STOCKTON — During the Asparagus Festival, downtown Stockton’s signature event, folks with watercrafts can avoid the hassles of driving by docking along the Deep Water Channel.

There, they can anchor their boat on the north shore and have quick access to the Banner Island Ballpark, Stockton Arena, and University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, where two guest docks make up a combined 878 linear feet.

Along the south shore, boaters have restaurant and retail choices at the Waterfront Warehouse or access to the Asparagus Festival via the Joan Darrah Promenade along the 520 linear feet of dock.

With its inland seaport, Stockton provides unique opportunities for boaters along the Delta. After docking, visitors or even locals can stroll downtown, enjoy a good sit-down meal and, depending on the time of the year, catch hockey or a baseball game.

Cost for boaters to use the guest dock on the Stockton Marina – restrooms and showers are available – is $35 during the summer (May through October) and $30 in the winter (November through April).

In order to travel waterways means you have to find a boat launch. This area is bountiful in these choices.

Nearby Morelli Park at 828 W. Weber Ave. is one of three City of Stockton boat-launching facilities – the others are Buckley Cove and Louis Park – that can provide access to the Stockton Marina. All three are free to launch but no security is provided.

The University of the Pacific recently used the renovated Morelli Park to hold their “Deep Water Dash” competition.

The Delta is home to a variety of marinas and resorts. Included are the following:

• Herman & Helen’s Marina, 15135 W. Eight Mile Rd., Stockton. Among the amenities are berthing, launching, guest dock, electricity, overnight, restrooms, bait supplies groceries, café, fuel, and pump out. Call 209-951-4634 or log on to www.hemanandhelensmarina.com.

•  King Island Resort, 11530 W. Eighth Mile Rd., Stockton. Guest docks, berthing, launching, electricity, overnight, showers, Laundromat, supplies, grocery, propane, fuel and pump out. Call 209-951-2188 or log on to www.westrec.com.

•    Ladd’s Marina, 11530 Buckley Cove Way, Stockton. Berthing, guest docks, overnight, restrooms, showers, Laundromat, bait, groceries, supplies, and nearby boat launch.

•    Paradise Point, 8095 Rio Blanco Rd., Stockton. Boat launching, guest docks, berthing, electricity, overnight, restrooms, Laundromat, supplies, groceries, Breadfruit Tree Restaurant, fuel, and pump out. Call 209-952-1000 or log on to www.sevencrown.com/lakes/california_delta.

•    River Point Landing, 4950 Buckley Cove Way, Stockton. Boat launching, guest docks, berthing, electricity, overnight, restrooms, showers, fuel, dry storage and pump out. For more information, call 209-951-4144 or log on to www.riverpointlanding.com.

•    Tiki Lagun Resort, 12988 W. McDonald Rd., Stockton. Boat launching, guest docks, overnight, berthing, camping, restrooms, showers, Laundromat, bait, propane, fuel and pump out. Call 877-444-8454 or log on to www.tikimarina.com.

•    Turner Cut Resort, 12888 W. Neugerbaur, Stockton. Berthing, boat launching, guest docks, electricity, overnight, restrooms, showers, dry storage, camping, restaurant, and fuel. Call 209-465-4129.

•    Village West Marina, 6649 Embarcadero Dr., Stockton. Berthing, guest docks, electricity, overnight, showers, Laundromat, restaurants (Bob at the Marina, Garlic Brothers), propane, and fuel. Call 209-951-1551 or log on to www.villagewestmarina.com.

•    Windmill Cove, 7600 Windmill Cove Rd., Stockton. Berthing, boat launching, guest docks, electricity, overnight, camping, restrooms, showers, Laundromat, and restaurant.

•    Tower Park Marina, 14900 W. Highway 12, Lodi. Berthing, boat launching, guest docks, overnight, camping, restrooms, showers, Laundromat, supplies, groceries, restaurant, fuel, and pump out. Call 209-369-1041 or log on to www.towerparkresort.com.

•    Brennan Island State Recreational Area, 17645 Hwy 160, Rio Vista. Boat launching, restrooms, Wi-Fi, camping, pump out. Call 916-777-6671 or log on to www.parks.ca.gov.

•    Delta Marina Yacht Harbor, 100 Marina Dr., Rio Vista. Berthing, boat launching, guest docks, electricity, Wi-Fi, overnight, restrooms, showers, Laundromat, supplies, gift shop, restaurant, fuel, and pump out. Call 707-374-2315 or log on to www.deltamarina.com.

•    Eddo’s Harbor, 19530 Sherman Island E. Levee Rd., Rio Vista. Berthing, boat launching, guest docks, electricity, Wi-Fi, overnight, dry storage, restrooms, showers, Laundromat, bait, grocery, propane, fuel and pump out.

Additional information on boating on the Delta can be found online at www.deltaboating.com.