Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island was first called Saltspring (one word) Island by Governor James Douglas in 1853. He believed that the Salt Springs in the North of the Island would bring great wealth to the Island. It was also known by a few other names during the early years: Klaathem (Cowichan Indian word for Salt), Chuam, Tuam, and Admiral Island. Saltspring was the official name as recorded by the Geographic Board of Canada in 1905. However, Canada Post and many locals used (and still use) the name Salt Spring (2 words) Island . It is frequently abbreviated as SSI.
Salt Spring Island was first settled in 1859, primarily by farmers. In the early years it was settled by many different groups including a number of African-Americans and then a number of Hawaiians and settled on Salt Spring and a number of other gulf islands. In the 1960s and 1970s there was a large influx of back to the landers who lived either in informal communes or squatted. Many of these people have settled
and have become a large part of the culture of Salt Spring. Since the 1970s Salt Spring has attracted a large number of artists, and has become more and more of a tourist destination and retirement spot for the wealthy. This dichotomy of large developments for the hordes of people who want to get away from the development of the city has created a certain amount of conflict. However the island is still primarily characterized by the artists and farmers.
The main town, in the centre of the island, is Ganges. In the south of the island is a small cluster of shops around Fulford Harbour. To the north-west is a cluster, Vesuvius. To the east is the ferry dock at Long Harbour.

• Tourist Information Centre

  phone: +1 250-537-5252
  address: 121 Lower Ganges Rd
  Friendly and helpful volunteers can provide maps, give directions, answer questions, and give recommendations. Free parking in the shopping centre lot, plus many shops and restaurants within easy walking distance.
• Look for the Salt Spring Studio Tour brochure on the ferry you take to the island, or at the Tourist Information Centre, or download it from their web site. Quite apart from the list of studios and wineries which you can visit, it has a quite serviceable map of the island.

By boat

The most common way to get to Salt Spring Island is by BC Ferries. There are 3 separate routes that serve Salt Spring Island. The ferry from Swartz Bay (1/2 hour drive North of Victoria) to Fulford Harbour runs about every 2 hours from 7AM to 9PM. The route from Crofton (near Duncan) runs approximately hourly from about 7:30AM to about 10PM. The Southern Gulf Island route runs from Tsawwassen (near Vancouver) to various locations of the gulf island that includes a stop at Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island. This sails about twice a day.
Salt Spring is a popular destination for private boaters. There are public marinas at Ganges and Fulford (at the southern end of the island), with limited moorage, and two private marinas in Ganges Harbor that allow transient boaters.

• Saltspring Marina, next to Moby's Pub and Hastings House Country House Hotel — managed by Lesley Cheeseman for over 20 years and due to be rebuilt in 2011 — open to transient boaters as well as yacht clubs and local year-round moorage.
• Ganges Marina, closest to town.

By plane

There is no airport on Salt Spring Island, but float planes fly into Ganges Harbour. This includes regular scheduled service from the Harbour in downtown Vancouver, from Seattle and from the Float plane terminal at the South Terminal of the Vancouver Airport.

• Harbour Air, +1 604-274-1277 flies twice a day from Vancouver Harbour to the Gulf Islands which includes Ganges Harbour.
• Seair, +1-800-447-3247 flies three times a day from the Vancouver Airport to the Gulf Islands which includes Ganges Harbour.
• Saltspring Air, +1-877-537-9880 based out of Ganges on Saltspring Island. This local airline provides service 3 times a day to Maple Bay, Vancouver airport and downtown.
• Kenmore Air provides service from Lake Union in Seattle to Ganges in the summer only.

Most of these planes are pretty small, so it is not unreasonable to charter a plane to be on your schedule.

A car is usually the easiest way to get to the different parts of Salt Spring Island. If you don't bring your own, there are a small number of cars available for hire.

• Salt Spring Car Rentals

  phone: +1 250 537-5810
  address: Salt Spring Marina, Ganges
  Economy, mid-size cars, large-size cars, vans and SUVs available for rent. Convertibles and scooters also available in the summer.

The Salt Spring Island Transit System (BC Transit) (+1 250 538-4282) operates six bus routes that connect Ganges with each of the three ferry terminals as well as Fernwood. The service is very handy for getting to and from the ferries because the bus times coincide with ferry arrivals and departures. It's not as useful for other trips, as most routes only operate three or four times a day and it does not service outlying attractions like Ruckle Provincial Park, Mt Maxwell and the Sacred Lavender farm. Fare costs $2.25.
There are also a number of taxi companies that can shuttle you around the island.

• Silver Shadow Taxi

  phone: +1 250-537-3030

It is popular for visitors to get around Salt Spring on bicycle. The roads on the island tend to be narrow, hilly and quite twisty, so one needs to take care when riding a bicycle.
It is also quite common for people to hitch-hike around the island and you will probably be picked up in 5-10 minutes anywhere on the island (other than where traffic is exiting a ferry onto Salt Spring).

• Artist Studio Tour, get the Salt Spring Studio Tour map on ferry. This is a self-guided tour of over 30 different artist studios. The hours and days vary from artist to artist. This is also a very good map of Salt Spring Island. Artists studios vary from painters, sculptures, potters to speciality cheese makers. Most artists studios are open May to September, some are available year around.

• Sacred Mountain Lavender

  phone: +1 250 653-2334
  address: 401 Musgrave Rd
  Sacred Mountain Lavender is a boutique lavender farm nestled on the foothills of sacred Mount Tuam on Salt Spring Island B.C. Enjoy a self-guided farm tour and indulge in the rich purple of 2 acres of organically-grown lavender, which blooms from June to September.

• Kayak to nearby Russell Island, located in the mouth of Fulford Harbour. Russell Island is part of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and features gorgeous examples of second-growth Douglas fir, arbutus and Garry oak trees. A gentle loop trail hugs the island's shore, and takes you to the historic Mahoi House. Here, descendants of Maria Mahoi — one of the island's original Hawaiian (Kanaka) settlers — host an interpretive program for visitors. The Russell Island Host Program runs from early June until early September.

• Island Escapades

  phone: +1 250-537-2553
  address: 163 Fulford-Ganges Rd
  Guided kayaking tours, lessons, rentals, sailing excursions. Plus they can connect you to other activities such as SCUBA diving. Also an outdoor gear shop.
• Swim
• Hike
• Fall Fair a traditional country fair with a Salt Spring flavor. Held around the last weekend of summer or the first weekend of fall. It is held at a very nice fair grounds that has a number of buildings and a few show areas. There are judging of entries in everything from baking, and vegetables to equestrian and livestock. The food and craft stands are quite good. There is also music all day long

• Salt Spring marketHeld every Saturday from May to October in Ganges.

• Climbing — Salt Spring Island offers British Columbia's only cobble rock climbing area; that is, climbing on walls made of a dense matrix of smooth pebbles. Other climbing opportunities are found near the top of Mount Maxwell Park.

• scenic plane rideFor that aerial perspective, try the floatplane scenic tour.

• Yoga- Attend a yoga retreat, yoga teacher training program or other spiritual event at the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga. The Centre offers accommodation and meals for its residential programs, but also hosts short events for commuters.

Most of the eateries on the island are in Ganges.

• Embe Bakery

  phone: +1 250-537-5611
  address: 174 Fulford-Ganges Rd
  Delicious sweet buns, cookies, pies, as well as lunch sandwiches. They will happily pack baked goods to go.

• Express Sushi2go

  phone: +1 250 538-1688
  address: 120-170 Fulford Ganges Rd
  A variety of well-executed Japanese food; teriyaki and tempura in addition to sushi. A few counter seats in the micro-shop if you want to eat right away.

• House Piccolo

  phone: +1 250-537-1844
  address: 108 Hereford Avenue
  This cozy 30-seat dining room delivers exquisite food with a combination of white-tablecloth service and friendly, laid-back island informality. The published menu is long on seafood and game, but the kitchen knows vegans and vegetarians exist, and will likely be able to accommodate if you ask. Reservations recommended, because many people know how good this place is.

• Tree House Cafe

  phone: +1 250 537-5379
  address: 106 Purvis Ln

• Al's Gourmet Falafel & Fries

  phone: +1 250 538-7573
  address: 151 Rainbow Rd
  This red card offers falafel, pita, and poutine. Some vegan-friendly options. On Saturdays, the cart is at the community market in Centennial park.

• Saturday MarketThis community market includes, among the clothing and jewelry and art, various food vendors. You can get anything from a piece of fudge to a full helping of pasta or stir-fried noodles.

However there are a few restaurants in other parts of the island:

• Fernwood Road Cafe

  phone: +1 250 931-2233
  address: 325 Fernwood Rd
  Offering comfort food and a place for the community to meet. Breakfast includes oatmeal, french toast, and grilled potatoes. Lunch includes sandwiches, pizza, tuna melt, and salads. Vegetarian options available.
• Falconshead Grill & Lounge open to the public at the SSI Golf & Country Club (Central), 537-1760

• Rendezvous French Patisserie

  phone: +1 250 537-8400
  address: 126 Upper Ganges Rd
  Breakfast and lunch. French macarons, cannelés de Bordeaux, crêpes, croissants. They also sell at the weekend market.

• Rock Salt Cafe

  phone: +1 250 653-4833
  address: 2921 Fulford-Ganges Road
  Located near the ferry terminal at Fulford Harbour, this might be a good place to catch a bite when you first arrive on-island, or just before you leave. The eclectic menu has vegan-friendly options and kid menus, along the seafood, steak, and burgers. The café opens earlier than the restaurant, for coffee and pastries.

• Morningside Organic Bakery and Café

  phone: +1 250 653-4414
  address: 107 Morningside Rd

• Falconshead Grill & Lounge at the SSI Golf & Country Club - one of the few licensed patios on the island that actually has sun all afternoon. A nice casual place with excellent food and great service - Open to the public - 7 days a week - all year long (no guarantees on the sunshine). Ask Jesse about the Special of the Day.

There are Bed and Breakfasts spread throughout the island. There are also a number of vacation homes and cottages.

• Garden Faire Campground

  phone: +1 250 537-4346
  address: 305 Rainbow Rd

• Lost & Found Guest House & Art Gallery

  phone: +1 250-537-9440
  address: Salt Spring Island
  A self contained guest house with a full kitchen, bathroom, washer and dryer. Sleeps 7. It features the art work of artists such as Robert Bateman, Heather Horton, Alan Bateman, Holly Carr, Andrew Scott, Kate Kennedy.

• Harbour House Hotel

  phone: +1 250 537-5571
  address: 121 Upper Ganges Rd
  Has 36 Renovated Rooms with large balconies

• Ango Retreat Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 250-537-0022
  address: 340 Lepage Rd
  20 acres of panoramic water, mountain & meadow views at the end of a forested country lane. Beautiful west coast style self-contained, self-catering, wheelchair-accessible bed & breakfast guest suites. Free wireless internet, private entrances & decks, fully-equipped kitchens. Fresh air & birds galore, gorgeous sunrises over the water, forest paths, organic gardens, cozy wood stoves, and separate music studio with resident concert pianist and concert Steinway grand piano.

• Salt Springs Spa Resort

  address: 1481 North Beach Rd
  Salt Spring Island's seaside spa resort features ocean-view and forest-view chalets, each with their own cozy wood-burning fireplace, complete kitchen and two person mineral water hydro-jet spa bath.

• Hastings House

  address: 160 Upper Ganges Rd
  Sussex-style Manor House overlooking Ganges Harbour. Eighteen guest rooms and suites, each with its own décor, in seven buildings around the estate.

• On Island Time Cottage

  phone: +1 250 653-4561
  address: 115 King Road
  This open-frame cottage offers two adults the amenities for a cozy, relaxing getaway, including a private hot tub, a gas fire, a nook for reading, and bad cell phone reception. 2 night stay minimum (3 nights on long weekends)

The area code for Salt Spring is (250) same as Vancouver Island. Cell phone coverage is spotty on the island. Telus provides the best coverage on the island. Rogers provides some coverage on their GSM network.

• Hop aboard a BC Ferry and travel to nearby Mayne, Pender or Saturna Islands to explore Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (GINPR). Gulf Islands National Park Reserve offers incredible opportunities for boating, kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing and picnicking, as well as for exploring these rural island communities.