Bellingham-based Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures and Alaska-based MV Snowgoose have partnered to create a three-day, vessel-supported sea kayaking tour to the San Juan Islands that will begin and end in Bellingham, WA April 28-30, 2017.
“In addition to offering a three-day, vessel-supported kayaking adventure to one of the most beautiful places in Washington, our focus is supporting the local Bellingham economy and showing folks that Bellingham is just as much a paddling jumping off point/destination as Anacortes or the San Juan Islands, and has so much more to offer,” said Kristi Kucera, owner of Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures. “After all, we are directly west of the San Juans, a person doesn’t have to take an expensive ferry to start their adventure. Bellingham has all the water adventures, beer, hiking and mountain biking one might ever need. We want people to start and end in Bellingham and experience not just what the Snow Goose and Moondance Kayaking have to offer, but also get the whole Bellingham feel in their start to finish experience.”
Kayaks will launch directly from the MV Snowgoose for a day of paddling. In the evening participants sleep aboard the vessel and enjoy meals prepared by an onboard chef. The experience offers kayaking adventure with some of the comforts of home, including showers, beds, a library, and more; making the trip a seamless experience. Kayakers can expect to paddle between 5-10 miles per day, with the Snowgoose providing passage at bigger crossings.
As they navigate the San Juan Archipelago, home to over 200 rocky, forested islands, participants will traverse the same routes local tribes did during their summer fishing season. Along the way they will also have the opportunity to observe marine mammals in their natural habitat, including Orca, Minke whales, Harbor and Dall’s porpoises, Harbor Seals and River Otter. The region also boasts one of the largest bald eagle populations in the continental United States.
Designed by marine architect Ed Monk to cruise the Inside Passage, the MV Snow Goose was built in Ketchikan Alaska in 1973 by the owner of a shipyard as his private yacht. She was modified in 1983 to be a United States Coastguard inspected passenger vessel. There are sleeping facilities for 12 guests and four crew members. For more information on its scheduled trips and partnerships, visit www.snowgoosealaska.com.
Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures has operated out of Bellingham since 1993. It currently offers half day, evening, full-day and multi-day kayak trips, as well as special workshops. For more information visit, www.moondancekayak.com.
For more information on all there is to see and do in and around Bellingham and Whatcom County, visit: www.bellingham.org and www.basecampbellingham.com.