Our 2-day sea kayaking trip is a perfect introduction to the world of sea kayaking and kayak camping. This is just the right amount of time to immerse in the outdoors and recapture the spirit of your adventuresome self. First time paddlers learn a range of skills and safety considerations that allow you to feel comfortable embarking on your own future trips. Experienced paddlers fine tune skills and explore subjects such as navigation, leadership and decision making on the water.

The weekend starts with a morning session of trip orientation and basic sea kayaking instruction that includes strokes and rescues. Prepare to get wet! Then we'll spoil you right off the bat with one of our outstanding lunches. Next we'll pack up the kayaks and head off across the water to our Island destination for the night. Set up camp, enjoy a great dinner and a wonderful night's sleep ‘away from it all'. The second day starts with fresh coffee and breakfast, and then we pack up the kayaks once again and head out for another great day of paddling. Plan to return to the Living Adventure Center around 3:00 pm on the last day.

WSS SAMPLE ITINERARIES:
Sand Island – It's a forty-minute open water crossing to East Bay on Sand Island where we land near our campsite for the evening. There may still be time for a hike or a paddle to the renowned sea caves on Swallow Point and an exploration of Justice Bay; if not, we'll catch it the next day! A paddle tour north around the Island takes us to the refurbished Sand Island Lighthouse where the keeper gives us a tour of the building and grounds.

Oak Island – On the way we pass several historic Lake Superior shipwrecks, all of which are either submerged or above the waterline and visible from the kayaks. We turn the corner at Schooner Bay and paddle the 40-minute crossing to our camp on Oak Island, the tallest in the archipelago. The view of several outer Apostle Islands is breathtaking from the north end of the Island. The return route takes us to Hermit and Basswood Islands where we stop to explore the remains of an historic brownstone quarry.

This hallmark 3-day weekend adventure is the backbone of Living Adventure overnighters. The trip includes all of the great features of the Wind, Sand & Stars trip (please read that description) plus one more great day. In this full spectrum paddling experience you will have the opportunity to visit several Islands and enjoy a heightened sense of ‘being out there' on Lake Superior. The extra day allows time for in-depth exploration of shoreline features and inland forests. By day three you will slide fluidly into your kayak and feel like you never want to leave!

BWC MID-TRIP SAMPLE ITINERARY:
Oak Island, morning Day Two: after a fresh strawberry pancake breakfast, load the kayaks and head out to Raspberry Island where we land at the sand spit on the south end and take the short hike through stands of virgin hemlock and white pine to the Raspberry Island Lighthouse. A Park Service representative, dressed in period costume, tours our group through the restored lighthouse. Croquet was integral to the summer life of the lighthouse keepers and their families, so you might anticipate a quick game on their beautifully tended lawn.

Lunch: a sumptuous lunch is enjoyed either at Raspberry Island or on the pristine north beach of York Island, the next stop on the itinerary.

Afternoon: from York we make our final crossing of the day to Sand Island and set up our camp at East Bay or Lighthouse Bay. Sand Island is renowned for the astonishing sandstone sea caves at Swallow Point and Justice Bay. Paddling through the ancient arches and recesses is both enchanting and awe-inspiring, an excellent way to finish another great day of paddling.

It just keeps getting better with each additional day of paddling in the Islands. (Refer to our WSS and BWC trip descriptions above). Our four-day trip gives us time to travel even further out for exploration of Islands in the eastern and northern sections of the National Park. We may visit the rugged flat rock ledges of Bear Island or the intricate arches on the northeast end of Stockton or if the weather treats us well, we can make it to the breathtaking sea caves on Devil's Island. These are remote areas not often traveled by sea kayakers or sailors; but are frequented by the wild critters who call the Islands home. With luck some early morning before the waves erase the transient evidence of their presence, you'll see the soft impression of a wolf or bear track along a stretch of sandy beach.
This trip is listed for beginners but new paddlers should have an expectation for an increase in daily mileage from our WSS or BWC programs.

ARCHIPELAGO MID-TRIP SAMPLE ITINERARY:
Rocky Island, morning Day Three: the sun rises over nearby South Twin Island and welcomes our day. Coffee, eggs and it's time to launch. By this day the group moves efficiently together; kayaks are loaded and we glide off the beach for another great day of paddling. We head around the tambolo that juts off the Island, head along the north beach and consider the crossing to Devil's Island. Conditions are good, we go!

Lunch: we eat on the grassy lawn under the Devil's Island Lighthouse, perched high above the water, the view to the Minnesota and Canadian north shores is crystal clear.

Afternoon: paddling the Devil's Island sea caves is a lifetime highlight for even the most experienced traveler; the color and shape of these stone sculptures is incredible, the resonating sounds of water surging deeply in recessed caves vibrates straight to the heart. From here we Island hop to Bear or the west side of Rocky Island on our way to the night's campsite on Otter Island.

A splendid exploration of far flung Islands where wilderness legends abound. This trip's itinerary includes the great features described above in our 2-4 day trips (read through the previous overnight trip descriptions for itinerary details included on this trip) AND; this is the trip that may take you along the incredible eastern side of Outer Island; a nine mile stretch of continuously gorgeous shoreline that is THE favorite paddling spot in the Islands for our Living Adventure company owners. Totally immerse yourself in the outdoors and live a life of freedom and spontaneity. Your senses are heightened, your reactions are sharpened and your rhythms are synchronized with the ebbs and flows of the water. Your skills increase greatly over the days as you are exposed to the comprehensive world of the kayak expeditionary. Some previous skills or at a minimum an adventurous spirit to fuel you through higher mileage days are required for this trip.

OUTER ISLAND MID-TRIP SAMPLE ITINERARY:
Outer Island, morning Day 4: you may wake up today with dew on the sleeping bag from your night spent in the open air, under the stars, on the beach at the sand spit. And you feel a bit of stiffness in your arm from that moon light rock-skipping contest the night before! But the lure of coffee and Scottish oatmeal are inspiration to rise and start your adventure for the day.

Lunch: searching for agates during lunch on Cat Island is something you just have to do, and if the Cat Island Cabin is open it's fun to look through the log book for names of recent and past visitors to this remote cabin.

Afternoon: the northeast end of Stockton Island is another secret ‘best' in the Islands and it just keeps getting better this day as you paddle from there around Presque Isle point into the fabulous beaches and bogs of Julian Bay on route to your evening camp at Quarry Bay.

Our goal is to reach as many of the 6 Apostle Islands Lighthouses as possible. Long, Michigan, Outer, Devil's, Raspberry and Sand Island lights are out there and they left the lights on for us! Sample the unique and colorful history of these historic structures while completing the grandest tour of them all. (read through the previous 2-5 day trip descriptions for details & features of the days included on this trip)

Intimate campsites and small group size (6) add to the ambiance of wilderness travel without the numbers of people seen on the inner islands. This trip creates the time and space to settle into the rhythm of life on the ‘water trail' and reminds participants of what a great idea it is to seek wilderness travel even amidst the mileage, wind and weather.
Previous paddling experience and some physical conditioning is required for this trip as daily mileage may average 12 miles, with an occasional 15-18 mile day.

LIGHTHOUSE TOUR MID-TRIP SAMPLE ITINERARY:
Michigan Island Lighthouse, morning Day 2: the view of Michigan's Porcupine Mountains to the east is splendid from this site and you will get your morning aerobics in climbing the seemingly endless (!) flight of stairs from the beach to the Lighthouse grounds. It's an early breakfast and pack-up this day, we've got the Outer Island Lighthouse in our sights.

Lunch: after a spirited crossing to Stockton Island, you'll enjoy lunch on the dazzling beaches of Presque Isle. Here we make the decision to cross to Outer, or take a midway route via Cat Island.

Afternoon: a good rest at Cat Island and we cross to Outer Island for the trip up the eastern shore. From the top of this splendid lighthouse the views are fantastic in all directions. On the way back to the kayaks, you may find a private moment to snitch a few fresh raspberries from the keeper's private stash. Camp is set up on this Island for a very welcomed nights rest filled with dreams of reaching the Devil's Island lighthouse in a day or two.