Canada’s westernmost province, British Columbia, is studded with 17,000 miles of shoreline and 40,000 islands dispersed throughout its waters, lots of them enchanting locations on their very own. Vancouver, the biggest metropolis of the province, serves as a gateway to the area, which is residence to a bunch of marine life like Steller sea lions, sea otters and Pacific octopuses.
Listed here are 4 coastal locations, a comparatively brief journey from Vancouver, excellent for a day journey or weekend getaway. Whether or not you journey by way of ferry or floatplane, the journey affords a panoramic view of the North Shore mountains and open Pacific waters.
Bowen Island
A 20-minute ferry journey northwest from Vancouver, Bowen Island has mountain climbing trails, seaside coves and boutiques. Part of the Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Area, the island is acknowledged for its vary of ecosystems, from coastal areas to forests and wetlands, which help species together with the western pink cedar and mule deer.
Hop on an e-bike to navigate the 19-square-mile island or hire a kayak to discover the encircling waters the place humpback whales and orcas are recognized to make an look. Hike Mount Gardner, the island’s highest peak, to be rewarded with expansive views of the Georgia Strait and Burrard Inlet. Alternatively, climb one of many trails at Crippen Regional Park.
As many shops shut by 4 p.m., head to Artisan Sq., the primary industrial district and a 15-minute reasonably uphill stroll from the ferry terminal, early. There, you may discover boutiques like Sangre de Fruta, recognized for its natural bathtub and sweetness merchandise made on the island. Cease for a scrumptious deal with at Cacao West Chocolatier, acknowledged for its Bowen-made truffles.
Nearer to the ferry terminal at Cosy Cove, guests can partake in a gin tasting at Copper Spirit Distillery, which additionally boasts a menu of greater than 50 unique cocktails rotated seasonally. Guests can pattern quite a lot of drinks with elements corresponding to fir ideas and seasonal black currants sourced from native farms.
The island has quite a lot of European-inspired eating choices together with small plates at Barcelona Tapas and Wine Bar, Italian stone-oven pizza at Tuscany Restaurant and French-inspired bread at Artisan Eats Cafe.
Should you determine to remain in a single day, Kitoki Inn (beginning at 585 Canadian {dollars}, or about $430 an evening), has three minimalist cabins surrounded by majestic cedar and fir timber. Included in your keep are two non-public 90-minute classes on the property’s Japanese onsen-inspired bathhouse outfitted with a UV-treated scorching tub and refreshing hydrotherapy bathe.
Or unplug at one among Nectar Yoga Retreat’s Scandinavian-inspired onyx-colored cottages (beginning at 199 Canadian {dollars} an evening, two-night minimal), the place you get up to the earthy scent of maple and alder timber. Every keep features a every day grounding yoga and guided meditation session on the property’s geodesic dome.
Getting there: Ferries depart every day virtually hourly beginning at 5:50 a.m. from Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay Terminal, and virtually hourly from Bowen Island’s Cosy Cove with the ultimate ferry leaving about 10 p.m. No reservations, so allocate extra time throughout peak durations, particularly if touring with a automobile, and search for updates on the BC Ferries web site. Tickets begin at 12 Canadian {dollars} per individual and 33 Canadian {dollars} for the standard automobile spherical journey.
Salt Spring Island
Unfold alongside the Salish sea between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia are the Gulf Islands. The most important of them is Salt Spring, which spans roughly 70 sq. miles.
In case you are touring by foot, the island has a dependable transit system to get round the primary areas. Or you may hire an e-bike from Outspokin Bike Store or a scooter from Salt Spring Automotive & Scooter Leases. Expertise the waters alongside the Trincomali Channel by renting a kayak or becoming a member of a whale-watching journey organized by Salt Spring Adventures and observe the J Pod, a gaggle of resident orcas.
The island’s latest vineyard is Vivezza, the place you may cease by for a tasting. Paul Troop, Vivezza’s founder, stated that the island’s distinctive climate patterns, with heat winters and lengthy, dry summers, “end in gradual ripening” and “wines with pronounced fruit flavors and aromas with balancing acids.”
Kutatás Wines is thought for its chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Zweigelt. The founders, Mira Tusz and Daniel Dragert, purpose to develop and produce terroir-driven wines, by way of continuous experimentation and analysis. All wine is produced on the island utilizing “sustainable practices like dry farming and no irrigation,” which permits for maximal focus of taste, Tusz stated. Pattern a choice of 5 wines or take pleasure in a bottle on the patio overlooking the vines throughout your go to.
Salt Spring can be recognized for its heat bakeries and connoisseur meals. Cease at Francis Bread, for recent sourdough and pastries. Subsequent, take the winding island street to Salt Spring Cheese Co. and observe the manufacturing facility on a self-guided tour. Pattern quite a lot of goat cheese produced on-site, such because the creamy garlic chevre or the juliette, a wealthy ripened Camembert-style cheese. Earlier than leaving the island, seize some domestically made preserves and spreads at Salt Spring Kitchen Co.
Keep the night time at one of many oceanfront guesthouses at Lightwater Cove (beginning at 420 Canadian {dollars} an evening), waking as much as the crisp scent of fir and expansive water views. The property’s 31-acre backyard, together with a glass greenhouse for recent greens all yr, is a spotlight. Add a thermal mineral pool session the place you may unwind in an outside heated saltwater pool, ocean-facing wooden barrel sauna and scorching tub.
Getting there: Ferries depart about twice every day from Vancouver’s Tsawwassen ferry terminal, with the primary ferry leaving round 10 a.m. Returning ferries depart round 7 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays, and round 4 p.m. the opposite days. Reservations are really helpful. Tickets begin at 29 Canadian {dollars} per particular person and extra 85 Canadian {dollars} for the standard automobile spherical journey.
Alternatively, hop on a floatplane with Harbour Air, departing a number of occasions a day between each locations, with the earliest flights leaving Vancouver round 8 a.m. and the newest flights leaving Salt Spring round 6 p.m. Tickets begin at 103 Canadian {dollars} a technique.
Galiano Island
About 31 miles south of Vancouver, Galiano is the driest of the Gulf Islands; the added solar and decrease moisture contribute to the island’s distinct ecosystem. The calm island roads make it excellent for exploring on an e-bike or moped that may be rented at Galiano Adventures.
The island is thought for its progressive eating choices incorporating elements from the area. At Pilgrimme, a restaurant providing seasonal menus, diners can anticipate finding domestically foraged bull kelp on their plates year-round, whether or not in broths and sauces or seasonings and salt. Jesse McCleery, a co-owner of Pilgrimme, stated the restaurant was “born out of a need to be nearer to nature away from town’s hustle.”
Throughout the island, Lola affords a fusion of Southeast Asian delicacies and cooking impressed by the Gulf Islands, with menu objects incorporating produce grown in-house, like eggplants and peppers.
The Galiano Conservancy Affiliation affords common drop-in volunteer days the place guests can be part of restoration tasks to take away invasive species or preserve trails on the island.
Hike one of many many trails at Mount Galiano or the Bluffs, or at Dionisio Level Provincial Park, on the northwestern tip of the island, which is barely accessible by water. Galiano is a serious flight path for migratory birds together with eagles, nice blue herons, owls and hummingbirds. Stroll by way of trails at Bellhouse Provincial Park overlooking Energetic Move, a great place to search for marine life and birdwatch. Alternatively, get on the water with Gulf Island Kayaking to discover the encircling Trincomali Channel and wave-sculpted sandstone lining the shores of Galiano, observing minks and seals.
Retreat for the night time at Bodega Ridge (beginning at 345 Canadian {dollars} an evening, two-night minimal), a group of seven rustic log cabins located on a 22-acre property fantastically surrounded by arbutus timber and wildflowers.
Should you choose waterfront views, keep at Bodega Cove (beginning at 295 Canadian {dollars} an evening, two-night minimal), Bodega Ridge’s sister property. It’s a 10-minute stroll away with beachfront entry.
Getting there: Ferries depart about 4 occasions a day from Vancouver’s Tsawwassen ferry terminal, with the primary ferry leaving round 10 a.m. Returning ferries depart round 5 p.m. on Saturdays, 6 p.m. on Tuesdays to Thursdays, 8 p.m. on Mondays and Sundays, with a 9 p.m. ferry on Fridays. Reservations are really helpful. Tickets begin at 29 Canadian {dollars} per particular person and extra 85 Canadian {dollars} for the standard automobile spherical journey.
Seair flies floatplanes to the island, departing twice every day to and from each locations, with the earliest flights leaving Vancouver round 7 a.m. and the newest leaving Galiano round 5 p.m. Tickets begin at 179 Canadian {dollars} a technique.
Southern Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast extends 111 miles from its southern tip at Howe Sound to the northern edge close to Pender Harbor. Whereas it’s a part of British Columbia’s mainland, the area is barely accessible by air or water due to the rugged mountainous terrain and inlets, giving it an island-like really feel.
If touring by foot, buy a day cross throughout the 40-minute ferry journey and navigate the stretch with the area’s trusted transit system.
Upon arriving in Langdale on the southern Sunshine Coast, head alongside coastal roads to Porpoise Bay Provincial Park to start out your day with a tour led by Talaysay, an Indigenous-owned tour firm. Navigating by way of forested trails, the Speaking Timber tour educates guests on how the Sechelt Coast Salish & Squamish folks have been harnessing the land for meals, drugs and expertise for generations.
Complement your expertise with a go to to Tems Swiya museum, a First Nations museum owned and operated by the Sechelt Coast Salish folks. Discover a group of artifacts like cedar baskets and stone instruments, and listen to tales illustrating the area’s Indigenous historical past and traditions.
For artwork fans, the Purple Banner Tour is a self-guided artwork crawl wherein guests comply with purple banners displayed exterior inventive areas to discover studios, galleries and outlets that includes artists and makers at work. It’s an effective way to supply domestically made pottery, glasswork, sculpture, textiles and work whereas studying concerning the space’s vibrant inventive spirit.
Study concerning the area’s ecosystem on the Nicholas Sonntag Tidepools Aquarium together with the various marine lifetime of Howe Sound, like starfish, urchins and different intertidal species. Shut by, you too can join a tour with Shaggy Jack to find out about figuring out and harvesting wild mushrooms.
The guts of the Sunshine Coast is the multiday 111-mile-long Sunshine Coast Path, the longest hut-to-hut expertise in Canada, taking journey fans by way of old-growth forests and mountain views. On a day journey, guests can hike up a bit of the path to get a way of the expertise.
Settle in for the night time at Takahashi Gardens Waterfront Retreat (beginning at 189 Canadian {dollars} an evening, two-night minimal), tucked in a secluded cove on Porpoise Bay. Get up to open views of the Sechelt Inlet and comply with one of many property’s many trails main you on to the water.
Getting there: Ferries depart every day virtually each different hour beginning at 6 a.m. from Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay Terminal, and virtually each different hour from the Sunshine Coast’s Langdale terminal with the ultimate ferry leaving at about 9 p.m. Reservations are really helpful Tickets begin at 16 Canadian {dollars} per individual and extra 54 Canadian {dollars} for the standard automobile a technique.
Alternatively, hop on a floatplane with Harbour Air, departing a number of occasions a day between Vancouver and Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast, with the earliest flights leaving Vancouver round 8 a.m. and newest flights leaving Sechelt round 6 p.m. Tickets begin at 91 Canadian {dollars} a technique.
