The Gulf Islands Guide » Salt Spring Island

Ango Retreat – Salt Spring Island

Kevin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:39:31 +0000

Welcome to our beautiful Salt Spring Island Accommodations!

Ango Retreat, Salt Spring Island

Ango Retreat is an enchanting waterview haven: 20 gorgeous acres of sunny meadows, orchards, woods and gardens nestled privately at the end of an idyllic country lane.

‘Ango’ means ‘Peaceful Dwelling’, as both an action or state of being, as well as a place to be.

Here, birds and frogs sing, tall fir trees dance in the breeze, the water reflects ever-shifting light, bright dragonflies flash over the pond, the air is fresh and sweet. Here we breathe deeply, drink in beauty, and forget for a while the busy world beyond.

With fully self-contained guest suites and a variety of facilities for group activities, Ango offers an extraordinary setting for your vacation, class, workshop, personal retreat, ceremony or meeting.

And within this beautiful locale, the resident Ango team offer a range of healing and creative arts services, to further delight, restore, inspire and nurture you, body, mind and soul. (Full details on the About pages.) We’re especially excited that the fabulously talented pianist Don Conley is now in residence, ready to entertain or teach you in the lovely new separate music studio.

For a uniquely memorable experience we invite you to book Don for your very own program of musical magic, played on his magnificent Steinway concert grand piano!

Ango Retreat is wheelchair accessible, and environmentally friendly; we clean with ‘green’ and fragrance-free products, raise all our crops organically, and maintain diverse wildlife habitats.

No matter the season, or whether you visit for a few hours, days, or weeks, we know that the beauty of this land will touch you deeply, and you will leave feeling nourished and revitalized.

Ango Retreat
340 Lepage Rd.
Salt Spring, British Columbia, V8K 1N1

Phone: 250.537.0022

www.angoretreat.com email: angoretreat@telus.net

The Villas at Vesuvius

Kevin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:18:52 +0000

The Villas at Vesuvius

www.vesuviusvillas.com rentals@vesuviusvillas.com

770 Vesuvius Bay Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 1L6
Phone: 1-250-537-9768

Relax and take in the famous vistas and sunsets of Vesuvius from Salt Spring’s newest and most unique vacation accommodation, just a short stroll from store, restaurant and the island’s warmest swimming beach.

Set against a wooded hillside overlooking Vesuvius Bay, the Mediterranean style Villas contain 12 independently owned, tastefully furnished one and two-bedroom suites ranging in size from 900 to 1,300 square feet. The upper floor suites are accessed by elevator and covered breezeways.

All suites feature an open plan kitchen/dining and living area with fireplace, opening onto a large shaded porch or balcony. In addition each of the four terrace level suites has a private garden/patio area. Facing southwest, the balconies and terraces are bathed in sunlight from morning until sunset.

Each suite has a fully equipped kitchen, including full size fridge, range/oven, microwave, dishwasher and attractive table settings for dining indoors or out, as well as extra changes of linen and towels and its own washer and dryer.

The Villas at Vesuvius

www.vesuviusvillas.com rentals@vesuviusvillas.com

770 Vesuvius Bay Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 1L6
Phone: 1-250-537-9768

Salt Spring Island Aerial Photographs

Kevin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:41:30 +0000

Salt Spring Islands is stunning from the air. Unlike many of the other smaller islands, Salt Spring Island has numerous lakes, a number of fine sandy beaches and massive valleys. Here’s a sampling of this beautiful island. For additional Salt Spring Island aerial photographs please visit the Gallery.

The large town of Ganges is of course the hub of the island. While Ganges seems busy from the narrow streets, from the air one notices that it is quite small and actually very picturesque. Ganges must truly be one of the prettier little towns in British Columbia!

Ganges, Salt Spring Island Aerial Photographs, British Columbia, Canada.

The Fulford Valley at the south end of Salt Spring Island is a picturesque farming community. Mount Maxwell looms over the valley, for an aerial view of Fulford Valley without hiring a helicopter drive to the top of Mount Maxwell and enjoy the spectacular vista.

Fulford Valley and Mt. Maxwell, Salt Spring Island Aerial Photogaph

Walker Hook is likely the most noticeable landmark on Salt Spring Island when flying over the area. The sandy beach is a very pleasant area to spend an afternoon.

Aerial photo of Walker Hook, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

St. Mary Lake is the largest lake on Salt Spring Island and has been a popular resort area for years.

Aerial photograph of Saint Mary Lake, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Mount Maxwell Provincial Park, Salt Spring Island

Kevin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:34:16 +0000

Mount Maxwell Provincial Park contains one of the highest points on Salt Spring Island The views are superb with Vancouver Island looming to the west, the surrounding Gulf Islands and the mainland of British Columbia and Washington State in the background. The lower portion of the park has stands of old-growth Douglas fir, Garry oak meadows and salmon bearing creeks.

The view from Mount Maxwell looking south down the Fulford Valley, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

The view of Burgoyne Bay from Mount Maxwell, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Skunk Cabbage, Mount Maxwell Provincial Park, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Ruckle Provincial Park, Salt Spring Island

Kevin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:59:30 +0000

Ruckle Provincial Park is a stunning park overlooking Swanson Channel. From the rocky shoreline you can watch ferries and pleasure boats ply the waters while enjoying one of the most spectacular camping spots in the Southern Gulf Islands. Orcas and sea lions are often seen and the 7 km of rocky shoreline is great to explore.

The park is named after Irish emigrant Henry Ruckle who homesteaded here in 1872 and married Ella Anna Christensen in 1877. Most of the property was donated to the province in 1974 but the Ruckle family continues to farm on private land near the entrance to the park.

Old farm buildings at Ruckle Provincial Park, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Ruckle Provincial Park from the water, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Sheep in the old orchard, Ruckle Provincial Park, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Burgoyne Bay, Salt Spring Island

Kevin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:13:13 +0000

Burgoyne Bay is both accessible by land from a turn off in the Fulford Valley as well as water as there is a government dock and good moorage in the area. The tree lined roads to the bay are very picturesque with many old farm buildings and funky fences. This road is also incredibly dusty!

The area around Burgoyne Bay was recently acquired and is now Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park. The park contains wooded Douglas fir forests, a beautiful Garry oak forest, a number of old farm buildings and a native archaeological site.

Tree lined roads near Burgoyne Bay, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

The public wharf at Burgoyne Bay, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

The rocky shore at Burgoyne Bay, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Walker Hook, Salt Spring Island

Kevin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:59:33 +0000

Walker Hook is located on the north end of Salt Spring Island and was named after schooner captain Edward Walker. The area has been used for fish farming in recent years and is also one of the largest archaeological sites in the Gulf Islands. This beautiful spit is well worth a visit.

Aerial photograph of Walker Hook with Wallace Island in the background, Salt Spring Island, BC

A boat at Walker Hook, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Fulford Harbour, Salt Spring Island

Kevin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:30:41 +0000

Fulford Harbour is located at the southern end of Saltspring Island and is the jumping off point for people on their way to or from Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. Fulford Harbour is likely the funkiest area in the Southern Gulf Islands with hippie overtones everywhere you look. The area also has an interesting history.

The ferry dock at Fulford Harbour. Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Sheep Island Fuels, Fulford Harbour. Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

St Paul's Catholic Church, Fulford Harbour, Saltspring Island

The BC Ferry Skeena Queen leaving Fulford Harbour in route to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island

Salt Spring Island’s Saturday Market

Kevin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:56:09 +0000

Salt Spring Island’s Saturday Market is held every Saturday in Ganges from the beginning of April to the end of October. More than 140 artisans sell everything from musical instruments and beautiful glasswork to soaps and clothing. Local farmers bring in their garlic, fruits and vegetables and there is always some fabulous baking. From a photography perspective it really doesan’t get much better than this with eye popping images everywhere.

Flowers at the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market, Gulf Islands, British Columbia

Musicians performing at the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market, Gulf Islands, British Columbia

Garlic for sale at the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market located in Ganges

Salt Spring Island's Saturday Market, Ganges, BC