THE NORTH CHANNEL When traveling on a boat trip in the Great Lakes, there are many things you will want to consider. It will be important to map out the miles of your trip, choosing ports to dock at depending on how far you want to travel each day. You will also need to consider how many miles your boat can travel with a full load of fuel, and how often you will need to stop for more supplies. Once you have determined your range requirements, you can start plotting the ports you will be stopping at. My parents have travel for many summers through the Great Lakes. Throughout these trips, they have created a log of their favorite destinations and the amenities each port offers to ensure they have everything they need on their trip. Throughout this blog, I will highlight some of the best ports they have found and what makes them great for boaters. This first entry in my parents’ “must visit list” is the North Channel. One of my favorite places to start my boating vacation is Killarney, Ontario. It is located at the Eastern most point of the North Channel positioned between the Manitoulin Islands and Southern Ontario Provence. After a long day crossing Lake Huron from Grosse Pointe, Michigan to Tobermory to check in at Canadian customs and proceeding through the Georgian Bay, it is truly a wonderful site to behold. We always contact the Sportsman Inn and Marina for overnight (or two) dockage. The marina is full service, fuel, pump-outs, floating docks and repair service if necessary. The Inn has been newly restored and all the guest rooms have a view of the marina and narrows. There is a fully stocked wine cellar, well equipped fitness center, full service salon for First Mates that want a bit of pampering such as a massage or a mani/pedicure. We love the food served at the Inn. There is a lovely dining room with white linens and a gourmet menu, however if you want a more casual dining experience there is a bar with nightly entertainment. Killarney has a small General store that stocks all kinds of provisions, if you forget something. You can access the LCBO by zodiac( small rubber dinghy) to pick-up wine, beer, or liquor. A few other places of interest are an art gallery, the Killarney Mount Lodge, the lighthouse and Mr. Fish, a must outdoor very casual dining experience where whitefish is the only thing on the menu. I highly recommend visiting Killarney and the Sportsman Inn as your first or last stop, depending on which direction you come through the North Channel. One more added bonus is, Killarney is located very close to one of my favorite anchorages at Covered Portage.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 21:55:58 +0000
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