The Gulf Islands are among the four Canadian areas named to National Geographic Traveler’s “top rated” category in a list of the world’s 99 best coastal destinations — they’re in seventh place, with 78 points of a possible 100.

… The annual scorecard focused on 99 coastal areas, from Antarctica to Tanzania, with a panel of 340 experts “in sustainable tourism and destination stewardship” rating the locales on environmental and ecological quality; social and cultural integrity; condition of historical buildings and archeological sites; esthetic appeal; quality of tourism management; and outlook for the future.  The Canadian destinations beat out some of the world’s most picturesque places, including Bermuda, Greenland, the Seychelles and Samoa.

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Salt Spring Island – a Spectacular Southern Gulf Island Getaway

Suite 101

Jun 3, 2010 Lorah Delaney
The famous Saturday artisan market in Ganges, where shoppers or browsers can peruse for the best part of a day, embodies the essence of Salt Spring Island.
Salt Spring Island, which garners its name from the naturally occurring springs on the island, is the largest of British Columbia’s Gulf Island archipelago
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FEATURE: Gulf Islands

Canadian Geographic

Eat, drink and take the ferry on an island-hopping tour of British Columbia’s locavore paradise
Story by Jim Sutherland with photography by Andrew Doran IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS, I’d whistle the classic Barenaked Ladies tune at the wheel of my yacht while island hopping in British Columbia’s Strait of Georgia, cruising from outdoor farmers’ market to seaside seafood cafe, organic winery to artisan cheesery, wood-fired bakery to chef-run eatery.

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Michael Ableman of Foxglove Farm

Eat Magazine

Perched high up Mt. Maxwell in a clearing you could miss if you didn’t know just how to find it, sits Foxglove Farm, one of BC’s most extraordinary farms. On this hot and brilliantly sunny day, Foxglove’s one hundred and twenty acres are alive with rows of strawberries, the curling vines of melons, and the bushy heads of carrots.

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So Much On My Plate – Salt Spring Island

Don Genova’s Blog

This week So Much On My Plate explored Salt Spring Island, including a delicious lunch served as part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations at Hastings House.

My guide for my explorations on Salt Spring was Wendy Hartnett of Island Gourmet Safaris.  If you want to cover a lot of ground with all hits and no misses when it comes to great food and wine, give her a shout.

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Salt Spring Island: An environmental and cultural gem

By Troy Patterson , Kincardine News Staff

The difference in people on British Columbia’s Salt Spring Island is about the same contrast as the differences in weather and landscape in the Municipality of Kincardine. After spending Aug. 21-29 on Canada’s temperate rainforest island, I experienced why the people, cuisine and culture differ to my hometown, while the sights, landmarks and gathering spots, bear some similarities and many differences we all could learn from. To describe Salt Spring to the average person, you’d likely get the “Ya, ya” eye-rolling condescension from people who feel they’ve been to bigger or better places in the world. Ask those who have been there and you’ll only see enthusiasm for what is somewhat of a secret held dear to those who have spent any time on the island.

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