Visit The Gulf Islands Off Vancouver Island

By Daman Beatty On May 21, 2016

Floatplane Arriving at Salt Spring Island Boat During Sunset | Image Courtesy HelloBC

The Gulf Islands are located off of Vancouver Island, between the Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. They have been named one of the best coastal destinations and Top 52 Places to Visit in 2016 by the New York Times.

Where to go in 2016: The Gulf Islands, British Columbia https://t.co/TphNTx6UrA #explorebc via @nytimestravel pic.twitter.com/bOkjnPXPgP

— Daman Beatty (@Beatler) May 21, 2016

The Gulf Islands region has a surprisingly mild climate for being so far north. The climate is almost Mediterranean. It is home to beaches, swimming, fishing, scuba diving, sailing, wineries, and holistic farms. Plus, it is home to many artists.

Gulf Islands (highlighted) and surrounding region. Courtesy Wikipedia

There are over 200 islands, accessible by float plane, private boat, or ferry. The major islands all deserve a day or two each to explore. Bicycles are a good way to tour the islands. To get to an island you will have to pre-plan a ferry trip which only runs at certain times of the day and night. If you plan on staying overnight, you will have to plan accommodations as well. There are 14,000 people scattered throughout the various islands. Different islands offer different possibilities, so you will need to think about and pre-plan what you want to do.

Here are a few descriptions of some of the islands.