Discover the Magic of Salt Spring Island with Kids

Salt Spring Island might just be the most magical of the Southern Gulf Islands, especially if you’re visiting with kids. Warm lakes, rocky beaches to comb, sweet scoops of ice cream, and one-of-a-kind treasures around every corner—these are what make a trip to Salt Spring with kids feel so special.

But where should you start? Without further ado, here’s everything you’ll want to do on Salt Spring Island with your kids.

Let Them Run Wild! Kid-Approved Trails on Salt Spring Island

Start your adventure on Salt Spring Island by taking the whole family—kids, dog, and hangers-on—to one of the island’s many kid-friendly trails. There are plenty of options for all ages, abilities, and attention spans.

• Duck Creek trail is a gentle, family-friendly option that weaves through a sunny field and back through a mossy forest along a babbling brook. Keep an eye out for the resident owls and deer hiding among the trees.
• Mouat Park is an option for the littlest hikers, as this easy stroll through the shady forest has an ongoing story walk. You get to read a new book every week while you explore this calm park that’s walking distance from Ganges. For bigger kids and teens, pick up a few discs in town and try a round or two at the disc golf course here.
• Mount Erskine Loop is a short and slightly more challenging hike that has plenty of payoff for kids and adults alike. Starting at the top of Trustee’s Trail Road, this 3.4-km loop weaves through beautiful arbutus forests and ends with a spectacular view out over Vancouver Island and Crofton. Watch for fairy doors along the way, and bring a special rock or a pinecone to leave at their door.

All Year Round, You’ll Always Want To Make Time for the Beach

On hot summer days, you’ll find most of Salt Spring locals hanging out around a body of water. Although parking at most beaches and lake shores can feel a bit chaotic, with a bit of patience you’ll find space. And at the very least, the parking is free!

• Beddis Beach is a longtime favourite, with many family vacations happening on repeat here. It’s beloved because of its wide sandy-ish beach that’s ideal for wading at low tide.
• Vesuvius Bay Beach pairs a sunny, sandy shoreline with sweeping views out over Stuart Channel. When it comes to ocean swimming, this isn’t as cold as you’d think, plus it’s easy to keep track of time by the comings and goings of the Vesuvius ferry.
• Cusheon Lake offers calm, freshwater swimming tucked into the forest, a nice change of pace from the slightly chilly saltwater beaches.
• St Mary’s Lake, usually the warmest water on the island, is full of activity during the summer and even a few intrepid swimmers during the colder months. It has a very small sandy beach, shallow entry, and a floating dock. It’s highly recommended to bring a paddle board or inflatable for a long afternoon of floating.

And even in the off-season, when it’s dreary outside, Salt Spring’s beaches make for the perfect outdoor exploration. You’ll find shells, interesting rocks, tiny crabs, minnows, and many types of sea weed. Throw on your rain gear and rubber boots, then spend a few hours poking along the rocky shores around Fernwood Dock or Ruckle Park.

More Energy To Burn Off? Check Out Salt Spring’s Favourite Playgrounds

When it’s simply time to run in circles and climb over everything, make a beeline for the Fernwood School Playground on the north end of the island, or Centennial Park Playground in Ganges. Both are top-tier playgrounds that offer more than a simple swing set or slide—think climbable, interactive equipment and usually a crew of new friends to meet.

Where To Find the Island’s Sweetest Stops

All that beach-hopping and fairy-door searching will be sure to work up an appetite. The good news on Salt Spring is that almost all the restaurants offer kid-friendly options like chicken fingers, fries, and mac and cheese.

And if you’re on Salt Spring Island with kids, you also might be on the hunt for a little sweet treat. Before the midday hunger strikes and threatens to topple even the most pleasant Salt Spring adventure, here are several delicious solutions sprinkled across the island.

Glad Ice Cream is the classic ice cream stop. Bright colors, waffle cones, and fun flavours that cover everything from unicorn sprinkles to figs and honey, all made right here on Salt Spring.

Salt Spring Chocolates offers something more indulgent. This is a classic chocolateria, with homemade ice cream and a top-tier collection of candies. Kids will love it, and so will any adults seeking a more refined souvenir.  

You’ll also want to keep an eye out while driving along the island for the dozens of farm stands loaded with sweet treats! In the summer, you’ll want to head to Beaverpoint Road to find the famous Fruiticles farm stand.

Toys and Treasures for Kids on Salt Spring Island

How many of us have memories of heading to an epic local toy store when on a family vacation? Salt Spring’s shops are ready to create these lifelong joyous memories

• West of the Moon is the island’s number-one stop for “uncommon toys with an uncommon class for uncommon fun.” Tucked into downtown Ganges, it’s a well-curated collection with something for kids of every interest. You could easily spend an hour (or more) browsing the shelves. Even a pocket full of change goes a long way here.
• Salt Spring Books, just a Salt Spring block away, is an excellent stop for kids and teens alike—grab a graphic novel for the ferry ride home, pick up a journal and some stickers, or stock up on a few new bedtime stories.
• The Wardrobe in Fulford is where the real treasure-hunting happens. Could you fit more ephemera into one place? Beads, crystals, stickers, patches, imports, and more are all packed in, waiting to be dug through.
• Foxes Board Game Shop is the island’s go-to for a rainy-day pick-me-up or a new favourite to bring home. This is one of the best curated board game shops in BC, and even the board game fanatic will find something new here.

One Stop for All of It: The Saturday Market

If there’s one place to find a little bit of everything and a few extra dashes of magical energy, it’s the Saturday Market. From Easter Weekend until the end of October, the market is the place to be and where the entire island comes out to shop.  

Bring a reusable bag and an appetite, because between the makers, the farmers, and the food stalls, everyone can find a treat and a treasure to remember Salt Spring by. While there are definitely artisan flavours and elevated crafts for the parents, kids will also find more than a few things to spend their allowance money on.

What To Do with Kids on Salt Spring Today?

No matter what time of year you visit Salt Spring Island, trust there is something for children going on. Check out Gulf Island Events for the most up-to-date listings, including kids’ camps, workshops, concerts, and more.

Discover the Salt Spring Island Magic with Your Kids

By the end of your trip to Salt Spring Island with kids, they’ll have a new cherished toy from West of the Moon, popsicle-stained faces, and probably trouble keeping their eyes open on the way home  thanks to such a jam-packed vacation.

That’s the real Salt Spring magic: it makes memories that last a lifetime. And someday, the kids splashing at Beddis Beach this summer will be the ones bringing their own back years from now.