About Southern Gulf Islands, BC

August 17, 2009.

Salt Spring's cultural scene is bubbling along...don't miss these occasions!

"Images From Different Worlds" is showcased at ArtSpring, until the 29th. Works by Eleanor Kobley, Erik Thorn, Gill Horodyski, Miriam Thorn.

Also at ArtSpring, in their Open Space, new work by Gail Sibley and Shirlee Lewis is on display.

The Salt Spring Fine Art group, which includes: Jill Louise Campbell Fine Art Gallery, Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art, Steffich Fine Art, Martinus Jewelry Studio & Gallery, ArtSpring Island Arts Centre, Stone Fish Gallery, Galleons Lap Atelier-Gallery, and Hastings House Sculpture Trail all offer incredible vistas of artistic vision. Treat yourself to a gallery tour, within the Ganges Core. Enjoy!

ArtCraft. at Mahon Hall, which showcases artistic production from the Gulf Islands, annually, is also a part of the fineness available right within Ganges...make sure this is also on your list of places to go/things to see.

If you're driving, or on a cycle tour of the Island, be sure and drop in to the various studios -- a studio tour map is available from the tourist info centre in Ganges Village. Painters, sculptors, fabric artists, glassworks, etc -- we are so lucky, here, wtih the artistic talent that calls Salt Spring "home". Be sure to take in the Studio Tour.

The Moonstruck Cheese and the Salt Spring Cheese companies, on Beddis Road and on Reynolds Road, respectively, are definitely worth a visit.

Same with the Garry Oak Vineyard and the Salt Spring Vineyard, on "Lee's Hill", in the Fulford Valley, and the new vineyard at the corner of Norton and Lower Ganges Roads, across from Summerside. Tastes of the Island!

In these closing days of August, remember the al fresco dining opportunities, and catch some rays with the fine food, most offering local and organic fare: Harbour House Hotel, Calvin's Bistro, Bocados Bistro, Salt Spring Inn, Marketplace, Bruce's Kitchen, Pasta Fresca, Auntie Pesto's, Moby's, Seaside Kitchen, Rendezvous Cafe, Cafe Talia, Treehouse Cafe, Rock Salt Cafe...enjoy!

And yes, that wonderful live music, nightly, at Treehouse Cafe...such talent, for your pleasure.

Have you tuned in to Salt Spring's radio station? 107.9 fm -- it will be totally up and running, by mid-September, with local programming. Meantime, enjoy the music!

A couple of other "day trips" to ponder, when voyaging from Salt Spring to other Southern Gulf Islands....

Saturna Island is most likely best reached by going from Fulford to Swartz, and connecting to the Outer Gulf Islands ferry. Alternatively, one can take the Long Harbour to Tsswassan ferry and get off at Village Bay on Mayne Island, and then connect with a ferry going to Saturna. It's important to read that B.C. ferry schedule (it's online, too), before visiting Saturna.

When there, check out the Saturna Vineyard...it was the first vineyard on the Southern Gulf Islands. Winter Cove is also a very beautiful area, and this is the site of the famous annual Saturna Island lamb roast. This is a destination event for many boaters!

The ferry docks at Lyall Harbour, and the floatplane also services the Island from here.

To visit Saturna, if not by your own boat, does take some planning as one has to "synch" with the ferry schedule!

It's definitely a quieter place, and less "set up" for tourism than some of the other Southern Gulf Island options. Pack a picnic!

Beautiful park to explore and a view that is breathtaking...truly, you do "see it all"!

In the opposite direction, there's tranquil Thetis Island.

Catch the ferry from Vesuvius to Crofton, then drive the lower road to Chemainus Old Town, where the ferry goes to Thetis.

There are marinas in Telegraphy Harbour, and floatplanes land here, too. A good idea, though, to take a picnic and to be a little self-sufficient, as, like Saturna, it's less "organized" from a tourist's perspective.

Don't miss Pilkey Point (so beautiful). Bring a bathing suit, if it's summer, and enjoy the warm ocean swimming waters in this area.

More suggestions for easy day trips, on Gulf Islands or on Vancouver Island? Call me! Ask for "Li's List".

liread33@gmail.com

Looking for another Gulf Island daytrip option, from Salt Spring Island?

Check out Galiano Island -- again, catch either the Long Harbour to Tsswassan ferry, and get off at Sturdies Bay, on Galiano, or, go from Fulford to Swartz Bay, and connect with the Outer Gulf Islands ferry from Swartz to Galiano.

Again, it's fun to go one way and to return on the other -- make sure you check the B.C. ferry schedule, online, as the times for the Long Harbour to Tsswassan run change, depending on the day of the week.

Places to eat: Atrevida Oceanfront Restaurant (at the Galiano Inn, in Sturdies Bay), the Harbour Grill Restaurant at Montague Harbour (at the marina), the Hummingbird Pub (if you arrive at Montague Marina, by boat, there's a bus to the pub), Woodstone Country Inn (contemporary fine dining), the Sturdies Bay Bakery & Cafe, La Berengerie (authentic French atmosphere), wood fired pizza at the Galiano Inn.

There's a Saturday Market from late June to the end of Summer, from 10 to 2 p.m. Studio galleries with signage welcoming you to view, dot the Island. A great bookstore, close to the ferry terminal at Sturdies Bay!

Places to stay, if you decide to overnight? Bodega Ridge Lodge & Cabins, Driftwood Village, Galiano Oceanfront Inn & Spa, Woodstone Country Inn.

Galiano has preserved large "old growth" park areas, and one can walk the width of the Island, on these preserved spaces.

Dionisio Marine Park, at the Porlier Pass end of the Island, is an incredible gem. Don't miss it!

Montague Marine Park is a favourite with mariners, gunkholing their way around the Southern Gulf Islands.

Parker Island, Wise Island, Gossip Island, all lie off Galiano and are short boat hops away.

More info? Give me a call!

liread33@gmail.com

Still interested in exploring another Southern Gulf Island, as a daytrip from Salt Spring? Pender is right next door!

There's a North Pender and a South Pender Island, joined by a bridge.

You can catch the ferry from Long Harbour, on Salt Spring, to Tsswassan, Vancouver's ferry terminal, and get off at Otter Bay on Pender Island. Or, go from Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring, to Swartz Bay, Victoria's ferry terminal, and connect with the Outer Islands ferry, and get to Otter Bay that way. Check the B.C. ferry schedule, online, and see if it's possible to go one way and return the other -- makes a nice sea voyage.

Pender has a golf course, and there's a restaurant in the clubhouse...try it for lunch! There's also a great bakery in the Driftwood Mall, on Pender, and one can sample their wares, too. The Pub at Port Browning is a traditional island experience, and there's a marina there, too, if you're coming via your own boat. Want to spoil yourself a little? Poet's Cove, at Bedwell Harbour, awaits your pleasure! Arrive by boat, or by car. Great restaurant, here.

Investigate the beaches, on Pender. The best ones, sweeping bays and alluring coves, were all kept as "public" access opportunities, by the Pender trustees. All the Gulf Islands are under the jurisdiction of the Islands Trust, with the overall land density control, but each island has specific zoning bylaws, too.

The Hope Bay Store, which was rebuilt, and can also be reached via boat (government dock, there, in Navy Channel) or by car, is a fun place to investigate. Southridge Farms Country Store is at Port Washington, where, again, there's a government dock, so you can arrive by boat or by car.

Places to eat? Hope Bay Cafe, Islanders Restaurant (now at Port Browning), Memories at the Inn, Pender Island Bakery Cafe, Pistou Grill Casual Bistro (both of these are in the Driftwood Mall), Poets Cove Resort, Port Browning Marina Resort.

Enjoy!

Looking for "another Island" adventure?

Check the ferry schedule, and catch either the "red eye" from Long Harbour to Tsswassan, and get off at Village Bay on Mayne Island, or, catch the ferry from Fulford to Swartz, and connect with the Outer Islands ferry that leaves Swartz and services Mayne, that way. To do a "good day trip", you would most likely want to do the "red eye" route, and then return to Long Harbour on Salt Spring, via the return ship -- either around noonish, or wait till the evening return ferry.

What to do on Mayne?

A highlight would be a visit to the Japanese Memorial Garden there, close to Dinner Bay. Very inspirational and beautiful sojourn, here, and you might want to take a bit of time to wander the garden, and also to sit on a bench and simply ponder.

A great place for breakfast, coffee, lunch, afternoon tea is the Sunny Mayne Bakery Cafe...great baking, here, and a "hub" in the Miner's Bay area.

A visit to Mayne, in the "season", isn't complete without dropping in for a meal at the Springwater Lodge...overlooks Active Pass, and in fine weather, the deck is the place to be! One of the oldest structures on the Southern Gulf Islands, this is a gem (best fish and chips, anywhere!).

Beachcomb and swim at Bennett Bay...kind of like a baby Parksville Beach, and very unusual for a Gulf Island. Take a picnic from the bakery?

Rent a kayak or a bike (catch this at the Blue Vista Resort in Bennet Bay area), and meander the Island that way.

Drop in at Essential Orientals...organic products from Ocean Meadows Farm here, too.

The Mayne Island Glass Foundry is another stop on your visit.

A true gem is the Miners Bay Books location...a "real" bookstore!

Tree Frog Gallery & Natural Clothing (a softer footprint ethic) shouldn't be missed.

Mayne's Fall Fair is held on August 15h -- now there's a reason to visit!

The Lions Salmon Barbecue is on Sept. 6th.

If you want to do a charter floatplane to Miners Bay, from Ganges Harbour, give Salt Spring Air a call. A fun thing to do, too.

Enjoy!