Vodice emerged in the 1960s as a purpose-built resort on a stretch of Dalmatian coast previously occupied by olive groves and a single stone pier. The harbour, dredged to accommodate fishing trawlers and tourist vessels, now anchors a fleet of excursion boats that depart daily for the Kornati archipelago, Krka river estuary, and the scattered islets of the Šibenik offshore zone. Unlike Split or Zadar, which evolved over centuries as trading hubs, Vodice was designed from inception as a gateway — its waterfront promenade, marina berths, and boarding pontoons calibrated for visitor throughput rather than naval commerce. The town's position between two national parks — Krka 18 kilometres inland and Kornati 25 nautical miles southwest — made Vodice boat tours a logical pivot for operators seeking mid-range cruising distances. The Kornati cluster, comprising 89 islands across 320 square kilometres, remains largely uninhabited; its cliffs drop vertically into channels where Posidonia meadows shelter grouper and octopus. Telašćica Bay, on Dugi Otok's southern tip, offers a saltwater lake separated from the Adriatic by a 160-metre limestone wall. Operators typically combine three to four islands per itinerary, threading through karst formations that expose 100 million years of sedimentary layering. Krka excursions follow a different template. Boats navigate the river's lower canyon, where travertine barriers create a staircase of pools culminating in Skradinski Buk, a 17-tiered cascade. The route passes beneath medieval fortifications at Skradin, a Venetian outpost that once controlled salt shipments upriver. Visitors disembark at wooden walkways built over the rapids; swimming zones are roped off to protect endemic algae beds. Sunset departures exploit the archipelago's western exposure. Speedboat operators favour the Blue Lagoon on Drvenik Veli, a shallow basin enclosed by three islands where the seabed reflects cyan light through four metres of water. Wine service typically occurs at anchor, timed to the 19:30 dip in summer months. The Šibenik Archipelago tour threads a tighter route — Prvić, Zlarin, Tijat, and Kaprije within a 12-mile radius — targeting bays where Aleppo pines descend to shingle beaches. Vodice's commercial mooring capacity expanded in 2014 when the ACI marina added 400 berths, absorbing overflow from Šibenik and enabling larger catamarans to base here. The waterfront retains a functional, low-rise profile; no landmark towers or historic quarter compete for attention. The harbour is the product, not the setting.