There's almost nothing better than escaping the city, hopping on hopping on BC Ferries for an island getaway. It's one of my favourite things to do in a BC summer.
The tiny islands peppered off the coast let you retreat into nature and bring a sense of peace the big city of Vancouver or even Victoria just can't compete with.
Salt Spring Island topped my list for the best trips yet and it also happened to be one of the quickest. Leaving from Victoria, on Vancouver Island, the BC Ferries ride only took 30 minutes and it dropped me at the biggest of the Gulf Islands.
I booked the trip with the promise of adorable farmstands, a quaint town, and idyllic wineries. After a day spent exploring though, I saw that these attractions were just the cherry on top of a visit to Salt Spring.
The welcoming people, fresh salty air and quiet scenery all work together to make you feel a peaceful distance from your daily life — which we could all use once in a while.
People on BC Ferries to Salt Spring Island. Morgan Leet | Narcity
Getting there
Salt Spring Island is just 30 minutes away from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal near Victoria. You can't book this sailing ahead of time so you should arrive early — which was a lesson me and my friends learned the hard way. On the morning of our little day trip I assured my friends time and time again not to worry. "It's a Tuesday, it won't be busy," I promised them throughout our leisurely morning.
I was eating my own words just an hour later when we pulled up to a long line and only 15 minutes to spare before the ferry departed.
Fingers crossed, we waited to see if we would make it on the 9 a.m. ferry.
Let's just say I was stuck in a car with two angry friends for the next two hours while we awaited the 11 a.m. departure. Nevertheless, we persisted!
Eventually, we made it onto the ferry and sailed over to Salt Spring Island. The ferry drops you off about 15 minutes from the main community on the island, Ganges, so you'll probably want to have a car if you visit.
Walking around Ganges
First on the to-do list for the day? Get my then-grumpy friends fed.
We headed to the main town and I was surprised to find it chock-full of cute cafes, food trucks and shops.
If you're making the trip, I'd definitely recommend Harlan's Chocolates and Gelato for dessert.
The town also has some adorable boutiques to check out right on the water, so just strolling around is fun.
Getting tipsy at the cidery
The big stress of the day (aside from missing the 9:00 a.m. ferry, which I had erased from my mind by this point), was choosing between the cidery and the wine vineyard.
I don't think you can really go wrong, but the Salt Spring Wild Cider House was what my friends and I landed on.
Cider flight at Salt Spring Wild Cider House.Morgan Leet | Narcity
Unfortunately, we were stuffed full of fish tacos by the time we pulled up there, but they had a tasty-looking food menu that I'm still regretting not ordering from.
@vanessaortynskythe perfect evening at salt spring wild cider 🍎! @Salt Spring Island #saltspring #vancouvervlogger #cidery #autumnfun #autumnactivities
We all got a flight of cider, and it was one of the few times that I've liked every single one of the samplers. The setting was also stunning, with picnic tables outside to sit on and views of rolling hills.
To top it off, there was an adorable dog who rolled over for a belly rub at the first sign of a human.
People at Salt Spring Wild Cider House.Morgan Leet | Narcity
Strolling through lavender fields
After some drinks, we headed out to a lavender farm on the island, called Lavender & Black. Where the cidery was lively and fun, the farm gave us some much-needed serenity.
The drive there alone is peaceful. The roads are lined with fields and trees on one side and the ocean playing peek-a-boo on the other.
Lavender farm on Salt Spring Island.Morgan Leet | Narcity
The smell of lavender hits you as soon as you get out of the car, right before the friendly faces of the staff greet you. We arrived right before they closed but the staff was extremely friendly, showing us all of the products they had in their shop.
I ended up buying a delicious-smelling lavender soap and some yummy lavender honey.
We also got to scroll through the field here, which has picturesque rows of lavender next to towering trees.
People walking at Lavender & Black on Salt Spring Island.Morgan Leet | Narcity
Neighbouring the lavender is a farm with horses, which just adds to the entire vibe of this place. Also, like most places on the little island, you can see the ocean from here.
If you're anything like us you won't want to leave this spot, but we had an island to see and didn't want to test our luck with the closing time.
Lavender & Black on Salt Spring Island.Morgan Leet | Narcity
Take a dip in crystal-clear water
The ocean here isn't exactly warm at any time of the year, but still, we had our mind set on a dip. My one requirement was no seaweed though, so we drove back to the other side of the island to Beddis Beach.
Beddis Beach on Salt Spring Island. Morgan Leet | Narcity
The somewhat rocky beach has clear blue water that you can dive into (without any seaweed touching your legs) and little white shells all around. As expected, the swim was cold AF. On a hot day though, this is the perfect place to cool off.
Beddis Beach on Salt Spring Island. Morgan Leet | Narcity
Just driving around
Some of my favourite moments of the day were just times spent looking out the window as we drove around the island. It's pretty small so you can see all of the coastline in a day — and you'll want to do just that.
Alongside the road are farmstands, which the island is famous for.
You can stop at any of them and buy what you need -- even if there's no one working there.
Vendors simply trust that you'll leave the amount of cash needed to cover whatever you take, whether it be colourful flowers, coffee, or farm-fresh eggs.
@vanessaortynskyI just found out that Mt Maxwell is officially closing up shop! 💔🥺 #saltspring #explorebclocal #explorebcwithme #vancouvervlogger #saltspringisland
You'll also see farm animals grazing in fields, kayakers along the shoreline, and some of the prettiest flowers that will have you stopping the car for photos.
Of course, big trees aren't uncommon on Canada's West Coast, but Salt Spring Island is the perfect place to see them. The massive trees just alongside the road were unbelievable, and you can hike to see old-growth trees on the island too.
Leaving the island
You'll want to arrive at the ferry terminal early enough to secure your place in line, and you can park your car and grab a bite to eat while you wait for the ferry.
We had some dinner at a restaurant called Rock Salt — which is right next to the ferry terminal — before heading out.
The ferry ride back was the perfect cap on the day. You can walk out onto the deck and watch other boats pass by, along with the little islands and mountains off in the distance.
BC Ferries. Morgan Leet | Narcity
It's safe to say that the day ended exponentially better than it started, and I have the beauty of Salt Spring to thank for that.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
This article has been updated since it was originally published in 2023.
BC Ferries. Morgan Leet | Narcity
People on BC Ferries to Salt Spring Island. 
Cider flight at Salt Spring Wild Cider House.
People at Salt Spring Wild Cider House.
Lavender farm on Salt Spring Island.
People walking at Lavender & Black on Salt Spring Island.
Lavender & Black on Salt Spring Island.
Beddis Beach on Salt Spring Island. 
Beddis Beach on Salt Spring Island. 
BC Ferries. 
A view of Port Browning Marina Pub.Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
HUB at Hope Bay restaurant on Pender Island. Right: A couple of cocktails at HUB at Hope Bay restaurant.Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity, Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
Sea Star Vineyards and Winery. Right: Asymina and her partner enjoying a wine tasting at Sea Star Vineyards and Winery.
A view of the water and mountains on top of Mount Norman on Pender Island in B.C.Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
Poets Cove Resort and Spa on Pender Island.Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity