A charter yacht in Miami caught fire on Friday, Oct. 28.
Montpellier, France
Palmarosa is an intimate indie pop-rock music festival held over three days in Montpellier on the impressive Grammont Estate. Last year’s lineup featured Soulwax, Tom Odell, The Hives, and other household names.
The French Riviera is a heady mix of medieval history, laidback wood-clad beach clubs, ancient lore, jungle pine forests, and coasts with hidden islands where you can drop anchor to enjoy the vibrant tie-dye red and orange sunsets.
The largest and closest marina to Montpellier is IGY Sète, which offers berths for superyachts up to 180 meters (590 feet) with a maximum draft of 8 meters (26 feet), which you can reserve in advance. Stop over at the go-to chic yachting hotspots of Monaco, Cannes, St. Tropez, and Antibes.
Montpellier is the more authentic side of Southern France, drenched in history and characterized by Gothic architecture with conical towers and winding cobblestone paths. Visit Le Château de Flaugergues, an aristocratic ancient folly famed for its medicinal significance.
Palmarosa’s dates for 2025 have yet to be confirmed.
Chicago, Illinois
The biggest festival accessible by yacht and spread over 300 acres at Grant Park, Lollapalooza boasts seven stages to cater to various tastes, including alternative rock, punk rock, heavy metal, pop, hip hop, electronic, and soul. With a notoriously epic line-up, the hedonistic buzz of Lollapalooza is palpable.
Dock your yacht at 31st Street Harbor, which features a swimming pool and sun deck, a beach, a play park, and slips for larger boats. The Chicago Yacht Club, located on the city’s shoreline, boasts a 180-degree view of Lake Michigan.
For a formal dining experience, book into the Monroe Station helmed by Executive Chef Larry Asher, who curates the seasonal, locally sourced menu. Cruising along the river is a great way to soak up local architecture. For a skyline view, find a perch on the Rooftop at Nobu, a sprawling outdoor terrace with Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine.
Lollapalooza’s dates for 2025 have yet to be confirmed.
Lisbon, Portugal
Looking for something a bit different? By far the most innovative festival on our list, Sónar is an immersive cerebral festival that incorporates music, technology, dance, music, and art. Catch Gabber Eleganza’s high-energy tribute to Dutch gabber culture, “The Hakke Show” or tune in to electronic composer Max Cooper’s show “Lattice 3D/AV.”
Initially founded in Barcelona, Lisbon is one of the newer festival editions. The lineup for 2025 includes Underworld, Nina Kraviz, Richie Hawtin DEX EFX X0X, Anetha, Marcel Dettmann, KI/KI, and more.
Lisbon is an underrated maritime city and is perfectly set up for welcoming superyachts. The Marina Parque das Nações caters to superyachts (up to 200 feet) and has 400 berths.
Lisbon is a gastronomic hub, so much so that 45 restaurants are featured in Portugal’s Michelin Guide, most notably Cura in the legendary Four Seasons Hotel Ritz, led by Pedro Pena Bastos.
Sona is scheduled from April 11-13, 2025.
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