Hampton Roads on the James River is one of the busiest stretches of water in the world, with a ceaseless stream of naval and commercial shipping traffic. However, Norfolk itself has quiet and isolated bays and creeks, far away from the hurly-burly of the estuary. It is also at the northern extremity of the Intracoastal Waterway, the vital canal system that runs all the way up the East Coast from Florida, which allows yachts to transfer from the Gulf to Chesapeake Bay in complete safety. There are excellent beaches and golf courses nearby.