Go here: White Squall Paddling Centre

Twenty-five years ago, when White Squall set up shop just north of Parry Sound, Ontario, Georgian Bay’s 30,000 Islands were still pretty much an undiscovered sea-kayaking paradise. But a quarter of a century later, thanks largely to the efforts of this pioneering outfit, thousands of people have been introduced to both the watery maze that is the Sweetwater Sea and the sleek, seaworthy kayaks that seem built to navigate the bay’s shallow channels, and also to handle its potentially choppy crossings.

These days, White Squall’s basecamp boasts hundreds of boats to choose from for a self-guided adventure to nearby highlights like the McCoy and Mink islands, or you can sign up for a group excursion. This season’s schedule of guided trips includes yoga and photography workshops, and a week-long paddle led by professors from Laurentian University, who will explain the geological and ecological richness of this one-of-a-kind destination. For more info: whitesquall.com (705) 342-5324.

This article was originally published on May 14, 2010