The Inside Passage is a marine route that stretches from the border of the USA, along the coast of British Columbia and into Alaska, roughly as far as the northern tip of the Panhandle. Sheltered in the most part by several large islands, but littered with many hundreds more, this is a bustling ocean highway for cruise ships, freighters, fishing boats and the ferries that service the isolated communities tucked away in remote coves and inlets. The whole area also boasts some truly spectacular scenery and a host of wildlife such as eagles, porpoises, seals, sea lions and whales. A fantastic way to incorporate the Inside Passage into your Canadian itinerary is to take the ferry that runs between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert. This journey takes about 16 hours, but the boats are well equipped with a café and restaurant, comfortable seating and even cabins for those who simply wish to rest for a bit. However, weather permitting, prepare to spend several hours on deck just marvelling at the surrounding scenery and keeping an eye out for swooping sea birds and passing orca.