7 Great Salt Spring Island Vacation Ideas

7 Great Salt Spring Island Vacation Ideas
By: The Salt Spring Islander , Posted On: 2007-05-25

If you’re thinking about taking a relaxing west

coast getaway then you should definitely consider a

visit to Salt Spring Island. The largest of the

Canadian gulf Islands, Salt Spring has a wide array

of things to do that will suit any taste and budget.

Below is a list of 7 great ways to make your Salt

Spring vacation memorable.

1. Try your hand at kayaking – Saltspring

Island offers some very scenic and protected waters

in which to take your first kayaking forays. Ganges

harbor is protected from much of the weather and has

several intriguing islands that you can kayak to and

explore, like Goat Island and ‘the 3 sisters’.

2. Have a little romance – Salt Spring is

unique in that it has one of the highest numbers of

bed and breakfasts anywhere in Canada for a

community of its size. From the quaint and cozy to

the truly spectacular, you’ll find such gems as a

100+ year old farm house by the lake to a bed and

breakfast in a tree! There is something to suit

everybody’s budget and taste.

3. Hit the beach – The Island has a number of

traditional sandy beaches but it also has numerous

beaches where you can drink in that gorgeous west

coast scenery. Vesuvius or Churchill beach are

probably your best bets if you like sand and warm

water, but the beaches on the North and South ends

of the island also offer spectacular scenery and

great opportunities for beachcombing

4. Get pampered from head to toe – the island

offers several choices for spa treatments and

massages. Get a facial, body wrap, hot stone

treatment or a full body massage. If you thought

just visiting Salt Spring was relaxing then taking a

spa treatment can take your relaxation to a whole

new level.

5. Stroll around the local market – Every

Saturday morning during the good weather months Salt

Spring has a local market in the heart of Ganges.

This market is huge with lots to see do and taste.

Delicious deli items, snacks and preserves can be

found in abundance alongside clothing pottery

painting and a wide selection of fresh produce. And

there is frequently live music. Definitely worth

checking out but be sure to either arrive early or

park a few blocks away as finding a parking spot

while the market is on can be pretty tricky.

6. Take an art tour – the island has well over

50 artist studios that are open to the public. Take

and afternoon or the whole weekend to leisurely

explore and examine some truly beautiful west coast

artwork!

7. Hit the links – For an island with just over

10,000 year round residents Salt Spring Island is

fortunate to have 2 excellent golf courses.

Blackburn Meadows offers a more rustic or

traditional golfing experience. Formerly a sheep

pasture and set on the edge of Blackburn lake the

course offers great scenery and some unusual

obstacles ranging from the occasional heard of sheep

that have hopped the fence from a neighboring

pasture to a family of deer grazing on the 9th hole

to the occasional unexpected water hazard created by

the lake’s local beaver!

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Ian is a former Salt Spring Islander and has written many helpful articles for making the most of your visit to Salt Spring Island and to make your Salt Spring Island Accommodations as pleasant and memorable as possible.