Best Things about Salt Spring Island

We decided to do a two day/one night getaway to Salt Spring Island which is one of the Southern Gulf Islands. That meant taking a quick 30 minute BC ferry from Swartz Bay which is just outside Victoria. The ferry ride was really smooth and beautiful and we brought our car on but we saw others just walking or boarding with bikes. The island is filled with lots of small organic farms, a fun harbor area and miles of trails along the shore. Here's some of our favorite things to do:

Take Walks

Whether that's just around town, out to the harbor or at beautiful places like Ruckle Provincial Park there are lots of beautiful places to stroll.

Take a Hike

We did the Mt. Erskine trail which took us past a couple of adorable hobbit doors and to some sweeping views of the surrounding small islands.

Drive to Views

Another place for panoramic vistas was the top of Mt Maxwell. We managed to drive the rough dirt road all the way to the top (there were a couple of sketchy parts and we were glad for our higher clearance).

Visit Local Cider Houses & Vineyards

In between hiking we stopped at some of the cool local places for interesting tastings and yummy food. (Salt Spring Vineyards, Ciderworks, and Salt Spring Wild Cider House)

Have a Splurgy Dinner Out

We had a romantic night having dinner at Hastings House which is a high end hotel/country resort. We started outside with a drink and then moved into the manor house which was built in 1939 to resemble the 11th century Sussex-style family home of the owner who was an English naval architect. The dining room is lovely and is open to the public (you do need a reservation). Even if you don't eat here it's totally worth soaking up the atmosphere and views with a drink on their beautiful outside patio.