A recent question from son-in-law about my favorite cruising destinations got me wondering what the rest of the family would call their favorite cruising destinations. A phone call, an email, a text and a face-to-face gave me my answers.
Our kids have all been boating from pre-first birthday so they have plenty of experience to draw from and I was curious, out of all the beautiful, and fun places we have visited, what would be their top two?
Lily (started boating at two months old): First, Telegraph Harbour Marina on Thetis Island in British Columbia (BC), Canada and second, Jones Island, Washington. She hesitated about two seconds when I asked the question.
Sadie (started boating at eight months old): First, Telegraph Harbour and second Ganges Marina on Saltspring Island in BC, Canada.
Seth (started boating at eight months old): First, Telegraph Harbour Marina and second the entire region of the Broughton Islands in BC, Canada.
Julie (started boating at 22, still wondering what she signed up for) First, Princess Louisa Inlet (commonly known by the falls at the end-Chatterbox Falls) in BC, Canada and Prybus Cove, Alaska.
Todd: (started boating too early to remember): First, Princess Louisa Inlet BC. Second, Butedale BC. Third, Conover Cove on Wallace Island BC. I get to have three since I am writing this and really couldn’t decide between two and three.
We wandered into Telegraph Harbor Marina by accident our first season of cruising on Jonta. We originally were planning on staying at the “other marina” in the harbor but we ran into some folks a couple days before who advised us the Telegraph Harbor Marina was the “kid friendly” place. We really didn’t know what to expect, but we were not disappointed. After tying up, we walked up to the small store to discover a 50’s era bar and stools with coffee from a local roaster and homemade pie. I had just officially entered boating heaven. The large lawn had shuffle board, swing sets, volleyball, horseshoes and a decent little beach for swimming if you were so inclined. Our first visit was in 2003 and I do not believe we missed a year until the border closed in 2020. The marina has changed hands a couple of times since we started visiting; the current owners are wonderful and the pie and coffee is still the best in the islands…in my opinion.
Jones Island is located roughly in the middle of the San Juan Islands and the entire island is a state park. There are mooring bouys on the south side and a small dock and mooring bouys in the cove on the north. This was a frequent place for us to meet other family members and the kids, and their cousins had a great time jumping from the pier and climbing among the trees. Each evening, we would walk over to the west side of the island and watch the sun set over Vancouver Island. Absolutely stunning every time.
Ganges Harbour (and Ganges Village) on Saltspring Island is one of the larger destinations in the Gulf Islands. We have always stayed at the Ganges Marina, but there are a couple other marinas as well as the option to anchor. Ganges Village is home to most of the businesses on Saltspring as well as home to an excellent farmers market on Saturday mornings. If you have been anchoring out for a bit, this is a “big town” option for a change of pace.
Princess Louisa Inlet (Chatterbox Falls) on the Sunshine Coast of BC. Much has been written about this destination referred to as the “Holy Grail” of cruising destinations and once you visit you will understand. We always leave early in the morning under running lights from Pender Bay, travel thru Agamemnon Channel and up Jervis Inlet to wait for slack tide at Malibu Rapids. Slipping through the rapids past the amazing Young Life lodge (interesting history to this structure) up to the head of Princess Louisa Inlet to finally reach the falls is worth the effort, every time.
Prybus Cove on Admiralty Island in SE Alaska sits in a bowl ringed with snowcapped mountains. The bay is large but when we visited there was only one other boat. We anchored not far from the meadow at the head of the bay where we could relax in the sunshine and soak up the beauty. For those of us use to the tight cruising areas of the Inside Passage and southward, Alaska is a bit of an adjustment. Everything is just bigger- the waterways, the mountains, and the weather. Maybe a “bit of an adjustment” is a bit of an understatement.
Conover Cove, Wallace Island in the Gulf Islands of BC is almost entirely a provincial park with a few small private holdings. Conover Cove has a small dock and enough room for a few boats to anchor and stern tie. Princess Cove, which is a little further north, has quite a bit more room for anchoring, as well as a dinghy dock for shore access. There is a trail from one end of the island to the other if you need to stretch your legs. Once completely privately owned by the Conover family, you can read about their experiences on the island in two books. First is Once Upon an Island published in 1967, followed by One Man’s Island published in 1971. There are still a couple of buildings and other items left from the resort the Conover’s operated while they lived there.
Butedale, BC I find interesting as it is one of the last remnants of the industry that use to bustle up and down the Inside Passage. Founded in 1911 as a fishing, mining and logging camp, it eventually became a large cannery operation powered by a water-powered electrical plant. The cannery ceased operations in the 1950s, but the generator was still operating a few years ago when we last visited (they even had WiFi!). We were treated to a tour of the remaining buildings by the caretaker. I am not sure the current status of renovations, but hopefully this unique property can continue to be part of the fabric of the Inside Passage.
The Broughtons is a grouping of coves, waterways and islands with views of snow-capped mountains north of Desolation Sound stretching up to Queen Charlotte Strait and typically is less crowded than destinations to the south. Dotted with pristine anchorages and a few family-run marinas it definitely has a slower relaxed pace and working your way past the rapids to arrive will give you a sense of accomplishment. I think you will find it worth the effort.
Obviously, there are many other places we love. Each one a unique combination of past memories and new ones created with each visit. And of course, we are always on the hunt for the new places we have yet to visit.
Todd Powell Boats 