In October, I had the pleasure of setting out to explore yet another Southern Gulf Island. This time, our destination was Galiano Island, a gem just a short ferry ride from Tsawwassen. My mom happened to be visiting while my husband was on a work trip, so I had an extra pair of hands to help with our baby, Ezra, while we were away. We hopped on a ferry on a gorgeous sunny day and began the quick journey to Galiano Island.
When I first heard about Bodega Cove, I was eager to stay in one of the updated Pan-abode cedar cabins from the 60s. These 5 cabins are nestled together overlooking the ocean, just below the sister property of Bodega Ridge. The cabins are modern and cozy. They’re filled with unique and thoughtful design aspects that wow you around every corner. We stayed in a two bedroom cabin, but one bedroom cabins are available as well. We enjoyed sitting on the deck and watching some friendly deer and local chickens wander about.
Our first adventure brought us to Montague Harbour Marine Provincial Park, where we wandered the beach and trails lazily, and enjoyed a warm fall afternoon.
After our afternoon at the beach, we watched the sun set and the stars appear from the comfort of our warm cabin (which was made even cozier with a roaring wood stove).
Having a baby makes early mornings a common occurrence, so our first morning was spent cave spelunking in the sandstone caves at Retreat Cove. Ezra and I watched the sun rise during low tide and explored the caves with glee. These structures are even more beautiful in person. If you plan on exploring them yourself, plan to go at low tide, and note that the caves are “explore at your own risk” and can be dangerous if you lose your footing.
Now with the rest of the world awake, we went to explore Bellhouse Provincial Park. This mossy, seaside park offers a stunning view of Mayne Island and incoming ferries. In fact, you can easily spot the lighthouse over on Mayne Island, one of my favorite spots!
Afterwards, we went to Babes in the Woods Eatery for lunch. Many restaurants are closed in the off season/winter on Galiano, so we were lucky that a restaurant as delicious as Babes was still open! Afterwards we enjoyed an incredible latte from Bowline Cafe- one of the highest end coffee shops I’ve ever seen on a Southern Gulf Island. They also have the most delicious ice cream sandwiches from Cold Comfort (including GLUTEN FREE! I was in heaven).
With a full tummy, Ezra went down for a nap under the watchful eye of Grandma while I went for a quick hike up Bodega Ridge and enjoyed some incredible views over the gulf islands. The hike climbs up through gorgeous forest and ferns to a ridge that you can follow along for quite some time. I only wandered a little ways down the ridge and opted to sit and enjoy the view for awhile before turning around and hiking down.
We spent the rest of our afternoon enjoying the cabin and deck. I was lucky enough to pop into a few of the other cabins to see the various layouts. Each cabin possessed the same gorgeous cedar walls, modern and stylish decor, and cozy cabin vibes. I was in awe of the giant soaker tubs that the one bedroom cabins are lucky enough to have. I would gladly take an hour long bath in one of those!
Sadly, the next morning meant time to journey home. Our little trip had come to an end. We lined up at the ferry and watched a spectacular sunrise over the ferry dock. It’s always hard saying goodbye to the Southern Gulf Islands, but I never stay away too long. I’m eager to be back again soon and explore some more!
Some other areas that I was keen to explore but didn’t have enought time for include:
A hike up Mount Galiano
The Cemetery Lighthouse (said to have lots of sea lions)
Any of the beach access points along Sticks Allison Road
Feel free to check these out and report back to me!
