What is America's Great Loop? || Loop Life Academy

Our family had a crazy idea for an adventure that involved leaving our home and moving onto a boat to explore the eastern United States. This video introduces our adventure, the route we've been on, and a few highlights about America's Great Loop.
Thanks for watching!
Your Trusted Guide to get you and your family out on America’s Great Loop with confidence and purpose,
Alison
Founder, Loop Life Academy
#americasgreatloop #boatlife #familyboatlife
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ABOUT US
Hello! I founded Loop Life Academy to empower other families like mine to explore America’s Great Loop with confidence and purpose.
My family and I started our Great Loop Adventure in May 2023 in our sailboat, Fika. My husband, Chris, and I co-caption the boat, and our two elementary-aged kids are solid crew members.
Thanks for being part of our adventure!
Alison
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AMERICA'S GREAT LOOP CRUISERS ASSOCIATION
www.greatloop.org
🚤 Join the AGLCA for community and information during your Great Loop Adventure.

[@Brauma54]

This is the best, most well documented video on the Great Loop ever.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@christinamclarty2764]

Your video series will inspire so many others! Well done!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Thank you!

[@FirstnameLastname-ps4cu]

I didn't know about America's Great Loop, thanks.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Thanks for watching!

[@SSully1976]

My Dream..

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

I hope you can turn your dream into a plan and go out and do it someday! Let me know if I can help or if you have any questions about making it happen.

[@marklivingston7324]

People come through my town all the time going through the Great Loop. Always kinda wished I could do it. Everyone always talks about it, and how to do it. But no one ever talks about the finances involved, or how you make a living while doing this (unless you work remotely). I've just always thought this is a dream for rich people and not the average joe. I know that if I attempted to take a year off work, they'd fire my butt. Not to mention I couldn't afford to live for a year without working. Cool dream though, just wish I was on one of those boats I see pass through our marina. Great vid, thumbs up and Subed!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Thanks, glad you liked it! Many people wait until they retire so they do not have to worry about their work situation. For some folks, the financial burden is easier to swallow because of their situation or ability to work remotely. For others, bigger sacrifices need to be made if they want to jump into Looping earlier in life, and they may choose to make it happen on a strict budget (I've seen a few folks share their experience with this). Some creative solutions exist, depending on each person's situation. 📓 Our main course (www.looplifeacademy.com/great-loop-adventure-planning-for-working-families) does touch on practical considerations like budgeting and financial planning as part of the steps to help your family get out on the Loop. 📰 You can also sign up for our weekly newsletter (www.looplifeacademy.com/newsletter) if you'd like to receive updates and tips and be among the first to know about new courses and materials as they are released. ✅ Otherwise, keep watching this channel, and I hope you can continue to learn and dream until you find a plan that works for you! I'm happy to answer questions if I can. Some channels you might find some more info on: ➡ Check out www.youtube.com/@WaywardTravelers for a couple who Looped for "free." ➡ Also, check out Scho & Jo - they regularly shared their monthly budgets. www.youtube.com/@SchoandJo I hope you can make the dream a reality someday!

[@KlingonCaptain]

It sounds like the water version of the TransAmerica Trail, a big motorcycle loop from the east coast to the west coast that only goes on country and rural roads (mostly dirt). Now I want to do both!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

That sounds like an awesome adventure! My parents took a motorcycle trip along the historical Route 66 a couple of times. I consider the Great Loop to be kind of like Route 66, but for boats; we see so many small, historical little towns. The TransAmerican Trail sounds awesome!

[@brucegarrison4999]

Looks like a great adventure

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Thanks! We've been having a lot of fun and faced challenges together, and recommend it as an adventure for a lot of people, including families!

[@tedtimmis8135]

Wow! Very interesting. I look forward to more of your videos.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Thank you! More to come!

[@eranmaron909]

Amazing!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Yes, it’s quite the adventure!

[@philpratt81]

I've been interested in the Great Loop for years... can't wait to learn more and make a plan. I'm downloading your checklist now!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Wahoo! Let us know if we can help you in any way. :)

[@tgdomnemo5052]

Very nice, great info 👍🏼 Thank you 🖖🏽

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

My pleasure! I'm glad it was helpful.

[@DannyScheid]

Very informative, thanks!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mr.bill.8236]

Hey, I work in South Haven. I used to live in St Joe and I had grandparents that lived in Sausagetuck.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Hello, fellow Michigander! Those are all great "coastal" towns in Lake Michigan that we love! Saugatuck was a nice day sail for us from our home port in Holland before we left on the Loop.

[@TaylanYalniz]

Great video 👏⛵️

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Thank you!

[@heatherluttrell9949]

This is fantastic, what a trip for your family to experience. Your video is a great introduction to the Great American Loop!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Thank you!

[@deepkeke]

Nice ! I'd love to see more !

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

We hope to start pushing out weekly videos about different stops along the way! We’d love to hear what you are most interested in seeing in our videos, too!

[@knglenny]

Amazing! Can't wait to learn more about how to take on the Great Loop.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

More to come!

[@surfmore]

This is really cool, I’m looking forward to next episodes 👍

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

@@surfmore more coming soon!

[@scottdoran6347]

Were Looping in 2027, currently in Thailand sailing our way slowly back to the east coast

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

That’s awesome! Thailand sounds like a really neat place to sail.

[@suzannadannaTARDIS]

What a cool adventure! I've lived up and down the East Coast, but never heard of America's Great Loop before!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

It is a really neat way to explore a lot of areas and gain a different perspective than you would by car. We've found that by boat, we find these small towns and interesting areas that you might never come across by car unless you were intentionally going there. It's been a great adventure and learning experience!

[@stephenhamstra357]

Awesome information! Well done!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Thank you!

[@marciadeur]

Great video, Alison!!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Glad you liked it!!

[@user-dn7po4zh1f]

Very informative!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jamesdeffenbaugh5166]

Actually, this is the first time seeing your channel on my recommendations, and never heard of it. Been looking at European canal life, wondering why we don't have any?

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

That's how I stumbled across the Great Loop a few years ago! I had watched some videos of a couple transiting canals in France and I fell in love with watching videos about narrowboats in Europe. I wondered about what was available in North America and first found the canals in Canada, and then somehow that led me to finding out about America's Great Loop! A few years later, I had my family convinced, and we moved onboard our boat, SV Fika, and started our own Great Loop Adventure.

[@sweisbrod6109]

There are lots of people living on and cruising the waterways of the US and Canada. My wife and i have been doing it for 22 years. We're currently on the Tenn-Tom Waterway in Alabama. You don't see many traditional "narrow-boaters" like in Europe because the waterways of North America are newer and are designed to support maritime commerce.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

@@sweisbrod6109, that makes a lot of sense! The only place we saw traditional narrow boats was the Erie Canal. If someone wants a sample of cruising (or narrowboating), they could rent one of these vessels and cruise for a week along the Erie Canal. It looked like a fun way to explore if you don't have a boat yourself!

[@tooltime66]

It looks like you are from maybe Holland area. That’s where we will be starting from. Nice video with lots of good information. Thanks for sharing.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

You're right! Our home port is in Holland, MI. When do you hope to start your Great Loop adventure?

[@karelvandervelden8819]

@@LoopLifeAcademy In 1991 we visited Holland MI as part of our loop but we started from Holland Europe. After 1 year Carribean we were tiped to do this since our red boat (Briny Maid) was 28 feet but mighty. Sweet memories. Ciao.

[@karelvandervelden8819]

@@LoopLifeAcademy Now its your turn to sail from Holland to Holland. (I read below that your ancestors were from Nederland)

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Yes, that would be an awesome trip! I was able to visit the Netherlands when I was in high school, and would love to take my family back now that we've grown a love for the water.

[@rodos2001]

What a fun trip and idea. Do people need crew for different legs? I’d love to sign on. Maybe contact the association?

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Your best option would be to join the public Great Loop Facebook groups and check around!

[@robertfulton9852]

I’m planning on building a pontoon houseboat and the loop looks interesting ! Where can I pick up one of those flags ?

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Those burgees are from the AGLCA and you can find them in their shop! www.greatloop.org/shop.html

[@adamfrbs9259]

Well that 1-up's my Mississippi River up and back year after year plan. Idk this route even existed.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Have you cruised the Mississippi River up and back yet, or is that a future plan for you? The Loop could be a fantastic adventure to try if you were already planning on cruising the river. There are some folks who start the Loop and just keep going, year after year. There's one boat that I know of (I think it's named MV Manatee) that has been around the Loop over 30 times!

[@adamfrbs9259]

@LoopLifeAcademy just a pipe dream, my plan is a little different and no one has ever done it the way I'd like to.

[@achimotashrek762]

Interesting. Might try this great loop one of these days. Is there an advantage going clockwise or anti-clockwise? I guess the slowest part of the loop would be the "locks" section between Albany and Rochester?

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

The primary advantage for anti-clockwise is that you are then flowing down river when you go through the river system. Otherwise you’d need to work against the current from Mobile, AL to Chicago, IL.

[@motorv8N]

Terrific overview- thank you! Would love to do part or all of it someday. Couple questions: - being from the Toronto area we’re familiar with the Trent Severn Waterway. I’ve seen some Loopers cover this. Is it a side trip or a main route? - is counterclockwise the only way people travel? If you decided to head south down the east side, would “running against “ traffic cause problems? Thanks again!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

The Trent Severn Waterway is actually the more popular route. We ended up on the entire Erie Canal and didn't enter Canada because of various work commitments and obligations, but we hope to do the Trent Severn eventually! Most Loopers will divert halfway through the Erie Canal, up into the Oswego Canal, Kingston, Ontario, the Rideau Canal, and the Trent Severn. I'm unfamiliar with this route since we haven't taken it yet, but you can do it! Counterclockwise is the most common direction people travel, but it is not the only way. You can head south down the East Coast without worrying about "traffic directions." We've met plenty of other boaters heading south as we head north. Loopers aren't the only boaters out there, so you'll see people traveling in all directions as you move along. As long as you have enough power and gumption to go against the current heading up the river system from Mobile to Chicago and ensure your timing allows for facilities to be open so you can access fuel and pump-outs, you could do it the "wrong" way. I've seen a few Loopers mention they are going in the "wrong direction" online, so you could do a little searching and probably find some of these Loopers in the Facebook groups.

[@motorv8N]

⁠Thanks so much for the reply! I’ll keep researching and follow your channel.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Thank you for watching! Reach out if you have more questions, I’m happy to help.

[@captain.eddy333]

What a great adventure! I was wondering if you can do the loop without having to stay in the marinas? And are there courtesy docks and mooring areas available to anchor out?

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

It's definitely possible to do the Great Loop without relying solely on marinas. We often anchor out to enjoy the freedom and beauty of secluded spots and because the price is right (free!). However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Finding suitable anchorages can be challenging in some areas, but with proper planning, it's manageable. For example, there aren't many places to anchor along the Erie Canal, but many towns offer free walls where you can tie up your boat. When planning your route, consult your charts to identify anchorages along the way. Look for areas with free or low-cost mooring options and plan your passages accordingly. Keep an eye on weather conditions to ensure you can find sheltered anchorages during adverse weather.

[@karelvandervelden8819]

We did it in 1991. No marinas. At Little Current (North Channel) we tied up but they refused our payment.

[@rikardstenberg174]

Any Swedish family connection? Thinking of the name of your boat :)

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Not much, unfortunately, but we really liked the meaning behind the word. My husband has a tiny bit of Swede in him, but my heritage is all Dutch!

[@johngallagher912]

I heard of someone in a canoe do the loop but that person must have taken a modified route because it was necessary to portage (carry or drag the canoe over land bridges) the small canoe between waterways up to a mile. Are you aware of solo great loopers?

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

We met an expedition canoer in Lockport who was roughly following the Loop route as part of his larger goals. He canoes and camps everywhere he goes, and I believe he set up a teepee in northern Michigan to wait out the winter this past season before he continues south through Lake Michigan. A decent number of solo cruisers are doing the Loop, so it is definitely an option. There was a recent podcast on the AGLCA channel that you might want to check out: www.greatloop.org/resource/great-loop-radio-looping-solo-1.html.

[@BigDreamsBoating]

The wife and I would like to do a sailboat loop. Did you find you had enough time??? Stepping the mast is a ton of work was it worth it?

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

We are sailors and have really enjoyed having a sailboat on the Loop. Yes, there are times where we do a lot of motoring on rivers, but having the sails has been great for those perfect sailing days, or for when the water is a little rough and opening up some sails makes the ride more comfortable, not to mention the areas that have been fantastic to sail in. We stepped the mast twice in our Loop. The first time was in Catskill, NY before we entered the Erie Canal. For this portion, we kept our mast on deck. It was a bit cumbersome and in the way, but overall no issues. One of the neat parts of our journey was having the mast taken down in Catskill by a crane that was rumored to have been an original crane used in the construction of the Erie Canal. We stepped the mast back up in Buffalo and were grateful for our sails again in the Great Lakes. The second time we had to step the mast was in Chicago. This time we loaded our mast and boom onto a trailer that would be shipped down to Mobile, AL. It was much nicer traveling down the river system without the mast on deck. There were only one or two spots that we could have enjoyed some sailing in that portion, but overall, motoring was the way to go. We were very excited to put our mast back up in Mobile and get out sailing again. Overall, for our preferences and enjoyment, we have found it worth the little bit of extra effort (and cost) to deal with the mast on this journey. We love to sail, and having that option in the Great Lakes, in the Keys and to the Dry Tortugas, in the Bahamas, and now along the East Coast, has made it all worth it. There are sailors out there, but there are plenty of people who motor and love that option too. I think the two boat types tend to look for different weather windows (we like a bit of wind, trawlers want glassy waters), but everyone has a great time with what they have. Think about your own preferences and enjoyment as you weigh the options.

[@DracoSolon]

You spent almost no time on the Ohio river. A lot more time on the Tennessee.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Yes, we were running away from winter and needed to keep moving south! We didn’t have time to explore the Ohio River other than using it to get from the Mississippi to the Tenn-Tom.

[@liannanovitz1709]

Wowwwww. That's crazy. How did internet work?!?!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Great question! There are lots of options out there that work over cell signals, but we've been using the RV version of Starlink and had great success with it! When we're far away from land (like crossing to the Bahamas), we can easily turn on priority, paying a little extra, and maintain service even out in the ocean.

[@JohnAnderson-sq8lt]

There is another great loop! Do you know it?

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

America’s Great Loop is the one that I’m very familiar with. What’s the other loop you’re thinking of?

[@JohnAnderson-sq8lt]

Travel through Canada @@LoopLifeAcademy

[@northernlite3368]

To the human knowledge, we all have but this ONE life. You did more for your kids than you will ever realize. They learned a lot of ''stuff' that they would not have seen in middle or high school without the typical violence that kids live in that part of their life. U killed 2 birds with one stone lady' Congrats to U.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

We know that tomorrow is never promised and that really drove us to go now and not wait!

[@facubeitches1144]

Been interested in doing it for years, but not sure that it's something I could solo, so like as not, I'll never get the chance.

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

There are a decent number of solo sailors out there doing the Loop, so it might be more attainable than you think. There was a recent podcast on the AGLCA channel that you might want to check out: www.greatloop.org/resource/great-loop-radio-looping-solo-1.html

[@olgasaldarriaga6784]

Amazing!!!

[@LoopLifeAcademy]

Thank you! Cheers!