TRIP ADVICE: SALT SPRING ISLAND

Yes, a car is needed on Salt Spring Island - it's a large hilly island and you wouldn't want to be without some sort of transportation as public transit is virtually non-existent, and the distances are too far to walk.

Salt Spring Island is very pastoral - lots of farms and acreages. There are wilderness areas, but I think the main attraction of Salt Spring is the artisan loop - there are dozens of artisans with studios/shops open to the public. There are 2 cheese farms, 2 wineries, a sheep farm (selling lamb/sheep skin rugs), pottery studios, art studios, etc. Most of these artisans will have a stand set up at the Saturday market in the village of Ganges. The market only goes until 3pm.

Surprisingly, there aren't many true beaches considering Salt Spring's an island, so I would not recommend visiting Salt Spring if your intent was to sit and relax at the beach.

We love Salt Spring, and especially the Market. It's totally worth seeing if you're not stressed about time issues. What time does the boat arrive in Victoria from Port Angeles?

Yes, you definitely need a car on Salt Spring. The Victoria ferry lands at Fulford Harbour, and then there's about a 15-minute drive to Ganges, where the market is. We were just at the market a week ago and found it at its absolute best - wonderful produce, lots of neat stuff to look at and buy. Let us know if you decide to go, and I can make suggestions about restaurants, what to see, etc.

Some logistics for you;
The 8:30 from Port Angeles will arrive in Victoria about 10:00. You have to clear customs at a snails pace with everyone else. Expect 1/2 hour. Now 10:30. You have to find your way to Sidney. Expect 1 hour. Now 11:30. There is an 1:00 and a 1:10 on Saturdays. Crossing time 35 minutes. Now 1:45. Meesthare says a 15 minute drive to Ganges. Now 2:00.
Market closes a 3:30
Saltspring is lovely even without the market.
As Carmanah states, just driving the loop and stopping at the artisan shops is a cathartic release from everyday life. Enjoy

Icithecat, thanks for putting into words what I was beginning to think myself. Afterall, vacations are for relaxing, not racing around. We'll arrive into Victoria on Saturday & stay for 3 nights although don't have any reservations yet ... kind of wanted to get the "lay of the land" before doing so. Is there a central location near or in Victoria you might recommend for lodging? We usually prefer B&Bs. If we go to Salt Spring Island on Sunday or Monday, will the shops be open? Are there other artisty places within a reasonable drive of Victoria that might take the place of Salt Spring Island?

debl
I live in Victoria, so I cannot help you with hotels or B&Bs. Hopefully someone else can.
For a general area, I would suggest somewhere listed as 'James Bay' , 'Fairfield' , or 'Downtown'.
I think searching might help, as there are a lot of queries on this topic.

I'm in a similar situation; we live in Sooke, outside of Victoria. I used to come here as a tourist before we moved out here and I do know of some nice B&B's, but they're not near downtown. Still, if you have a car, they're not that far away. Let me know if you would like recommendations.

Meesthare: I would gladly welcome any B&B's you might suggest. Restaurants too. Other suggestions I have been given for lodging are Abigail's & Rosewood Inn. We'll have a car so outside of Victoria is OK.

Do you know if the shops on Salt Spring Island will be open on Sunday or Monday?

Butchart Gardens is on our "must see" list. I'm assuming that it would be less crowded on Monday. Would you agree? Is 4-5 hours a good amount of time to set aside to see everything there?

4-5 hours at Butcharts is way more than enough. I would say 3-4 would be more realistic. They have a lovely restaurant in the old house if you want to experience afternoon tea.

There's a lovely rental cottage in the Cadboro Bay area, on the east side of the Island very near UVic. I don't know if it will be available without much notice, but you could try. www.cottagevictoria.com - it's a converted coach house.
The other one I especially liked was www.swallowhillfarm.com - it's in Metchosin, just about the same distance from downtown as the other one.
I would think everything on Saltspring will be open on Sunday and Monday. You could have a look at some of the Saltspring websites, which might give you more specific information.

debl

We enjoyed staying at Oak Bay B&B on the east side of the island. I think I mentioned this on your other thread but didn't give the name or url. Excellent breakfasts with nice presentation. The outside photos may be deceiving, but it's very quiet, comfortable and clean, and in a nice neighborhood.

http://www.oakbayguesthouse.com/index.htm

Please let us all know what you end up doing on this trip.

you could get away without a car on Salt spring isalnd, fly in from Victoria Int (pat bay) withthe float plane company www.saltspringair.com land in ganges and walk to the market, less stree. not sure the price but as it only costs $62 to fly from pat bay to vancouver it cant be much, it is shorter.

Another post from last year!

methinks BCIslandliving works for salt spring air because a lot of old posts have been resurrected by this mew member, all touting that airline.

As a non-car owner, I do SSI market regularly. There is a little bus, I think the fare is $2, that meets the ferry and takes about 20 minutes or so to get into Ganges. It also makes the return trip. Even if you miss the market there is art to be seen at Artspring and wonderful selections of local crafts in town shops and in Mouat Hall.

Another thought--where are you coming from in the US? You might consider the Anacortes-Sidney ferry, which lands you 10 minutes from the ferry to SSI. It is run by Washington State and I believe has free reservations.

Was thinking about going to Salt Spring Is. Sept. 19 for the market, but that appears to be the weekend of the fair. Will the market still be held, galleries open, all the same stuff as any other Sat. or will some things be at the fair instead/galleries closed?

i guess its a little late to tell you that yes its all open today. market, art and fair.