With summer just around the corner, the Museum at Campbell River and Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure Tours are partnering to offer boat tours exploring the history of the Discovery Islands.
The “History on the Water” boat tours combines the adventure of marine touring, with the addition of a history guide. Come aboard and discover the extensive assortment of tales of settlers from afar who traveled to this region to make a new start for a better life … hear tales of hardship, perseverance, innovation, and economic ruin. See places where early Indigenous history included large villages, plentiful harvesting, and constant travel throughout the islands.
The season starts on May 19 with the “Ripple Rock and Discovery Passage” tour, a deep dive into the history of the monumental undertaking to blast the top off Ripple Rock, the infamous marine hazard in the middle of Seymour Narrows. Explore Granite, Duncan and Menzies bays and hear the stories from Indigenous history to early logging, commercial fishing, and life on the coast. This trip includes a new stop at Brown’s Bay Resort for a delicious lunch.
Some new tours this year include a special “Romance on the Rapids” themed sunset tour to Desolation Sound on June 30 with stories of love, lust, and heartbreak on the coast as well as two new trips into Malaspina Inlet to see the area made famous by broadcaster Grant Lawrence and his podcasts about growing up in Desolation Sound.
A very special tour is the summer solstice trip with a fabulous dinner stop at Dent Island Resort with its exclusive marina and gourmet meal. This trip to Sonora Island will include exhilarating stories of settlers making a life in the nooks and crannies of the Discovery Islands and will return under the stunning sunset sky. What a treat!
Passengers will ride in comfort aboard the covered boat operated by Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure tours. The boat boasts indoor and outdoor seating and is very comfortable, including an onboard bathroom. Each tour combines a Museum History guide to point out key locations amongst the Islands, alongside a Naturalist from Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventures to point out wildlife.
To see the full schedule of tours, visit the Museum website at crmuseum.ca.