital magazine covers all things related to the sport of saltwater fishing. They’re looking for features that provide info about saltwater fishing that is ” (1) new/fresh/different; (2) specific/in-depth and (3) accurate.” Send an email to editor@sportfishingmag.com with your pitch.

Rates: $750 for print features, $200-$300 for online features

 

3. Adventure Cyclist

This magazine takes pitches year-round, but they only review them on a quarterly basis and most stories are scheduled 12-18 months out. They’re looking for pitches for both feature stories and “final mile essays”. All materials must be submitted through Submittable at this link.

Rates: 25-50 cents per word

 

4. Gray’s Sporting Journal

Published 7 times a year, Gray’s is looking for “competent, vividly written prose—fact or fiction—that has high entertainment value for a very sophisticated audience.” Their readers are bird hunters, fly fishers, and big-game hunters, so content around those themes is always a good idea. They warn writers against submitting pieces that are longer than they need to be, saying, “If you need 12,000 words to tell the tale, then do so. But if you can tell the story in 3,000 or even 1,500 words, then be kind to yourself, your readers, and our editors.”

Rates: From $100-$1,250 per article

 

5. Sailing Magazine

This publication covers all aspects of sailing, “from learning how to sail in a dinghy to crossing the ocean on a large cruiser to racing around the buoys against the best sailors in the world.” Articles should conform to AP style. Submissions should be drafted in Microsoft Word and emailed as an attachment to editorial@sailingmagazine.net.

Rates: $50-$500 per article

 

6. Worthpoint

Love sports collectibles? While this website covers the broader market of antiques and collectibles, you can pitch informative articles and blog posts on sports-specific collectibles and memorabilia. Send an email to wayne.jordan@worthpoint.com with your pitch.

Rates: $50-$100 per article, bonus opportunities available

 

7. The Chronicle of The Horse

This national bi-weekly magazine is looking for articles on dressage, hunters and jumpers, eventing, foxhunting, and steeplechase racing. They also accept reporting on sport horse news, feature articles on horse care, and profiles of prominent horse people. Email your pitch to brasin@coth.com.

Rates: $165-$400 per article

 

8. Backcountry Magazine

This site is looking for a range of article types with a “strong backcountry hook.” They provide an email template they request all freelancers adhere to when pitching to editor-in-chief Lucy Higgins at lucy@backcountrymagazine.com.

Rates: 35 cents per word

 

9. Deadspin

This popular sports site offers detailed guidance on how to pitch them successfully with some real examples from writers they published. Their Managing Editor Chris Baud is on LinkedIn.

Rates: 11-17 cents a word

 

10. The Sportster

TheSportster is always looking for freelancers to write about football, basketball, wrestling, and more. The site has sports writing jobs for freelancers who can “produce in-depth premium content with expert knowledge in one or more of TheSportster’s featured categories.” Visit the link above to start pitching.

Rates: Determined by assignment

 

11. Athlon Sports

Athlon Sports is looking for freelance football writers to join their team. They have sports writing gigs for NFL and college football experts. Fill out the form at the link above to get started.

Rates: Determined by assignment

 

12. Horse Network

From athlete profiles to interviews to in-depth analysis of the equestrian sport, Horse Network is a popular site for impassioned horse lovers. Try to land one of their sports blogging jobs by sending your story to submissions@horsenetwork.com.

Rates: $50 & up, bonuses for social shares

 

13. SBNation

The SBNation network of 300+ sports blogs is managed by Vox Media. You can check out their current sports blogging jobs at the link above.

Rates: Determined by assignment

 

14. Fansided

FanSided is a huge network of sports blogs, including team sites for a number of professional and college teams. Their sites are regularly looking for paid contributors.

Rates: Determined by assignment

 

15. Last Word on Sports

LWOS is a network of 20+ specialty sports sites from numerous professional leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, UFC, and more) across the world. You can apply at this link.

Rates: Determined by assignment

 

16. Runner’s World

Love the sport of running? This popular magazine features articles on training, nutrition, injuries, and more.

Rates: $1 a word

 

17. Blackbelt Magazine

Since 1961, this magazine has been covering all aspects of martial arts and combat sports. Send your pitch to Patrick Sternkopf via email at psternkopf@blackbeltmag.com.

Rates: Currently unspecified, but reportedly has been $300/article in the past

 

18. Golf Course Management

This publication specializes in content that deals with the unique problems faced by golf course superintendents. You can pitch Scott Hollister at shollister@gcsaa.org.

Rates: Determined by assignment

 

19. Gripped

Climbing enthusiasts can send pitches for features, athlete profiles, reviews of climbing areas, and more to query editor Brandon Pullan at brandon@gripped.com.

Rates: $150-$250 depending on article type

 

20. Powder Magazine

Since 1972, this publication has been an alternative to “the other, uptight skiing magazines.” They only accept pitches via email, and ask freelancers to allow up to two weeks for a response. Email your pitch to Managing Editor Sierra Shafer at sierra@powder.com.

Rates: Determined by assignment

21. Sports Collectors Digest

This monthly magazine is the oldest publication covering all aspects of sports memorabilia and the hobby of collecting. It includes feature articles, news items, and regular columns. Queries can be sent to dstrege@aimmedia.com.

Rates: Determined by assignment

 

22. Shotgun Sports

If you know about hunting, trapshooting, or skeet shooting, Shotgun Sports wants to hear from you. Email the editor at shotgun@shotgunsportsmagazine.com.

Rates: $50-$200 depending on article type

 

23. Sports Afield

Sports Afield is the world’s premier hunting adventure magazine dating back to 1887. The magazine is aimed at hunting and shooting enthusiasts. While the magazine has a staff of regular contributors, they also accept feature articles from freelancers. Email your story ideas to editor-in-chief Diana Rupp at editorinchief@sportsafield.com.

Rates: Determined by assignment

 

24. Triathlete

This is the largest American publication covering the sport of triathlon, and they have an editorial focus on ” multi-sport training tips and workouts, nutrition, gear guides, athlete profiles, triathlon-related travel stories, and timely news pieces relating to the sport and lifestyle.” Reach out to their chief editor Kelly O’Mara at submissions@triathlete.com to propose a story.

Rates: Determined by assignment

 

25. USHPA Pilot

The U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding association publishes a monthly magazine called USHPA Pilot. This publication includes news and information about the sport, and they’re always looking for original flying-related articles from freelancers. Send your story ideas to editor@ushpa.org.

Rates: Determined by assignment

 

26. Climbing

Published six times a year, this magazine is always looking for features around the hobby of climbing, lifestyle, and wellness. Take the time to look at all the magazine’s departments before pitching. You can find editor Matt Samet on LinkedIn.

Rates: $0.35 a word

 

27. Slate

While you might think of Slate as a politically-focused site, they actually cover a wide range of topics, including some sports. Have a story idea? Pick the right editor from this list.

Rates: $300 for a 1,000 to 2,000-word op-ed, according to The Web Writer Spotlight

 

Ready to start getting some great freelance sports writing jobs? Start pitching so you can make more money! And don’t forget to check out our guide to freelancer invoicing so you can get paid for your work!

Maine has it all, from abundant biking and hiking trails, rocky shores to the unique lake, mountain, and ocean attractions. The state has an outdoor rich culture being home to 3,000 miles of coastline and massive forest cover.

What is more, there is plenty of great accommodation for a conveniently relaxing vacation any time of the year. Some of the best abodes in this region are the Airbnbs in Maine.

Probably The Best Airbnbs in Maine

Its water might be a tad cold, but the Airbnb Maine cottages are warm, exquisite, and the food comes fresh from the farm. Come to Maine for a refreshing and quiet getaway on the East Coast and stay in one of these charming Airbnb properties below.

1. The Carbon Free Treehouse Airbnb in Maine

Over 90% of Maine is forest. Here the ocean, lakes, and mountains begin where the trees end. It is an excellent outdoor Mecca, allowing you to get away or unplug in the unspoiled woodlands. You can go off-grid in a mountain yurt, a tiny cottage, or in a treehouse right in the middle of the forest, such as the Canopy Treehouse.

This hidden gem is a 350 square feet tiny home in the forest, perfectly blending the features and convenience of a hotel and the forest’s serenity. The Carbon-Free Treehouse is eco-luxury made in the finest wood and with excellent detailing. It relies on solar and wind power for heating to keep it carbon neutral. The house is built using reclaimed and recycled items. As an illustration, its beautiful century-old pine floors are reclaimed wood.

The lighting inside the treehouse is bright and natural, thanks to the house’s large and many windows. This quiet spot can host four guests in its sleeping pod and loft areas with super comfy two queen-sized beds. The house has the amenities that you need to make a gourmet spread. There’s a full kitchen with an oven, refrigerator, stove, and coffeemaker.

It has a full bathroom with a view and a custom shower. This Airbnb Maine star attractions, however, are outdoors. While the treehouse has lots of indoor luxury, the outdoor hot tub will beckon you. You can spend hours on the sunlit deck or take a short walk to Littlefield Pond and go kayaking or fishing. The forest around the treehouse has many hiking trails.

$395/ night

2. Lakefront Airbnb Cottage on Graham Lake in Maine

The little cottage nestled by a lake is part of a larger farm. The waterfront space offers splendid views of the sunsets over the lake and is miles of walking and hiking paths. On the lake, there are two canoes for its Airbnb guests. Go fishing, kayaking, or simply relax by the lake.

One excellent selling point of this cottage is its proximity to Acadia National Park, Bangor, Downeast Sunrise tracks for ATVs, and Bar Harbor. Make your visit to Acadia a day trip and enjoy Maine’s highlights in one central location. There is the stoic coastline, rustic rural landscapes, and tiny fishing villages to savor.

The quaint two-bedroom cottage can hold five guests at a go. One of its bedrooms has a queen bed and a play baby bed. The other bedroom has single and double cozy beds. The kitchen is well equipped, and you will have everything to make excellent meals. We are talking about many appliances and cooking utensils.

The cabin is toasty for winter relaxation too. Sit by the tiny house’s patio and make some BBQ over the grill provided. There is also a fire pit and a beautiful garden to enjoy.

$65/ night

3. Ocean Front Heaven in Maine

This oceanfront space might be small, but it makes up for it with to die for views. It’s a little slice of paradise right by the coast of Maine. Resting on the dock, you can sit by its windows and enjoy the ocean-scape.

The area has a low tide beach that you can retreat into and a high tide area for swimming. Sit by its private deck and enjoy the waves that lap the nearby ledge. The cottage has a two-guest capacity. It has all the amenities you need to enjoy your quiet getaway, including a well-equipped kitchenette and a bathroom with a full shower.

Should you crave more of the outdoors, walk to the dock near the cottage and go kayaking or boating. You can also visit other sites or sit by the beach and enjoy bird watching. There are many ospreys, kingfishers, seagulls, eagles and cormorants, that frequent the area.

$110/ night

4. Cozy Airbnb Maine Cottage- Close to Park & Harbor

This rustic cottage straight out of a fairy tale book sits at the end of a dirt track along Birch Point Road. Farms, new and old surround it, so you will see lots of farm animals and forest dwellers. The area is home to L.L. Bean and the Adventure Schools of L.L. Bean. The cozy cabin is a two-person space, with a plush queen bed and a half bathroom.

There is a small kitchenette with an induction cooktop, bar refrigerator, and a microwave. You will find an eclectic mix of soda and beer from prior guests in the fridge. Have some and leave behind a few of your stuff for the pleasure of other visitors.

The cabin’s interior design is artsy with lots of original art on the walls, but its pièce de résistance is the kitchen’s rustic copper sink. The cabin has idyllic sunset over the water views. You can access some excellent hiking trails from here. Bradbury Mountain is a short 15 minutes away.

The host welcomes you to Bailiwick Cottage in winter. You can stay in and enjoy the whimsical view of falling snow in the woods since the cabin has a heat pump and insulation. It is also the perfect time to indulge in the Freeport area’s winter fun, so bring along your outdoor gear.

The thoughtful host has added some thoughtful, personal touches to the cottage, such as leaving a pair of binoculars by the windowsill for bird watching.

$120/ night

5. Tall Pines Airbnb in Maine

One of the best Airbnb Maine cottages, this spacious jewel sits by the edge of Papoose Pond. The little lake on Waterford’s northeast corner is scenic and a prime spot for white perch, black crappie, largemouth bass, and chain pickerel angling. The pond has brook trout and salmon coming in from the pond’s connection with Crooked River in the winter.

The cottage provides tranquility and is close to the scenic White Mountains. The classic cottage is sizeable and can host six guests. It has three bedrooms, a full bath, and a bathroom with a hot shower. Spend your time by the lake, in a boat, or by the cottage’s wood stove, reading a book. You can also take a short hike to the ledge of Mount Tire’m, which offers excellent views of the area.

$120/ night

6. Downtown Modern Airbnb Hideaway

The Downtown Hideaway Studio is an Airbnb Maine staycation spot with some of the best stay at home amenities. The modern getaway is only a walk away from downtown Brunswick. A five minutes’ walk should have you in the supermarket or train station. A convenient escape, it offers lots of privacy and relaxation.

The clean and cozy space hosts three guests and has a double and sofa bed. The loft bed adds a level of uniqueness and interest to this space. Some of its amenities include a full kitchen, laundry, and a backyard. The backyard is private and hosts a hot tub.

$125/ night

7. Seaside Haven on Somes Sound

There are many reasons Acadia is Maine’s top place to visit. Every visitor to Maine needs to dare the Precipice Trail or sit back and enjoy the sun as it rises over Cadillac Mountain. There are also lots of villages to visit and cuisine to sample in the area. If you want to experience the best of Acadia, book the Seaside Cottage on Somes Sound.

This idyllic paradise of the scenic Sargeant Drive is within the Acadia National Park, looking over Somes Sound. The fjard runs deep into Maine’s largest island, splitting it almost into two. It is a three guests cottage with one bedroom with a double bed and a sofa bed in the living room.

The living room has a half bathroom, while the bedroom has a full bathroom. Its kitchen is well equipped, and there is a lobster pot to keep you full. The exquisite house is an excellent romantic getaway with its nearest neighbor close to a mile away. Its deck overlooks Somes Sound, giving the property majestic sunset views.

The cottage is only a quick bike ride away from the busy Northeast Harbor. Get here and hop into a free bus drive across the island. It is a four seasons property, so you can visit it any time. There are swimming rocks to keep you busy in the outdoors and a yoga platform.

$364/ night

8. Beachside Airbnb Maine Cottage

This property is large enough for a family looking for a vacation spot near the shore. It is a two-level cottage, with an open main floor, for entertaining, relaxation, and cooking. The cottage’s lower floor hosts two of its bedrooms with plush king, queen, and twin beds.

Hosting seven guests at a go, this Airbnb Maine beach cottage is a much better alternative than shared hotel rooms. Its laundry amenities are a lifesaver for a family with lots of laundry from little kid’s activities out on the shore.

The cottage is only 3 minutes away from Old Orchard Beach. The sandy beach is a welcoming venue with 7 miles of a playground. Toss Frisbees, take a nap, play football, or go out into the surf when the sun is shining and the tide low.

There are many activities at the adjacent amusement park and mini-golf. The cottage has a well-equipped kitchen with ample cooking gear and a food preparation bar, perfect for a large crowd.

$60/ night

9. Beachy New England Home

This tastefully decorated hideout near the Androscoggin River will feel like a home away from home. It is an Airbnb Plus listing meaning that it has undergone vetting by a third-party inspector. Airbnb Plus offers the crème de la crème of shared homes displaying designer interiors, thoughtful amenities, and excellent style.

The beauty of the Beachy Bolthole is that it is affordable and expertly designed. It is a two-guest one-bedroom space with a splash of oceany white and turquoise. There are hints of seashell adorning its bright walls. This little gem will get you away from the town into the scenic beach and walking trails of the area, which you can get to after a short drive.

This property is close to a shopping area and restaurants as well. Spend your mornings and evenings chilling on the beautiful porch. The Beachy Bolthole has a well-equipped kitchenette and full bath.

$67/ night

10. The Reach Getaway

The Reach Getaway is a gorgeous abode in Deer Isle. It is a two guest studio on the Eggemoggin Reach. Set on the upper floor of an isolated garage, the property is private, quiet, and cozy. It has a large king-size bed and a bathroom with a shower. There is a little kitchenette with ample basics. The Reach Retreat’s advantage is its proximity to the Maine rocky shores.

Grab a beverage and spend some time by the shore’s edge. The gracious hosts have kayaks on standby that you can explore the charming island on. The area is also rich in art galleries, shops, and restaurants, and there is a ton of outdoor activity awaiting you. Hike the trails, go sailing, or enjoy lobsters at Stonington. This island hideaway is a 1.5 hours’ drive from Acadia National Park.

$99/ night

11. Port City Airbnb Maine Nest

The Port City Nest is ideal for travelers out for Maine’s urban experience. This Airbnb Maine property is a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in Parkside, Portland. It has gorgeous architectural features accentuated by a cozy fireplace.

Its amenities include a full kitchen and a yoga room near its balcony. The hosts provide the meditation cushions, a foam roller, and mats. Its location is only a short walk from the Old Port, with many cafes, shops, and restaurants.

$114/ night

Conclusion

There you have it—some of the best Airbnb Maine vacation homes on the East Coast.

Find your perfect getaway and unplug.

Whether you are planning your first or your one hundredth trip to Walt Disney World, selecting the perfect resort to fit your needs is a big job. A Walt Disney World vacation can be a magical experience, and choosing to stay on property definitely adds an extra bit of pixie dust to your vacation. But with over 30 accommodations from which to choose, it can be hard to whittle it down.

Today we’re letting AllEars readers be our guide by taking a look at the best and worst Disney World Resorts based on your reviews. 

Since Disney Resort hotels really do offer something for everyone, we’re sharing your rankings for each each hotel within Disney’s three hotel categories — Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. 

Value Resorts

1) Art of Animation

Coming in at number one for the Value Resorts, we have Disney’s newest Value Resort, Art of Animation. This Resort is recommended by 92% of our readers with a rating of 8.34. Many of you noted that this resort’s  theming was the key factor in giving it such a high rating. One reviewer states, “This is the most Disney resort in Disney! The art, sculptures, and theming all fit Disney and their corresponding movie themes.”

Art of Animation offers The Little Mermaid-themed standard rooms which are designed to accommodate four guests and range from $180-$330 a night. You’ll also find family suites themed to The Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo that range from $428 – $764 a night. Family Suites can accommodate six guests and include two separate bathrooms, a separate bedroom, a sofa bed, a Murphy bed, a mini kitchen, and two flat-screen TVs.

It’s also worth noting that this is a pet-friendly resort, so if you plan to bring your furry pal(s) along, Art of Animation is a solid option. 

2) Pop Century

Disney’s Pop Century Resort is a favorite for guests who love to step back in time, and with a rating of 7.83, this resort came in at number two!

Each section of Pop Century is themed to different decades from the second half of the 20th century — the 1950’s to the 1990’s.

Standard rooms range from $154 – $316 a night while preferred rooms range from $171 – $338.  Some of our readers feel that this resort is a great bang for your buck while others feel it is overpriced for the amenities offered. Keep in mind that this resort is connected to the Disney Skyliner and shares a station with Art of Animation, so transportation to and from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios from your top two resorts is a big plus!

3) All-Star Music

Coming in at number three, AllEars readers gave Disney’s All-Star Music Resort a cumulative rating of 7.68. This resort offers standard rooms ranging from $119 – $241 a night and preferred rooms from $137 – $266 a night. 

All-Star Music is the only All-Star also to feature family suites that can sleep up to six people. 

4) All-Star Movies

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort snagged the ranking of fourth place with a 7.61 rating and a recommendation from 91% of you!

Quite a few of our readers noted their love for the Toy Story rooms, the sections for which feature larger than life statues of the movies’ beloved characters.   

Standard rooms range from $119 – $241 a night while preferred rooms range from $137 – $266 a night.

5) All-Star Sports

Poor All-Star Sports. This resort is truly at the bottom of the Value Resort barrel. Rated at 7.06, 82% of readers still recommended this resort. If you have a sports enthusiast in your family he or she will marvel at the sight of the massive sports structures that are part of this resort!

Similar to the other two All-Star Resorts, All-Star Sports’ standard rooms range from $119 – $241 and preferred rooms range from $137 – $266.

1) Port Orleans — French Quarter

Earning the winning spot on our Moderate Resorts list is Port Orleans — French Quarter. A whopping 97 % of our readers recommend this resort! With the jazz music playing faintly in the background, Port Orleans — French Quarter is themed after the heart of New Orleans. 

Many of you noted your preference to this resort due to its smaller size. With just one bus stop and the fewest number of rooms in the Moderate category, French Quarter has a cozy feel. Room options include Standard, Garden View, River Water View, Pool View, and King Rooms with prices ranging from $246-$388 per night. This resort as well as its sister resort Port Orleans — Riverside offer a scenic boat ride down the Sassagoula River to Disney Springs, making it a great place to stay if you’re planning on frequently enjoying the shopping and dining district.

Be sure to try the Sassagoula Floatworks Food Factory (the food court) which has tons of New-Orleans inspired dishes to try. 

2) Fort Wilderness Cabins 

Taking the number two slot and sprawling across 700 acres, Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground offers the Cabins at Fort Wilderness. The Cabins are recommended by 96 % of our readers with a rating of 8.68.

One reader noted “this is probably one of the most private places you can stay in Disney World… There are trees all around which give it a woodsy-secluded feel.” All cabins have a full kitchen and sleep up to six adults. Don’t forget to grab some delicious barbeque at Trail’s End Restaurant or to catch the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.Prices for the cabins range $324-$454 and to reserve a campsite is $53 to $164 per night depending on the type of site you need. 

3) Port Orleans — Riverside

Port Orleans — Riverside is number three in the Moderate category, and it’s not surprising that French Quarter’s sister would be highly rated as well. Riverside is designed to transport guests to bayou! 

Ninety-one percent of readers recommended this spacious resort and gave it a rating of 8.48. One of our readers noted “this resort is my family’s favorite by far. We LOVE the theming and ambiance everywhere throughout. After staying here four times we couldn’t imagine choosing another resort on property if this one is open. The rooms are always amazing and the fact that there are multiple bus stops makes every part of the resort easily accessible.” Guest rooms can sleep four in most rooms and some feature a child size murphy bed called a “5th Sleeper”. Guests can upgrade to a specially themed “Royal Guest Room” with princess touches, too.

Room prices range from $246- $434 for regularly themed rooms and $304-$471 depending on the time of year and view for the “Royal Guest Rooms”. Like the French Quarter, this resort features Standard, Garden, Pool, and Riverview rooms, all at different price points. 

Bonus: Guests at either Port Orleans Resort can use the amenities of the sister resort. More pools! More dining! More fun!

4) Coronado Springs Resort

Fourth on our list is Coronado Springs Resort. This resort is now home to gorgeous Gran Destino Tower which opened in 2019 and features thoughtful decor inspired by the renowned artist Salvador Dali. 

The original part of the resort, which also underwent a lengthy refurbishment in recent years, is themed around the American Southwest and Northern Mexico. There are several room options that sleep from 4-8 adults (Gran Destino offers several sizes of suites), and prices here range from $198-$343 for a traditional, standard room with Standard, Water, and Preferred “views”.

Suites begin at $429 per night and go all the way up to $1,323 per night depending on the time of year. Because this resort also has convention center space, there are 11 total spots for guests to grab a bite to eat from casual lakeside dining at Three Bridges Bar & Grill to the more elegant Toledo — Tapas, Steak, & Seafood at the top of the Tower. And Coronado Springs offers Deluxe-level amenities like a spa and fitness centers, too. 

5) Caribbean Beach Resort

In last place for the Moderate, this final option is still recommended by 82% of our readers, so it’s not a total dud! Themed after — you guessed it — the islands of the Caribbean, Caribbean Beach has lots to offer.

With a rating of 7.45, the resort recently completed extensive refurbishments that freshened things up with a palette of tropical colors throughout as well as a classy, beachy feel. And Caribbean Beach Resort is the hub of the Skyliner, putting guests a short ride away from everything on the system’s three lines. 

Room rates range from $230- to $352 for Standard, including the 5th Sleeper option, from $262-$376 per night for a Water or Pool View, $316-$421 for a Preferred room, and $315-$439 for a super fun Pirate-themed room!

1) Wilderness Lodge

Though it was close, Wilderness Lodge wins the gold star for being the BEST of the Deluxe Resorts according to you! Wilderness Lodge features rustic-but-elegant rooms that can sleep up to five guests (some even have bunk beds!), and the DVC side of the resort is home to cozy Villas and Cabins.

Of all the Deluxe Resorts, Wilderness Lodge was the most highly-rated with 97% of our readers giving it a thumbs up. The titular Lodge embodies the majesty of the Pacific Northwest and was ranked as the AllEars team’s second favorite lobby. When you see it, you’ll know why. 

Readers note “the peacefulness of the resort is probably the best part. The lobby is much quieter than the other deluxe resorts as well.” Wilderness Lodge room pricing begins $369 per night all the way up to $1,355 per night for a Club-Level room. But for lots of guests, being a stone’s throw away from Magic Kingdom and immersed in the truly stunning resort atmosphere is worth the price.

2) Contemporary Resort 

Next up is Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This is a classic Disney resort, complete with the Monorail track running right through the middle of the resort’s iconic A-frame! You rated this resort at 9.05, and 93% of AllEars readers would totally recommend!

Fun fact is that the Contemporary was one of the resorts that was welcoming guests on opening day in 1971! Whether it’s the nostalgia of years of visits with loved ones, the fact that you can walk to the Magic Kingdom, see the nightly fireworks (when they return!) from many of the rooms, dine with Mickey at arguably the most iconic Disney restaurant, Chef Mickey’s, or just the chic updates both the main resort and the DVC side (Bay Lake Tower) have undergone that brings guests back again and again! Something else that one of you thought was important to share was “There are a large number of activities to partake in such as boating, walking trails, and the electric water pageant which was a wonderful surprise for us!” We too are thrilled the pageant has returned.

You should also know that 98% of folks would definitely recommend Bay Lake Tower if staying close to the Magic Kingdom with the full amenities of home are what is most important to you! There are a lot of different room options here, ranging from a Standard View room and a whole lot of amazing family suite options. Prices begin at $454 a night and right now there are deluxe suite rooms that are $4,067 per night during peak times! Bay Lake Tower prices range from  $591 – $1202 for a Studio room, $861- $1554 for a One Bedroom Villa, and $1126 – $2649 for a Two Bedroom Villa.

3) Polynesian Village Resort 

At number three, 90% of our guests would recommend Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Here you’ll cast off to a Polynesian oasis, indulge in a Dole Whip or two, and enjoy Polynesian-inspired decor and atmosphere!

One reader asserts, “The Polynesian Resort is the only hotel that my family have ever stayed in. We wouldn’t stay anywhere else!” We feel you, Poly fans! Whether you’re digging into some ‘Ohana Bread Pudding, learning some hula moves, or sailing down the Volcano Pool slide, the Polynesian Village Resort is a great place to lay your head.

4) Yacht Club Resort

At number four, Disney’s Yacht Club has a rating of 8.51 and 88% of readers recommending it. Access to the shared Stormalong Bay, excellent proximity to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and sophisticated style are big reasons folks like this resort.

In 2019 Yacht Club concluded interior renovations to all of the guest rooms and its Conference Center. Every room now features marble work in the showers and nautical themed touches. At the end of 2020, the lobby also received a facelift, removing some of the darker interior colors, making it feel more open. 

For all the positives, a reader says “there is one flaw to this hotel, the layout. You can feel so isolated and not in a good way.” If you are looking for a quieter stay, with beautifully re-finished, sophisticated rooms, and close proximity to EPCOT, Yacht Club may be for you! 

5) Animal Kingdom Lodge

Checking in at number five in this extremely close race is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge — Jambo House which 96% of All Ears readers recommend! With a rating of 8.39, Jambo House is arguably the most unique and truly immersive resort on property.

Animal Kingdom Lodge embodies the spirit of African style, artistry, materials, and environment — including a savanna populated by African animals. Sample African-inspired cuisine at one of the four restaurants on site, or visit with a cultural ambassador who can share his or her native country. With rooms that look directly out onto the savanna and multiple communal observation areas, you can’t miss the animals here.

Though the resort is a stunning work of art and deservedly popular, one of the biggest drawbacks is that it is a bit far away from most of the parks. Also, unlike most other Deluxe Resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge only offers bus transportation around Walt Disney World. For Jambo House rooms, prices range from $417-$1051 per night ranging from Standard all the way to to Club Level rooms. The Villas range from $431-$3543 between Studios, 1 Bedrooms, and 2 Bedrooms.

6) BoardWalk Inn & Villas

Your number six pick is Boardwalk Inn & Villas! Take a step back in time to the twinkling lights, carnival games, and streetmosphere entertainers of Coney Island and other seaside resorts from the turn-of the century when you stay here.

With 94% of our readers recommending the BoardWalk and a rating of 8.37, this is yet another immersive experience for guests. One of five resorts situated on Crescent Lake, BoardWalk Inn and Villas (the Villas are the DVC section of the resort) are mere steps away from EPCOT’s International Gateway and its Skyliner station. Enjoy a delicious meal at one of the beautiful restaurants found right outside your door, or take a dip in the newly rethemed Luna Park Pool.

That’s right folks! The giant clown head has officially been replaced with colorful images of Mickey and Minnie.  Rooms prices begin at $491 per night for a Standard room and go all the way up to $1,464 for a Club Level, Concierge room. 

7) Grand Floridian Resort & Spa 

All right, at number seven, Disney’s flagship resort has been welcoming guests for decades — and what a welcome this elegant resort offers! 

A full 88% of our readers recommend staying here and rate the Grand Floridian at 8.44. Guests can play in the Alice & Wonderland themed-splash pad area, indulge in “high tea” at the Garden View Lounge, or enjoy the electric water pageant from the sandy beach. Disney’s Grand Floridian is also home to Disney’s most expensive restaurant, Victoria & Albert’s, as well as a handful of other elegant, Signature and Table Service dining locations. This is a Monorail resort, and guests can now walk to the Magic Kingdom via the brand new walkway!

The biggest drawback some of you mentioned was simply the price-tag for the room and overall resort condition. 

8) Beach Club Resort 

Sliding in at number eight is Disney’s Beach Club Resort with a rating of 8.29 and recommended by 91% of reviewers. This resort and its sister resort, Disney’s Yacht Club, are themed after the iconic seaside resorts of the northeast.

The Beach Club is sure to win over anyone who loves to put their feet in the sand, including taking a dip in the spectacular three-acre mini-water park pool area, Stormalong Bay. With touches of seashells and soft pastel colors used throughout the resort,  a full on clambake offered every night, and delicious over the top milkshakes served at the beloved Beaches ‘n’ Cream, this place will truly bring out the beach-lover in anyone.

You can choose from the traditional Deluxe style rooms which sleep up to five adults, or settle into one of the three DVC room offerings, Studio, 1 Bedroom, and 2 Bedroom Villas. As Pro-Tip, a bunch of our reviewers mentioned that the Beach Club is their #1 pick because distance-wise it is the close to EPCOT’s International Gateway, and now that means you’re also just as close to the Skyliner!

Looking For More Info On Resorts? Check This Out!

Join the AllEars.net Newsletter to stay on top of ALL the breaking Disney News! You’ll also get access to AllEars tips, reviews, trivia, and MORE! Click here to Subscribe!

Did this help you with planning your next resort stay? Let us know in the comments!

Comments (3)

At AWS re:Invent 2019 and in a subsequent blog post, Stephen Schmidt, Chief Information Security Officer for Amazon Web Services (AWS), laid out the top 10 security items that AWS customers should pay special attention to if they want to improve their security posture. High on the list is the need to manage your network security and virtual private cloud (VPC) security groups. In this blog post, we’ll look at how you can use AWS Firewall Manager to address item number 4 on Stephen’s list: “Limit Security Groups.”

One fundamental security measure is to restrict network access to a server or service when connecting it to a network. In an on-premises scenario, you would use a firewall or similar technology to restrict network access to only approved IPs, ports, and protocols. When you migrate existing workloads or launch new workloads in AWS, the same basic security measures should be applied. Security groups, network access control lists, and AWS Network Firewall provide network security functionality in AWS. In this post, we’ll summarize the main use cases for managing security groups with Firewall Manager, and then we’ll take a step-by-step look at how you can configure Firewall Manager to manage protection of high-risk applications, such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and Secure Shell (SSH).

What are security groups?

Security groups are a powerful tool provided by AWS for use in enforcing network security and access control to your AWS resources and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) instances. Security groups provide stateful Layer 3/Layer 4 filtering for EC2 interfaces.

There are some things you need to know about configuring security groups:

• A security group with no inbound rules denies all inbound traffic.
• You need to create rules in order to allow traffic to flow.
• You cannot create an explicit deny rule with a security group.
• There are separate inbound and outbound rules for each security group.
• Security groups are assigned to an EC2 instance, similar to a host-based firewall, and not to the subnet or VPC, and you can assign up to five security groups to each instance.
• Security groups can be built by referencing IP addresses, subnets, or by referencing another security group.
• Security groups can be reused across different instances. This means that you don’t have to create long complex rulesets when dealing with multiple subnets.

Best practices for security groups

AWS recommends that you follow these best practices when you work with security groups.

Remove unused or unattached security groups
Large numbers of unused or unattached security groups create confusion and invite misconfiguration. Remove any unused security groups. (PCI.EC2.3)

Limit modification to authorized roles only
AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles with access can modify security groups. Limit the number of roles that have authorization to change security groups. (PCI DSS 7.2.1)

Monitor the creation or deletion of security groups
This best practice works hand in hand with the first two; you should always monitor for the attempted creation, modification, and deletion of security groups. (CIS AWS Foundations 3.10)

Don’t ignore the outbound or egress rules
Limit outbound access to only the subnets that are required. For example, in a three-tier web application, the app layer likely shouldn’t have unrestricted access to the internet, so configure the security group to allow access to only those hosts or subnets needed for correct functioning of the application. (PCI DSS 1.3.4)

Limit the ingress or inbound port ranges that are accessible
Limit the ports that are open in a security group to only those that are necessary for the application to function correctly. With large port ranges open, you may be exposed to any vulnerabilities or unintended access to services. This is especially important with high-risk applications. (CIS AWS Foundations 4.1, 4.2) (PCI DSS 1.2.1, 1.3.2)

Maintaining these best practices manually can be a challenge in large-scale AWS environments, or where developers and application owners might be deploying new applications often. Organizations can address this challenge by providing centrally configured guardrails. At AWS, we view security as an enabler to development velocity, making it possible for developers to move applications into production very quickly, but with the correct safeguards in place automatically.

Manage security groups with Firewall Manager

Firewall Manager is a security management service that you can use to centrally configure and manage firewall rules across your accounts and applications in AWS Organizations. As new applications are created, Firewall Manager makes it easier to bring them into compliance by enforcing a common set of baseline security rules and ensuring that overly permissive rules generate compliance findings or are automatically removed. With Firewall Manager, you have a single service to build firewall rules, create security policies, and enforce rules and policies in a consistent, hierarchical way across your entire infrastructure. Learn more about the Firewall Manager prerequisites.

The security group capabilities of Firewall Manager fall into three broad categories:

• Create and apply baseline security groups to AWS accounts and resources.
• Audit and clean up unused or redundant security groups.
• Audit and control security group rules to identify rules that are too permissive and high risk.

In the following sections, we’re going to show how you can use Firewall Manager to audit and limit security groups by identifying rules that are too permissive and expose high-risk applications to external threats.

Use Firewall Manager to help protect high-risk applications

In this example, we’ll show how customers can use Firewall Manager to improve their security posture by automatically limiting access to high-risk applications, such as RDP, SSH, and SMB, from anywhere on the internet. All too often, access to these applications is left open to the internet, where unauthorized parties can find them using automated scanning tools. It has become increasingly important for customers to work towards reducing their risk surface due to the decrease in technical difficulty these types of attacks require. In many cases, the overly permissive access begins as a temporary setting for testing, and then is inadvertently left open over the long term. With a simple-to-configure policy, Firewall Manager can find and even automatically fix this issue across all of your AWS accounts.

Let’s jump right into configuring Firewall Manager for this use case, where you’ll inventory where public IP addresses are allowed to access high-risk applications. Once you’ve evaluated all the occurrences, then you’ll automatically remediate them.

To use Firewall Manager to limit access to high-risk applications

1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console using the Firewall Manager administrator account, then navigate to Firewall Manager in the Console and choose Security policies.
2. Specify the correct AWS Region your policy should be deployed to, and then choose Create policy.
   

   Figure 1: Create Firewall Manager policy

3. Under Policy type, choose Security group. Under Security group policy type, choose Auditing and enforcement of security group rules. Then confirm the Region is correct and choose Next.
   

   Figure 2: Firewall Manager policy type and Region

4. Enter a policy name. Under Policy options, choose Configure managed audit policy rules. Under Policy rules, choose Inbound Rules, and then turn on the Audit high risk applications action.
   

   Figure 3: Firewall Manager managed audit policy

5. Next, choose Applications that can only access local CIDR ranges, and then choose Add application list.As you can see from Figure 4 below, what this setting does is look for resources that allow non-RFC1918 private address ranges (publically routable internet IP addresses) to connect to them. By listing these applications, you can focus on your highest risk scenarios (accessibility to these high-risk applications from the internet) first. As an information security practitioner, you always want to maximize your limited time and focus on the highest risk items first. Firewall Manager makes this easier to do at scale across all AWS resources.
   

   Figure 4: Firewall Manager audit high risk applications setting

6. Under Add application list, choose Add an existing list. Then select FMS-Default-Public-Access-Apps-Denied, and choose Add application list. The default managed list includes SSH, RDP, NFS, SMB, and NetBIOS, but you can also create your own custom application lists in Firewall Manager.
   

   Figure 5: Firewall Manager list of applications denied public access

7. Under Policy action, choose Identify resources that don’t comply with the policy rules, but don’t auto remediate, and then choose Next.This is where you can choose whether to have Firewall Manager provide alerts only, or to alert and automatically remove the specific risky security group rules. We recommend that customers start this process by only identifying noncompliant resources so that they can understand the full impact of eventually setting the auto remediation policy action.
   

   Figure 6: Firewall Manager policy action

8. Under AWS accounts this policy applies to, choose Include all accounts under my AWS organization. Under Resource type, select all of the resource types. Under Resources, choose Include all resources that match the selected resource type to define the scope of this policy (what the policy will apply to), and then choose Next.This scope will give you a broad view of all resources that have high-risk applications exposed to the internet, but if you wanted, you could be much more targeted with how you apply your security policies using the other available scope options here. For now, let’s keep the scope broad so you can get a comprehensive view of your risk surface.
   

   Figure 7: Firewall Manager policy scope

9. If you choose to, you can apply a tag to this specific Firewall Manager security policy for tracking and documentation purposes. Then choose Next.
   

   Figure 8: Firewall Manager policy tags

10. The final page gives an overview of all the configuration settings so you can review and verify the correct configuration. Once you’re done reviewing the policy, choose Create policy to deploy this policy.
    

    Figure 9: Review and create policy in Firewall Manager

Now that you’ve created your Firewall Manager policy, you need to wait five minutes for Firewall Manager to inventory all of your AWS accounts and resources as it looks for noncompliant high-risk applications exposed to the internet.

Review policy findings to understand the risk surface

There are two main ways to review details about resources that are noncompliant with the Firewall Manager security policy you created: you can use Firewall Manager itself, or you can also use AWS Security Hub, since Firewall Manager sends all findings to Security Hub by default. Security Hub is a central location you can use to view findings from many security tools, including both native AWS security tools and third-party security tools. Security Hub can help you further focus your time in the highest value areas by, for example, showing you which resources have the largest number of security findings associated with them, and therefore represent a higher risk that should be addressed first. We won’t cover Security Hub here, but it’s helpful to know that Firewall Manager integrates with Security Hub.

Now that you’ve configured your Firewall Manager security policy and it has had time to inventory your environment to help identify noncompliant resources, you can review what Firewall Manager has found by viewing the Firewall Manager security policy.

To review policy findings on the Security policies page in the Firewall Manager console, you can see an overview of the policy you just created. You can see that the policy isn’t set to auto remediate yet, and that there are seven accounts that have noncompliant resources in them.

To view the specific details of each noncompliant resource, choose the name of your security policy. A list of accounts with noncompliant resources will be displayed.

Choose an account number to get more details about that account. Now you can see a list of noncompliant resources.

To get further details regarding why a resource is noncompliant, choose the Resource ID. This will show you the specific noncompliant security group rule.

Here you can see that this security group resource violates the Firewall Manager security policy that you created because it allows a source of 0.0.0.0/0 (any) to access TCP/3389 (RDP).

The recommended action is to remove this noncompliant rule from the security group. You can choose to do that manually. Or, alternatively, once you’ve reviewed all the findings and have a good understanding of all of the noncompliant resources, you can simply edit your existing “Protect high risk applications from the Internet” Firewall Manager security policy and set the policy action to Auto remediate non-compliant resources. This causes Firewall Manager to attempt to force compliance across all these resources automatically using its service-linked role. This level of automation can help security teams make sure that their organization’s resources aren’t being accidentally exposed to high-risk scenarios.

Use Firewall Manager to address other security group use cases

Firewall Manager has many other security group–related capabilities that I didn’t cover here. You can learn more about those here. This post was focused on helping customers start today to address high-risk scenarios that they may inadvertently have in their AWS environment. Firewall Manager can help you get continuous visibility into these scenarios, as well as automatically remediate them, even if these scenarios occur in the future. Here’s a quick overview of other use cases Firewall Manager can help you with. Keep in mind that these rules can be set to alert you only, or alert and auto remediate:

• Deploy pre-approved security groups to AWS accounts and automatically associate them with resources
• Deny the use of “ALL” protocol in security group rules, instead requiring that a specific protocol be selected
• Deny the use of port ranges greater than n in security group rules
• Deny the use of Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) ranges less than n in security group rules
• Specify a list of applications that can be accessible from anywhere across the internet (and deny access to all other applications)
• Identify security groups that are unused for n number of days
• Identify redundant security groups

Firewall Manager has received many significant feature enhancements over the last year, but we’re not done yet. We have a robust roadmap of features we’re actively working on that will continue to make it easier for AWS customers to achieve security compliance of their resources.

Conclusion

In this post, we explored how Firewall Manager can help you more easily manage the VPC security groups in your AWS environments from a single central tool. Specifically, we showed how Firewall Manager can assist in implementing Stephen Schmidt’s best practice #4, “Limit Security Groups.” We focused on exactly how you can configure Firewall Manager to evaluate and get visibility into your external-facing risk surface of high-risk applications such as SSH, RDP, and SMB, and how you can use Firewall Manager to automatically remediate out-of-compliance security groups. We also summarized the other security group–related capabilities of Firewall Manager so that you can see there are many more use cases you can address with Firewall Manager. We encourage you to start using Firewall Manager today to protect your applications.

To learn more, see these AWS Security Blog posts on Firewall Manager.

If you have feedback about this post, submit comments in the Comments section below.

Want more AWS Security how-to content, news, and feature announcements? Follow us on Twitter.