Salt Spring Island is small, measuring about 70 square miles. So, if you have a couple of days, you can see the best of what the island has to offer and leave feeling like you’ve done it all. To give you a head start, I have distilled our experiences down to two full days of adventure, dining, and spirits.

Day One:
Day one is all about big adventure followed by hot food and cold beer because, let’s be honest, this is the coast. There is a pretty good chance you will be cold and wet at the end of the day. Here is my recommended activity lineup:

1. Go on a kayaking day trip. Rugged and independent adventure is fun, but I like to hire a guide when we go kayaking somewhere far from home. It is valuable having local knowledge along for the ride, and I have never regretted forking out the extra money. On this trip, we went on a three hour tour with Island Escapades, located right in the town of Ganges. (Cue Gilligan’s Island theme song.) Our guide, also the shop owner, had trained with several high performance athletes and led many expeditions, which made for great storytelling and an invaluable feeling of safety. You can find their location and contact information here.

   

2. Have coffee and lunch at Tree House Cafe. The cafe is only a couple blocks away from the kayaking outfitter. It’s a bit quirky. There are multiple trees growing inside of the eating area, which gives the feeling of eating in an elaborate fort. The coffee is tasty, and roasted right on the island, and the food is wholesome and mostly local. Check out their menu here.
3. Hike Mount Erskine. Still feeling fresh? Drive to one of the Mount Erskine trailheads for a 2ish hour hike with some of the best views on the island. It’s a bit steep in places, but a bottle of water and a snack should sustain you. There are a couple of trail options to choose from depending on how intense you want your experience to be. This is an overview of the park, with a linked map showing the trailheads.

   

4. Visit the tasting room at Salt Spring Island Ales. This was my favourite stop on the trip. We may have gone twice. If you like beer, or trying new things, you will like this brewery. I am typically wary of flavoured beers, but Salt Spring Island Ales has a great knack for experimenting with interesting flavours that work to enhance the taste of the malt beer. My personal favourite was the Earl Grey IPA. (Don’t knock it until you try it.) They also have an interesting rotation of seasonals and limited editions. Try them all, and make sure you have a designated driver.
5. Unwind with food and beverage at Moby’s Pub. That brewery tasting ought to be enough to remind you that you are ready for a full pint and a hot meal. We enjoyed both of these at Moby’s Pub. My cohorts loved the carnivorous entrees, and the Village Veggie Burger was delicious. This is also a local hub for live music, watching the Canucks, and dancing. You can find their events calendar and menu at their website.

Day Two:
You’ve already gotten wet and dirty kayaking on Ganges Harbour and hiking up Mount Erskine. Your second day is about enjoying the finer things, and features a gorgeous meandering hike along the sea, and local cheese and cider. Enjoy the scenery, get in touch with the land, and fill your belly.

1. Tour Salt Spring Island Cheese and buy ingredients for a picnic lunch. Salt Spring Islands Cheese is small but mighty. I have found some of their cheeses at home here in Calgary, and I know they are also available in many parts of the US and Canada. But, they do sample and sell a few items that I have only ever seen on the island, and trying these surface ripened and hard cheeses is a must. While you are here, purchase your favourites with crackers and whatever looks good to you. They will make a great picnic lunch on your afternoon hike.
2. Head to Ruckle Provincial Park for a hike along the coast. Don’t forget your picnic lunch. You will want a small backpack to store your lunch and water. We parked at the historical orchard and farm buildings, hiked south past the buildings, then followed the trail along the coast. When you reach the campground, stop for lunch and enjoy the scenery. Then, continue along the trail until you loop back to the road. You can follow the road back to your car.  I like this loop because the terrain is so different from the Mount Erskine hike, and does a good job of showcasing the rocky coastline. Here is the park’s website if you want to get a better idea of the hiking trails and other available activities. You will find that there are several ways to extend the route, and there are a few interesting points along the way.

   

3. Sample local ciders at Salt Spring Wild Cider. Unfortunately, we were on the island before peak season (summer), so the tasting room wasn’t open. We did manage to pick up a couple varieties from the liquor store, and they were great. Here is their website, where you can learn more about what they offer. The property is beautiful, and it is said by locals to be a great attraction. Let me know in the comments if you ever end up there, and how you like it.
4. Head back to Moby’s to unwind and reflect on two awesome days on Salt Spring Island. We tried grabbing dinner at Salt Spring Inn, but they were closed for renovations. We had a great meal at Moby’s the night before, so we decided to head back. One thing I enjoy about travelling is finding a place I like, then heading there several times during my stay. Cafe/restaurant/pub staff have been some of my best sources of information on where to go, what to see, and what to pass on. Plus, it’s nice to make friends along the way.

Notes on Accommodations: 
There are dozens of bed and breakfasts on the island, which is why I didn’t include breakfast in the two day itinerary. Tiffany and I stayed at Amazing View Bed and Breakfast. Guess how good the view was? (Yeah. It was amazing.)

The place was beautiful, and Hans and Hedwig were lovely hosts, but I think if we ever head back we will take advantage of the campground at Ruckle Provincial Park. There is something so refreshing about camping next to the sea and getting off the grid.

Let me know if you end up on Salt Spring Island, where you stay, and what you find on your adventures.

To find more adventures in British Columbia, click here.