Island Parent Pre-Summer 2023

Explore the Gulf Islands
Want to see wildlife? You’ve come to the right
place. You’ll find black-tailed deer, seals,
whales, song birds, sea birds, sea lions
and porpoises. Biking, hiking and kayaking are
some of the best ways to explore the islands. So
choose your mode of transport—be that on your
feet or seat—and get going!
Meet You at the Market
Salt Spring Saturday Market on the waterfront in
Ganges is famous for a reason: there’s lots to see
and do. Oh, yeah…and the Salt Spring fruitsicles!
You’ll find 140+ stallholders who, between April
to October from 9am–4pm, sell what they make,
bake or grow. saltspringmarket.com
See the Seashells at the Seashore
Montague Harbour was declared the province’s
first marine park in 1959 and the area has been
home to Coast Salish people for over 3,800
years. You’ll find middens made of discarded
clam, oyster and abalone shells. Crushed by
storms and bleached by the sun, the shells have
created beautiful white beaches, perfect for exploring.
bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/montague
Play in Paradise
Visit Big Tribune Bay on Hornby Island, dubbed
“Hawaii of the North” for its crystal-clear blue waters
and sweeping sandy beach. With lots of tidal
pools to explore at low tide, this Hornby favourite
provides a day’s worth of to-dos so pack a picnic
and beach toys and kick off your shoes.
bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/tribune
Commandeer a Kayak
Go kayaking on Galiano Island with a kayak from
Gulf Island Kayaking and see the sandstone
shoreline and maybe even a whale or two. As
the original kayak outfitter in the Southern Gulf
Islands, the owners chose Galiano Island as its
base because of the exceptional beauty of the
island’s undeveloped coastline, the abundance
of diverse wildlife and the reliable tranquility of
its sheltered waters. For rates and tours, visit
seakayak.ca.
Find the Mountain Fairies
Follow the Fairy Door Trail at Mount Erskine on
Salt Spring. A good, stiff hike up the 488-metre
mountain takes you past twisted trees, mossy
forest floors and an assortment of fairy doors. Be
forewarned: the first door is further along the trail
than you might expect. For details and a map,
visit travelingislanders.com/enchanted-fairydoor-trail-on-salt-spring-island.
Hit the Hilltops
Explore Helliwell Park on Hornby Island and take
in some incredible views. This 5km hike is stroller
friendly, with an all-terrainer. The expansive grass
26 Island Parent Magazine IslandParent.ca