Tidecatcher Dreams

When we sail, we sail with the tide for we are Tide Catchers;

When we sail, we dream about catching the tide to places unknown and unexplored;

When we sail, we find new ports, new friends, new adventures.

Some day I will write a book - Fast Boats, Great Hotels and Good Friends - Hotels and Resorts in the San Juan and Gulf Islands. In the meantime, here are some great places to visit if you are out in the Northwest Corner of the United States and Southwest Corner of Canada....

The Tide Catcher at Birch Bay

From the 1930’s families used to pack up the old car and head out for a week or two, many coming to stay in beautiful Birch Bay in one of the many “simple” cabins for a fraction of the cost of a larger hotel. Remember when (in 1955) Chevrolet introduced its Bel Air Nomad station wagon in response to American's fascination with "getting away from it all."
Remember when you loaded up the family station wagon with your sleeping bags, cooking equipment, food and a few friends and went to the beach? There were no phones, no TV, no mail – just the family, the friends, beach fires, bike riding, walking and relaxing.
The Tide Catcher is the last of The Tide Catcher is the last of these classic cabin resorts in Birch Bay. The original cabins were built in the 1929 and remains today (with the exception of electricity) pretty much the same, as they were when they were built. In today’s world of exotic resorts, big hotels, and expensive vacations, it is refreshing to know that some things are still possible – like loading up the family station wagon and coming to Birch Bay to stay at the Tide Catcher.

The Resort at Poets Cove, Pender Island

A major transformation has occurred in the Gulf Islands with the recent completion and transformation of Bedwell Harbor into a true destination resort. Poets Cove Resort and Spa has opened for business and is perhaps the nicest example of Northwest hospitality.

The main hotel has been built to standards that rival any workmanship found in truly upscale destination. The workmanship of the lobby is reminiscent of a Captains cabin on a sailing ship of old and the staff of Poets Cove are more like the crew of a luxury vessel plying the waters of the Mediterranean. When you arrive at the hotel, the staff are more than friendly, they invite you into their home.

Visiting Poets Cove also means dining in one of their two restaurants, eating meals that are contemporary Northwest in both presentation and flavor. Should your visit require privacy, or if you have a group you can dine in the ballroom, which opens to the waterfront terrace overlooking the marina. We visited Poets Cove with the Bellingham Yacht Club, and enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the ballroom, enjoying the staff and food prepared by the Chefs of the resort.

But it is not just a hotel by the water, Poets Cove is also a destination marina. With 110 full service slips available, vessels can clear into Canada with ease. If one did not know better, one would believe that the Canda Customs and Immigration staff work for Poets Cove. Of course, they do not, but coming to Poets Cove by boat is an exerpience in hospitality.

When is comes to Fast Boats, Great Hotels and Good Friends in the San Juan and Gulf Islands, Poets Cove is rated the at the top. A visit to Poets Cove is a memory waiting for your arrival. You can find Poets Cove at their website, www.poetscove.com.

For more information on Fast Boats, Great Hotels and Good Friends in the San Juan and Gulf Islands, please contact John Gargett, 360-656-5700 or visit www.gargett.com.

From the 1930’s families used to pack up the old car and head out for a week or two, many coming to stay in beautiful Birch Bay in one of the many “simple” cabins for a fraction of the cost of a larger hotel. Remember when (in 1955) Chevrolet introduced its Bel Air Nomad station wagon in response to American's fascination with "getting away from it all."
Remember when you loaded up the family station wagon with your sleeping bags, cooking equipment, food and a few friends and went to the beach? There were no phones, no TV, no mail – just the family, the friends, beach fires, bike riding, walking and relaxing.
The Tide Catcher is the last of The Tide Catcher is the last of these classic cabin resorts in Birch Bay. The original cabins were built in the 1929 and remains today (with the exception of electricity) pretty much the same, as they were when they were built. In today’s world of exotic resorts, big hotels, and expensive vacations, it is refreshing to know that some things are still possible – like loading up the family station wagon and coming to Birch Bay to stay at the Tide Catcher.

	A major transformation has occurred in the Gulf Islands with the recent completion and transformation of Bedwell Harbor into a true destination resort. Poets Cove Resort and Spa has opened for business and is perhaps the nicest example of Northwest hospitality.
	The main hotel has been built to standards that rival any workmanship found in truly upscale destination. The workmanship of the lobby is reminiscent of a Captains cabin on a sailing ship of old and the staff of Poets Cove are more like the crew of a luxury vessel plying the waters of the Mediterranean. When you arrive at the hotel, the staff are more than friendly, they invite you into their home.
	Visiting Poets Cove also means dining in one of their two restaurants, eating meals that are contemporary Northwest in both presentation and flavor. Should your visit require privacy, or if you have a group you can dine in the ballroom, which opens to the waterfront terrace overlooking the marina. We visited Poets Cove with the Bellingham Yacht Club, and enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the ballroom, enjoying the staff and food prepared by the Chefs of the resort.
	But it is not just a hotel by the water, Poets Cove is also a destination marina. With 110 full service slips available, vessels can clear into Canada with ease. If one did not know better, one would believe that the Canda Customs and Immigration staff work for Poets Cove. Of course, they do not, but coming to Poets Cove by boat is an exerpience in hospitality.
	When is comes to Fast Boats, Great Hotels and Good Friends in the San Juan and Gulf Islands, Poets Cove is rated the at the top. A visit to Poets Cove is a memory waiting for your arrival. You can find Poets Cove at their website, www.poetscove.com.