Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Horseshoe Bay
The pretty little residential area of Horseshoe Bay offers plenty to see and do while you
wait for the Vancouver Island or Sunshine Coast ferry. If you and your trusty vehicle are
catchingoneoftheferries,buyyourticketatthecarbooth,moveyourautomobileintothe
lineup, and then explore the town. Several restaurants, a bakery, a supermarket, a pub, and
a couple of good delis cater to the hungry and thirsty. A stroll along the beautiful water-
front marina is a good way to cool your heels and dawdle away some waiting time.
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Bowen Island
FromVancouver,thisisthemostaccessibleofhundredsofislandsdottingtheStraitofGe-
orgia. The island is only a short ferry trip from Horseshoe Bay, but it seems a world away
from the city. The first European settlers were loggers, but Bowen Island has also been
home to a fishing and whaling industry. Vancouverites began holidaying on the island as
early as 1900, and soon a hotel had opened, complete with tennis courts, lawn bowling,
and a grove of fruit trees. By the 1920s the island was catering to tens of thousands of
summervisitorsannually,andgrandplanswereputinplacetoopenNorthAmerica'smost
luxurious resort. The development never happened, and today the island is home to a per-
manent population of 3,200, many of whom work in Vancouver, commuting daily across
the water.
The ferry docks at the island's main settlement, aptly named
Snug Cove,
where you'll
find all the services of a small town, including bed-and-breakfasts and cafés. There's good
swimming at Mannion Bay, near Snug Cove, and
Bowen Island Sea Kayaking
(604/
947-9266)rentskayaks(threehours,$45s,$65d)andofferstourstwicedaily(threehours,
$65 per person), but the rest of the island is also good to explore. A 2-kilometer (1.2-mile)
trail leads from Snug Cove to Killarney Lake, where birdlife is prolific and roads lead
across to the island's west coast.
BC Ferries
(250/386-3431 or 888/223-3779) operates a 20-minute service between
Horseshoe Bay and the island approximately once an hour 6am-9:45pm daily. The fare is
$10.45 per adult, $5.30 per child. The ferries also take vehicles (from $30.40), but these
aren't necessary because most visitors set out on foot.
Island information is available in the
chamber of commerce office
(432 Cardena Rd.,
604/947-9024,
www.bowenchamber.com
,
10am-3pm daily in summer).
