Things to Do
There is so much to do on Salt Spring the biggest challenge facing most visitors is choosing.
Salt Spring is home to a much higher than average number of artists and musicians and as a result there are cultural events and festivals all year long. Take in a show at Artspring, a top-notch live venue in the main village. Dine at one of the many restaurants and bars that host live music almost every night of the week. Want something more eclectic? Check out an all ages dance or a winter craft fair in a rustic country hall.
If you are a shopaholic there are lots of unique stores in both Ganges and Fulford villages selling gifts, clothes and house wares you might not find anywhere else. Painted gumboots anyone?
Once you are finished cruising the village shops grab a Studio Tour map and then go visit some talented locals at home. Bring your wallet because you might find an original piece of art, jewelry or duvet cover you can’t live without. Visit the famous Saturday Market where vendors must “grow it, bake it or make it.”
Looking for some culinary therapy? The options on Salt Spring are astounding considering the size of the island. There are two cheese farms, several studio bakeries, three wineries, a chocolate factory, a brewery, a flourmill, a fishery, locally made pasta, and gelato. Some of these treats as well as local farm produce can be obtained by putting money in an honor box at one of the many roadside farm stands.
If you enjoy the outdoors there are a myriad of hiking trails to explore. Ask a local for advice and they might lead you to some of the lesser known ones. Island trails almost always wind through ocean view picnic spots or end on a white shell beach.
Other activities include kayaking, diving, cycling, climbing or boating. There are local services and guides for all these activities. If you want a quick work out, take in a class at one of the many yoga studios or at the island’s gym or indoor pool. There are also two golf courses on the island.
For the ultimate in relaxation, head to one of the island’s many spas or grab a book from one of the three bookstores in town then sit and enjoy the view. Stop by one of our many vibrant coffee shops which are at their best in the winter, fall and spring. If you have time, grab a chai latte and get up to date on local politics. The opinionated locals can’t help themselves and will draw you to the debate!
Salt Spring’s reputation as one of the top small town arts destinations in North America is well deserved. The number and quality of fine art galleries sets Salt Spring on the international arts scene. And the number of artists and artisans living on the island, means art is woven into the fabric of everyday life here. Salt Spring Island – where life is art!
The dazzling beauty of the country’s west coast islands offers the backdrop for top quality and professional health treatments, from esthetics to therapy. Salt Spring health services include approximately 15 registered physicians, a hospital and several specialized clinics. The alternative services of homeopathic and naturopathic physicians are popular with residents and visitors alike.
What does this fair weather Canadian island in the Pacific Ocean and a wine region in France have in common? According Steve Coopman, local wine enthusiast and writer “If I were to compare Salt Spring to anywhere in the world it would be Provence – because of how food and wine go together here”.
Staying active on Salt Spring is easy, so tie up your sneakers, grab your racket, clubs or yoga mat and get out there.
There are more than three-dozen restaurants, coffee shops and pubs on Salt Spring, which together serve a wide variety of food in every budget category. Most cater to children, vegetarians and people with food allergies. Many use local and organic ingredients and almost all of them have great views.
Nothing compares to the island’s famous self-guided Studio Tour for visitors who want a first hand glimpse into the inner sanctums of the talented people who live here. If you wonder what it would be like to live a quintessential Gulf Islands lifestyle then grab a free Studio Tour Map, get in your car and follow the little black sheep signs dotting roadways throughout the island.
It is not surprising that SSI with all of its dynamic artists and artisans has a thriving arts education scene happening for both children and adults. Salt Spring’s reputation as an arts destination is well known.
Walk into local bookstore in Ganges, Salt Spring Books and you’ll find a whole section dedicated to local authors. For a rural community, Salt Spring Island enjoys the kind of busy, well-established literary scene you’d expect to find in a city.
One of the great appeals of Salt Spring is that for a small town population, it embodies a cultural scene one would expect in a much larger centre. On any given night you can be entertained by high-calibre local talent or renowned visiting performers.
Imagine entering a historic hall on Salt Spring Island and walking through to enjoy contemporary arts and crafts made by BC’s Gulf Islands’ artists and crafts people. Handmade objects from emerging and well-established artists including wood-turned arbutus bowls, felted wool and silk shawls and scarves, pottery and handmade baskets, an impressive range of silver and goldsmiths jewelry- even hand made soaps, books and greeting cards.
Every Saturday from April to October, rain or shine, Salt Spring growers, artists, artisans and bakers gather in the heart of the main village to sell their products. It’s a weekly event enjoyed by locals and visitors in equal measure. The products for sale are as varied, eclectic and exceptional as the people selling them.
Salt Spring Island, as part of the Southern Gulf Islands, is a world class kayaking destination. The waters and islands surrounding Salt Spring are teeming with wildlife, are relatively sheltered with calm waters and receive the best weather on the coast with almost year-round kayaking potential.
Situated in the Pacific Northwest, Salt Spring is located in one of the premier dive destinations in North America. Water surrounding the Southern Gulf Islands teem with marine life from eels and octopus to anemones and starfish. Known for its clear visibility and wrecks, the currents, caves and colours of the area provide diverse diving experience.
Whether you’re arriving by boat, or you’re looking to get out on the water while you’re here, Salt Spring Island offers boating options and amenities to suit your needs. Surrounded by the sheltered waters of the Southern Gulf Island, the marine parks and marina provide idyllic experiences for sightseeing the spectacular scenery from the water side.
Salt Spring is a jewel of natural beauty and deservedly famous for its remarkable environment featuring mystical rainforest, sandstone shores and a great diversity of species of plant and animals. The unique rainshadow rainforest is home to both rare species and many common mammals and amphibians.
Salt Spring’s rural landscape is dotted with working farms. Historically a farming settlement, Salt Spring’s local food and farming community is still hard at work preserving the best small farming techniques while others work at reinvigorating permaculture practices and organic food production.
