The Salish Sea - SPLENDID MARKET ®

Dent Island Lodge

We’ve got to get right down to the sea. We’ve got to get to the sea.

Jack Johnson

In the summer months, we tend to spend a great deal of time on a sea or two. We’ve just returned from a colorful trip on the Mediterranean Sea where we couldn’t help but be inspired by the food and culture we enjoyed in France and Italy. Before sharing those stories I wanted to present to you a sea we know and love, which is much closer to home.

The Salish Sea is a newer name for the inland waters of the Pacific Northwest. The sea stretches from northern Washington state, up through southern British Columbia. Marine scientists helped to drive the effort of creating one name for this body of water shared by two countries, in hopes it would encourage collaboration between organizations focused on protecting the marine wildlife of these waters. For more information click on Sea Doc Society.

We love roaming through the San Juan Islands, in Washington state; and continuing our cruise north through the Gulf Islands (or Canadian San Juans) until we reach the warm, clear waters of Desolation Sound. People come to these unusually warm waters for the beauty and tranquility, the water sports, and to indulge in the fish and other fresh seafood.

Most people come by boat to Desolation Sound. Some come by Kenmore Air or private seaplanes.

Restaurants and land accommodations become few and far between as one moves north. After days of cruising and on anchor, we always look forward to a night or two tied to the docks of the Dent Island Lodge, located north of Desolation Sound.

This lodge is a civilized refuge in the middle of the wilderness. It offers fine food and drink, work out facilities, a hot tub, showers, laundry and fantastic fishing opportunities, all in a splendid natural setting.

They have a limited number of cabins available for rent.

On one side of the lodge are the mesmerizing rapids called Canoe Pass.

From the hot tub on a platform one can watch the shifting of the tides and the fishing boats taking on the challenge of these rapids. Or, enjoy the the same view from the recently added tapas bar. The tapas bar offers visitors a great casual dining experience surrounded by wilderness.

Fishing is the primary attraction for most guests at the lodge. Expert guides can take you on early morning excursions to where the fish are biting. With any luck, you’ll be visiting one of these..

and your fish will be vacuum sealed for you in one of these..

Dinner is served each night in the dining room and on the deck of the lodge. As you may have guessed, fresh salmon, Dungeness crabs and seafood are always a part of the menu.

This cage on the dock is an indicator that the crab is VERY fresh.

The kitchen asks for dinner orders to be placed during the day. This fellow is in charge of collecting the crab for the evening meals.

Dungeness Crab, Dent Island Lodge

Salmon is vacuum sealed and frozen, natural or smoked.

Before dinner, many a fish tale has begun at the bar…

and continued in the game room after dinner.

To plan a trip to the Dent Island Lodge call soon! The accommodations are limited and fill quickly. If you are coming by boat, dock and dinner reservations are limited as well. Call 250-203-2553 to reach the lodge. Click on Dent Island Lodge for more information.

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