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Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe
Salt Spring Island
An aerial view of Salt Spring Island
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Andrea Johnson/Destination BC
Salt Spring Island
Garry Oaks Winery is located on a terraced ten-acre vineyard carved out of the south-facing gravel slopes overlooking the Burgoyne Valley on Salt Spring Island, BC.
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Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe
Salt Spring Island
Boats off the coast of Salt Spring Island.
By Janet Clouston, Chamber of Commerce & Salt Spring Tourism
This BC destination is full of natural scenery, exciting festivals and new places to discover with every visit.
I have boating friends who tell me they love visiting Salt Spring Island and staying in Ganges Village. Some come every summer from the B.C. Lower Mainland, Washington State and California, either by sail or powerboat. My friends from Vancouver Island are here several times a year, calling it their “home port” away from home. When I ask them why they love it so much, their answers are varied, but a few themes come up over and over again.
The first thing they say is that pretty much everything that you need to make your visit to Salt Spring Island great is within easy walking distance. Boaters can choose from one of three marinas, offering 300 slips located in Ganges Harbour and yours to call home for a few days or a few weeks.
Within a short walk are great restaurants, galleries, cafes, grocery stores, marine services and some of the best boutique shopping on the West Coast. Farm-fresh produce from Salt Spring and Vancouver Island with great organic and gluten-free options are all around.
Not too many people visit Salt Spring Island without planning a trip to the Famous Saturday Market, which is within a few minutes’ walk of the harbour. Everything is made, baked or grown on the island; a strict rule is in place for vendors. Based on the time of year, the market changes depending on what farmers have fresh and what artisans are making and working on.
One thing that never changes are the smiles on people faces as they discover and engage with the crafts people and artisan food producers. After you find that treasure, you can plan several days’ meals from just one visit. Here on a Tuesday? The Famers Market is open from June through October.
One of my friends is a “total foodie.” She used to call Granville Island in Vancouver her favorite culinary obsession. Now she says it’s Salt Spring Island. “They do it - but you live it” she said to me once. With more than 200 working farms on the island, producing some of the best garlic, greens, apples, lamb, mushrooms and tomatoes to be found anywhere, Salt Spring’s micro-climate is great for farming.
The salt air from the sea is part of the terrior of the islands soil and you can taste the difference in the food and wine. Long a part of the organic food movement, our permaculture and sustainable practices have become a model that many places around the world follow and our local farmers have become leaders in Canada’s sustainable farming movement. This also spills over into several food trucks located in Ganges Village with a focus on local fare. We were recently featured on The Food Network on an episode of “Chuck and Danny’s Road Trip” where Salt Spring was the star of the show. You can see the show on saltspringtourism.com.
If wine, beer, cider and spirits are something you appreciate Salt Spring Island boasts three award winning wineries, two cideries, a brewery, and a distillery. Within walking distance are Mistaken Identity Winery and Salt Spring Wild Cider. A short drive south gets you to Salt Spring Vineyard, Garry Oaks Vineyard, Salt Spring Island Ales, and Salt Spring Apple Co. All offer great picnic areas and some sell food to compliment your tasting experience.
The Western Splendour Tour Company offers tours to many studios, food producers including the iconic Salt Spring Cheese, and the wineries. They have a Best of Salt Spring tour that seems to be a favorite and leads to the highlights of the community. Public bus service is also available.
One thing my boating friends love is the access to nature. Just a short walk leads into the woods either in Ganges Mouat Park or along Churchill Road, which takes you to a great hiking trail or to Churchill Beach, with oyster shells beneath your feet, left there by early First Nations hunters and gatherers.
There is great cycling from the village as well, with bike rentals offered by Salt Spring Adventure Company at The Salt Spring Marina. Scooter rentals from Salt Spring Car Rentals are another great option. Other outdoor adventures include kayaking, whale watching and stand-up paddle boarding.
If you enjoy golf, the Salt Spring Island Golf and Country Club has been a great course to play since 1928. Perhaps the best on the Gulf Islands, the nine-hole course has an assortment of par 3’s, 4’s and 5’s, a number of hills, long fairways and challenging greens. The course is great for beginners or seasoned golfers and has a lovely restaurant and pro-shop. Close by are public tennis, pickle ball and squash courts, plus a running track.
Yoga may be new to you but it is not new to us. The Salt Spring Yoga Centre has been here for 40 years and was one if the first yoga centres in North America. Their yoga retreats are attended by people from all over the world and they offer vegan meals with many ingredients from their organic garden.
If you have an art lover on board, it won’t take long to for them to discover the talent on display all around the harbour. Named as one of the best artist’s towns in Canada, Ganges has about a dozen galleries featuring artist from across the country with an emphasis on west coast artists. First Nations artwork is available as is the work from famous Salt Spring and Gulf Island artists. Priced for every budget, work goes from a few dollars for art cards to a few thousand for original paintings and sculptures.
Live music and cultural performances are worth the trip all on their own. You are sure to be entertained at the Tree House Café offering Music under the Stars, every evening June through September, nighty live music at the Oystercatcher Restaurant and live music at Moby’s Pub. There are also performances at ArtSpring, a 265-seat community arts centre, attracting talent from across the globe for music, dance and literary art.
Another great feature is the range of accommodations. Operators are passionate about the island and make your stay one to remember – with organic freshly made pastries, farm fresh eggs and hand-made preserves. Varying in budget and amenities, there are options that range from camping, cozy guest suites, and B&B’s to cottages and cabins. There is also Hastings House Country House Hotel and the newly renovated Harbour House Hotel, both within walking distance of the harbour.
One of my friends is not really keen on crowds so his preference is to travel in the off-season. Fortunately, many of the things he loves about the island are offered year-round. We even have a great Christmas celebration on Salt Spring plus the new February Festival – a month long arts and culture showcase including the Indoor Salt Spring Market.
You can boat over to Salt Spring Island, or take BC Ferries or Coho Ferries. You can also visit in style and fly over via one of the great float plane operators.
Seeing the island from my friends’ point of view is a good thing. Of course, since I work on Salt Spring, I get to live here and am proud to call this special place home.
For more details drop by the Visitor Info Centre in Ganges or visit www.saltspringtourism.com