Ontario Sailing Vacations

The waters of the Great Lakes--Erie, Superior, Ontario, Huron, and Michigan--are volatile, diverse, challenging, and beautiful. From Duluth, past Detroit and Cleveland, through the Welland Canal near Niagara Falls, and on past Toronto to the St. Lawrence Seaway, sailing the Great Lakes makes a lesser-known, but scenic and fun vacation, whether you sail in spring, summer, or amidst the brilliant, changing fall leaves.

Onboard in Ontario

Typical itineraries in Ontario include a seven-night sail in the Georgian Bay, north of Michigan and the North Channel, north of Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. Longer trips can take you all the way from Lake Superior to the Atlantic Ocean. Fishing, swimming, exploring quaint lakeside towns, and enjoying the excellent fish of the Great Lakes make for a relaxing and fun-filled week.

A sailboat may be chartered with or without a crew. A crew, generally, includes a captain, one or more mates, and a cook to help create delicious meals with the local ingredients each morning, noon, and night. One price includes everything: airfare, the cruise, meals, taxes, and transportation to and from the cruise. Usually, fuel and port taxes are included also. It is customary to give a gratuity to each member of the crew at the conclusion of the cruise. The amount, of course, is at the guests' discretion.

Arrangements for a sailing vacation can be made through a local travel agent or with an online sailing vacation tour operator. Sailing boats can be small, suited for two persons plus a crew, or quite large, suited for up to twelve persons plus a crew. A sailing vacation is a relaxed way to see this lovely part of North America.