Gulf Islands - British Columbia
 

Would love to hear from anyone who has done an island-hopping holiday to either the north or south Gulf Islands, leaving from the Lower Mainland and using B.C. Ferry system and a car. Logistics, problems, best things you saw/did. We prefer B&Bs or small inns, visiting craft stores/art galleries, beaches, parks, museums, good food/drink.

The ones I like best are Pender and Saltspring.

Pender because it's a long settled place with established family farms, quiet slow moving but not self consciously so.

Saltspring is busier and has larger population but has a lot of what you're after-it's something of a distant suburb of Victoria.

Not much for beaches on the Gulf Islands even on the lowest tides but Ruckle Park on Saltspring is a lovely spot as is St Mary Lake.

Huge market of Saturday on Saltspring, smaller but still fabulous market on Pender same day.

Further north are Denman and Hornby Islands - my favourites. As the website says they have the highest number of artisan and artists per capita in Canada. The beaches on Hornby (Whaling Station Bay and Tribune Bay)are incredible. Sandy warm water. http://www.victoriabc.com/vancisland/denman.html

and http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns/?townID=90

http://www.denmanisland.com/denman/accommodations/

http://www.hornbyisland.net/accommodation.html

You take the ferry from Buckley Bay which is north of Nanaimo and drive across Denman and then you get another little ferry to Hornby. You will certainly love these islands and they are not quite so busy as Saltspring and Pender.

if you want to get away from tourists and have a very low keyed time and maybe do some kayaking, i recommend the blue vista resort on mayne island for a night or two.
http://www.bluevistaresort.com/

bookmarking. Thanks.