Summer
Planning a Bike Trip to Salt Spring Island? Start here
Salt Spring Island has become a destination for cyclists, bikepackers, and day-trippers. Easily accessible from both the mainland and Vancouver Island, in just a short ferry ride, you'll find yourself pedalling some of BC's most beautiful cycling routes, past rocky shorelines, bucolic fields with fuzzy sheep, and plenty of locally made roadside treats. If you’re planning a Salt Spring cycling trip, you'll want to start here. We spoke with Rosie Schinners, a longtime local cyclist, and Lizi McLoughlin, a [...]
Cycling in the Southern Gulf Islands: Tips & Resources
Long recognized as a great cycling destination, the Southern Gulf Islands offer quiet, rolling terrain through towering trees and along dramatic coastlines. With options for every type of cyclist, from the rugged all-weather outdoor enthusiasts to those fuelled by good food and plenty of it, cycling the Gulf Islands is always an adventure. Yet, for the uninitiated, the Southern Gulf Islands come with a few unique hazards that are different from those you'd face cycling around Vancouver or other [...]
Getting Here: How to Fly to the Southern Gulf Islands
Did you know you can get to the Southern Gulf Islands in just 30 minutes and avoid the stress of ferry traffic and long waits? Scheduled daily floatplane service is available from Vancouver to Salt Spring, with additional flights to Pender, Galiano, Mayne, and Saturna Island during the busy summer months. Not to mention the endless possibilities offered by the many local charter services. Flying to Salt Spring and the rest of the islands is a memorable, convenient, and [...]
All Your Ferry Questions Answered
If you're planning to visit any of the Southern Gulf Islands, chances are your journey here will start aboard a ferry. BC Ferries operates multiple daily sailings from Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and Victoria (Swartz Bay), as well as around the islands, transporting thousands of locals and visitors alike throughout the Salish Sea. While island residents have long learned to navigate the complexities of ferry life with ease, for the uninitiated, planning a trip around a seemingly convoluted ferry schedule can [...]
Your guide to a Southern Gulf Island studio tour
Any visit here comes packed with opportunities to see artist studios, roadside galleries, farm stands, and community spaces that capture all the special creative energy flowing through this region. Here's your guide to the studios, tours, and other art-filled adventures waiting across the Southern Gulf Islands.
Where the Road Slows Down: Bikepacking the Cowichan–Salt Spring Loop
When visiting Salt Spring Island, it’s common to see slogans such as ‘Slow the Folk Down’ or ‘Slow Down, This Isn’t the Mainland’ plastered to anything from a rusting 30-year-old Schwinn bicycle to a brand-new Land Rover. Being the largest of the Gulf Islands, it attracts a wide variety of people from hippies, to yuppies, to remote workers, to retirees, to an influx of tourists each summer coming from near and far. Yet, no matter who they may be, pretty [...]
All of the Southern Gulf Islands Farmers Markets
On your next adventure to the Southern Gulf Islands, you won't have to look far to find fresh produce and local goods. Our islands boast a remarkable concentration of farmers, makers, and artisans. That translates directly to an incredible density of community-minded farmers markets. For you, this means more opportunities to sample seasonal fare, connect with local creatives, and experience the spirit that makes these islands so special. From Galiano to Salt Spring and beyond, here's your guide to the [...]
Paddling the Southern Gulf Islands: A Guide to Exploring BC’s Coastal Paradise
The Southern Gulf Islands archipelago is hard to beat in terms of world-class paddling destinations. This collection of small islands is scattered across the southern end of the Salish Sea and boasts a glorious Mediterranean microclimate, crystal clear waters, and rare coastal ecosystems. It’s also home to an often kooky community of artists, farmers, and unique characters who help make this place so memorable. These islands are part of the traditional unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including [...]
Eating local: farm to table food hubs in the Southern Gulf Islands
On your next visit, support island values by eating local food at one of these stand-out restaurants that are known for sourcing locally.
Celebrate Pride in the Southern Gulf Islands
From extravagant pride parades to powerful community-building events to a tasty sausage party—celebrate Pride all summer long in the Southern Gulf Islands.
5 Ways to Celebrate Asian Heritage in the Southern Gulf Islands
While early Japanese settlers had an especially strong influence on the islands, many Asian communities, including Chinese and Pacific Islanders, have contributed to the region’s rich diversity. Here are five ways to celebrate Asian Heritage.
Gone Camping! The Southern Gulf Island Campgrounds
Whether biking, boating, or driving here, you'll find a spectacular spot to set up camp, the Southern Gulf Islands offer campers a slice of natural beauty while having all the local amenities nearby.
How to Visit the Southern Gulf Islands With an EV: Where to Plug In and Charge Up
Exploring the Southern Gulf Islands with an EV is not only feasible but also convenient. Thanks to our extensive network of over 30 public charging stations, your next trip here is well within range.
Travelling the BC Southern Gulf Islands with kids
Quiet, safe, and welcoming, the Southern Gulf Islands are an ideal place to visit with kids.
Water conservation in the Southern Gulf Islands
Through the summer, we have less water available and these shortages affect our communities. As a visitor, you can help by being mindful of your water usage, here’s how.
Picnic Perfect with Local Food from the Southern Gulf Islands
Whatever island you find yourself on this season, here are just a few hand-picked selections from across the islands to add to your local food picnic spread.
Boating in the Southern Gulf Islands
A paradise of fascinating shorelines and quiet coves, use this guide to see why boating in the Southern Gulf Islands is the most visited region on the BC coast.
Why you need to go to the Saturna Lamb BBQ
The Saturna Lamb BBQ is one of the most exceptional Canada Day parties in the country. And here's why.
How to Leave no Trace in the Southern Gulf Islands
Consider it best to pack out all your garbage and recycling with you, but if you can’t, here’s how to properly dispose of your waste in each of the Southern Gulf Islands.
Car-Free Travel in the Southern Gulf Islands
The Southern Gulf Islands can be easily experienced without a car. It's easier to use the ferries and it's a great way to explore the eccentricities and understand the community-oriented character of our destination
Everything you ever wanted to know about Galiano Island
Galiano Island, sitting on the eastern edge of the Salish Sea, is a home away from home for many Vancouverites, a quiet retreat for creative types, and one of the best destinations for getting away from it all. Although it's less than an hour by ferry from Vancouver, Galiano Island still feels like a wild adventure. And with that adventure comes plenty of questions. What's the best way to get here? Are there bears? Does Galiano have a grocery [...]
How to get to Salt Spring Island
How do you get to Salt Spring Island? This island is one of the most connected Southern Gulf Islands, with three ferry terminals, eight moorage options for boaters, float plane service, and an excellent public transit system once you get here. But with so many options, it can be confusing for anyone unfamiliar with the routes and schedules of the many Salt Spring ferries. Let's break it down into more manageable pieces. Here is everything you need to know [...]
Everything you ever wanted to know about Mayne Island
Beachcombing, forest wanderings, and good eating are the heart of Mayne Island. This little corner of the Southern Gulf Islands remains quiet and uncrowded for most of the year, and even in the busier summer months, there are plenty of places here to unplug and get away from it all. What do you need to know before you head off on your first Mayne Island adventure? From how to get to here to island amenities to camping, let this [...]
Everything you ever wanted to know about Saturna Island
Does Saturna have a grocery store? What is there to do on Saturna? If you're planning a visit to this peaceful corner of the Southern Gulf Islands, chances are you’ve got a few questions before you go. While Saturna may be one of the less-travelled islands, it still offers plenty of essentials (and even more surprises). From ferry logistics to food options, transportation, and things to do, this guide answers all your burning questions to help you plan a [...]
How to get to Saturna Island
Saturna is one of the quietest of the Southern Gulf Islands, with just a few hundred year-round residents. Even in the busy summer months, and during the world-famous Saturna Island Lamb BBQ, it's one of the Gulf Islands that always stays decidedly off the beaten path. All of which tends to translate into fewer ferries than the rest of the islands. Which is why you've landed on this guide — how do you get to Saturna Island, anyway? Whether [...]
