You can relax later at the Inn’s Avalon Spa. Or visit the
Severn Lodge, a historic Muskoka lodge about 10 miles
out of town, which features all-inclusive vacation packages.Honey Harbour
A busy little port community (especially in the summer
months), our next stop is Honey Harbour, where boaters
find themselves in the heart of the 30,000 Islands. From
the Huron aboriginal’s description of “an island of bees
and honey,” the tiny town features several restaurants and
more than a dozen docking facilities scattered throughout
nearby protected channels and bays; note that not all offer
transient spaces and some are limited to very small boats.
Among the marinas welcoming transients and larger vessels
are Brandy’s Island Marina, with 12 transient slips up to 55
feet; Paragon Marina, with 15 transient slips up to 56 feet;
Delawana Inn Resort, with 20 transient slips up to 40 feet;
and Nautilus Marina, with five transient slips up to 40 feet.
Just outside Honey Harbour, South Bay Cove Marina takes
boats up to 100 feet at its floating and fixed deep-water docks,
and has a launch ramp suited for boats up to 45 feet. The
marina also features Top of the Cove Wine & Dine with a
relaxed, nautical atmosphere overlooking the docks — and
free docking while dining.Parry Sound
The longest jump on this section — 54 miles through a
serpentine, rock-strewn channel — brings you to Parry
Sound, named for the famed arctic explorer William
Edward Parry. It’s also the birthplace of hockey star
Bobby Orr. Hockey fans will want to visit the Bobby Orr
Hall of Fame in the Charles W. Stockey Centre. The
centre also features the annual Festival of The Sound,
which brings classical and jazz musicians to town from
July 21 to August 13, 2017. Other festivals include
Dragonboat Races and the Big Sound Wayfarer and
Laser Sailing Regatta. If motorsports are more your thing,the city hosts July’s annual World Enduro Canadian
Championships and the annual Sport Bike Rally.
As one of the world’s deepest freshwater ports, Parry Sound
provides excellent facilities for larger boats, including: Big Sound
Marina and Town Dock, with 128 slips for boats up to 85 feet;
Parry Sound Marine, taking boats up to 80 feet; Sound Boat
Works, with slips up to 50 feet; and Kilbear Marina, offering
35 slips up to 60 feet and the on-site Ship-Shore Restaurant.
The Log Cabin Inn in Parry Sound has gourmet fare and
an extensive wine cellar. Try the house-cured gravlax and
smoked fish or duck confit with marsala wine reduction and
homemade gnocchi. Bistro By The Bay, which is walking
distance from the harbor, features shrimp and mussels in
six different sauces and, once again, pickerel — this time
pan seared with a lemon sorrel butter sauce.
Enjoy a tour of the 30,000 Islands aboard Island Queen
or M.V. Chippewa III. If you’re craving exercise, paddle the
rocky shoreline of Killbear Provincial Park in your kayak.
You’ll find 30,000 reasons to make this part of Georgian
Bay your next vacation destination. ★Resources
GREATLOOP.ORG: America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association.
MIDLAND.CA: Town of Midland.
PENETANGUISHENE.CA: Town of Penetanguishene.
PORTSBOOKS.COM: “PORTS Cruising Guide to Georgian Bay, the Northern Channel
and Lake Huron” contains full information on marinas, facilities, repair services,
restaurants, moorings and anchorages. It includes a comprehensive cruising
guide to the 30,000 Islands.
SKIPPERBOB.NET: “Skipper Bob’s Trent-Severn Waterway, Georgian Bay and North
Channel.” Note: the guide covers the Georgian Bay from Port Severn north and
west, but not the south shore of the Bay.
VISITGEORGIANBAY.CA: Offi cial travel and tourism website of Georgian Bay.LAKELANDBOATING.COM | JULY 2017 27Parry SoundPHOTO BY DIVYA THAKUR/FLICKRWaypoint_WaypointPt2_JUL17.indd 27 5/25/17 9:31 AM