We spent a week on Freedom's Challenge, a clean, well laid out trawler with two bedrooms and two…read moreheads. Three seating areas for meals, games, conversation. The boat had everything we needed and was clean and well maintained. This was our first boat charter and we loved it. The North Channel is so beautiful and the trip was both adventurous and relaxing. I highly recommend everything about CYC.

I haven't chartered from many places, Grand Travis Bay, MI, Sarasota, Fla and Chesapeake, MD. I…read moreown my own 33' sailboat (Southern California) so chartering is for convenience so I can return to the best place I have ever been to boat. That being said, CYC is the best service at the best place to sail that I can imaging. Drop dead reliable and they do it all for our convenience. Wouldn't even think of looking elsewhere.

PROS: + SAFETY: My friend recommended that we take the Blue…read moreHeron because it is a lot more steady than the jet boats. Because I didn't want to upchuck my lunch, I thought that this was well worth the little extra money spent. + SERVICE: The staff on the boat/cruise were very friendly and helpful. I found the customer service reps not as helpful when I purchased the ticket. At first, I was turned away on the Saturday because the last scheduled cruise time doesn't let you walk the Flowerpot Island (would've been helpful if the pamphlet reflected that). CONS: - SOUND: The "guided tour" was rather muffled from the sound of the water. Not that I'm complaining, however, I feel like they need a better speaker system. At nearly $50/ticket, you'd think they would be able to afford it (plus easily 100+ seats per trip). - TIME: I think they gave us a little under an hour to wander the Flowerpot Island, I personally would've preferred more. I guess, from a business standpoint, giving their customers more time on the island would lead to less cruise times and thus less money. I appreciated that Blue Heron Company added additional cruise times to facilitate the fact that I (and many others) visited the last week of the season. I came pretty close to missing the cruise option of wandering the Flowerpot Island. Typically the last scheduled cruise does not let you wander the island so be sure to make note of that when booking your ticket!

This, along with Blue Anchor Cruises, are one of the two ways to get to Flowerpot Island. Blue…read moreAnchor Cruises appears to be faster and smaller with more ships, while Blue Heron seems to be more scenic and like a tour. Many of the ships take you to see several ship wrecks on the way to Flowerpot island. The boats also have a glass bottom (albeit quite small), which allows you to see the ship wrecks. Seems like many people were eager to go home early due to some bad weather, and unfortunately, they won't let you on the boat if you don't have the proper ticket. The cost is $38 Canadian dollars round trip (about $30 US).

I had a chance to visit the Little Current Boardwalk also know as the public docks…read more It's been many years since I came here to take in Haweater Weekend and the fireworks display at dusk. I really missed the memories but COVID-19 really dealt another blow for boating visitors to this area. Many sailors came from as far away as the USA. Local residents are friendly and very thankful for people spending to support the local economy.

Fantastic family spot. We needed a rest from everyday stresses. Dave went above and beyond to make…read moreour stay comfortable, safe and stress free. Rented a cabin, hooked us up with a boat. The kids came home with smiles, tans and mom and came home feeling very relaxed....exactly what we all needed. Thank Dave you can be sure we will come again to catch some big ones on the North Channel. The grounds were clean and quiet. Very clear rules that made us feel safe with the kids. The evening fires by the water to watch the sun go down was the icing for my hubby and I. The kids enjoyed thr kayaks, paddle boats and the bikes. Honestly we literally food and clothes. Cabins had everything.

From the owner: We are Spanish Ontario's only lakeside family friendly campground…read more Catch fish off the docks, swim along and play at our beach, or relax in a hammock. Call or email to book your next camping, fishing or vacation location.

Unique glass bottom boat tour to see local shipwrecks. Crew was friendly and knowledgeable. Glad…read morewe went on the tour.

Purchased 2 tickets on line (days earlier) for 7/27 @ 9am tour, got there at 8:50 just to be told…read morethey had already pulled the ramp & were leaving early. They checked the computer & we were on the list. Seriously Alpena Shipwreck Tours?!? We were really looking forward to it. My mom is moving away & had this on her bucket list. Bummed out and disappointed.

I've always wanted to go to Tobermory to see the Grotto. I thought that would have been my…read morehighlight, and although it was gorgeous, my highlight was actually the Blue Heron Flowerpot Island Cruise. We bought our tickets online very easily. I had a couple of questions as we were bringing a dog, and since our trip was fairly short and I had never been there I had some questions getting around. The staff were really helpful when I emailed them. When we arrived in Tobermory it was easy to pick up our tickets. The staff told us about the various free lots we could use throughout Tobermory with our parking pass. We parked in the main lot near the ticket centre and used their free shuttle to get down to the dock. It wasn't too far away so you could easily walk as well. The cruise was spacious and had indoor and outdoor space. They spent a lot of time around the sunken ships which you could see from the glass bottom inside the boat, or standing outside. Then you're dropped off at Flowerpot Island. The island is absolutely gorgeous. There are lots of places to swim, hike, and enjoy nature. There is a little snack shop that sells chips and pop, but most people bring their own food and picnic. They give you about 4 hours on the Island which is the perfect amount of time to enjoy your day. You don't feel rushed, and you're also not dying to get off the island. If and when I get back to Tobermory, this trip will be at the top of my list.

Blue Heron is one of the two cruise companies in Tobermory that will take you to Flower Pot Island…read more Chose this one because it was ever so slightly cheaper than the other company and the times matched things we were planning to do. They have several options for boats - glass bottom, jet boat. Each has it's own schedules and pros and cons. There is also one boat that just does a boat tour - basically you don't get off on the island for this one, they just take you to see things and you stay on the boat - great for those who are unable to hike long distances but still want to see everything. Service: The people at the office were great - answered all our questions, kind and courteous. At the dock, people were also fantastic. Very clear instructions and safety content. Guides on the boats were informative, engaging and fun to listen to. Boats: We tried the glass-bottom boat on the way there which was great. They go over the shipwrecks and you can see them really clearly through the glass bottom. That ride was about 40-45 mins. Don't worry about fighting for a seat near the glass bottom - everyone just gets up and hovers around it anyway so hogging seats is pointless. Arguably, its better to explore the front of the boat or go to the top and then come to the glass bottom during the shipwreck portions. On the way back, we took the jet boat - super fast only 20 mins. I have a major tendency to get motion sickness but both these boats were travelling fast enough that I had no problems. Schedule: The boats come and go from the island and Tobermory fairly often. ProTip: You CAN hop onto an earlier return boat (doesn't even have to be the same boat you paid for) IF they have space. My group ended up finishing exploring the island an hour early before our scheduled departure - the Blue Heron employee told us we could join the standby line for the earlier boats - if there was space, they'd take us. There ended up being space and off we went - saving 1 hour of our time to explore other things in Tobermory. Parking: They provide free parking if you book with them. They have a main lot and a secondary one. We were early enough that we got into the main lot by their offices. Price: Since there are only 2 companies, it is pretty price-y. We paid over $50 per person for a round-trip. It would be nice if they came up with a family package or something since I could see it getting pretty expensive for larger families.

The service of the person who helped me and my family was nice. The ambiance was pretty nice there…read morewas a replica of the Chi-Cheeman and a map of Manitoulin Island (the destination). The place also had a coin thing when we put coin in and it gets crushed into a design.

Sailing to the Flowerpot Island is a must when visiting Tobermory. We chose the Flowerpot Island…read moreDrop Off Tour with Bruce Anchor. This is such an amazing tour that combines all of the Bruce's beauty in one trip. The mesmerizing history, lighthouse, rock formations, turquoise waters, all of which make the tour worth it from beginning to end. Your tour starts at the Big Tub Harbour. You will sail pass the Big Tub Lighthouse, Canadian Coast Guard, and stop by the famous "Sweepstakes" Shipwreck. They maneuver the boat around the sunken ship so you can see the wreck from every angle. There is plenty of time to take photos. I wouldn't recommend crowding at the "see through" glass bottoms, as you can see it even more clearly on the 2nd floor. As you leave the harbour, they accelerate towards Flowerpot Island. They sail around the island for a full circle so you can observe the flowerpots, the lighthouse, and the breathtaking turquoise waters before dropping you off. Here is where I recommend the early bird tickets. Since there is no one at the island yet, you get to take photos that are undisturbed by the inevitable crowds later in the day. Not to mention you get 25% discount from the early bird. Throughout the trip, Bruce Anchor's staffs were friendly and helpful. Plenty of instructions (via text/email) were given for the parking and meeting place. The tour guide was engaging and knowledgeable as he provided commentary throughout. I was highly impressed by their employees. My experience reflects the Bruce Anchor's "cruises", not the "motel".

For the cruises, Bruce Anchor has a variety of tickets available. Early bird and scenic stay-aboard…read moretour tickets are 25% off. There are also drop-off tours with flexible return times. Prices are different during peak and off season and for adults (18-64), seniors (65+), and youth (4-17). Kids (0-3) are free but require a ticket. There's the option to purchase a national park pass on the same webpage. We received frequent updates via text message in regards to our booking. If tickets were purchased online, they can be picked up the night prior to departure or the morning of departure. There was a hiccup in our original departure time. High winds had our departure cancelled. We were given the option to reschedule to a later sailing on the same day or another date, or cancel and receive a full refund. We chose a later sailing the same day and went to pickup our tickets at 10 Haybay Road and then park our car at 22 Legion Street, where a shuttle would take us to their alternate dock. The cruise started by going further into the bay to see two shipwrecks. The shipwrecks were visible by looking overboard or at the glass-bottom panels on the lower deck. Staff provided us with a lot of information about the shipwrecks and the surrounding area on the way to Flowerpot Island. Just a note that sitting on the upper deck, where it's open, can get chilly.

A tranquil place to relax and take in some nature!…read more Bring a fishing rod to fish from the pier too.