QUICK TRIP TO PENDER ISLAND
Five ways to max your relaxin’ on one of B.C.’s Gulf Islands.
1 WOODS ON PENDER
Check into a sleek Airstream trailer – or a rustic cabin, or a modern motel room – at this camp-vibes resort, located beneath towering firs and alders within 10 minutes of the Otter Bay Ferry Terminal. Owner and chef Curtis Redel visited Pender in 2014 and snapped up the 7.3-acre site bordering Prior Centennial Campground. Get ready for glamping at its finest: Starry nights and roaring campfires mix with particularly decadent touches like private hot tubs and plush robes. At Coffee + Kitchen, the resort’s laid-back restaurant, feast on dishes that combine the philosophies of Redel’s naturopathic mother and his own classic French training, like herb-loaded chicken soup and brioche cinnamon buns.
Location It’s a two-hour ferry ride from Vancouver to Pender’s Otter Bay Ferry Terminal. Now you know Pender is made up of two islands – North Pender and South Pender, which are connected by a bridge. While most of the action is on North Pender, head to South Pender for bucolic scenery and backcountry camping. 2 SLOW COAST COFFEE
Whipping up tasty, healthy food is chef
Alison Feargrieve’s MO at the organic café she runs with her partner, Rob McCallum, in a refurbished trailer. Made-from-scratch fare caters to all dietary needs – and crowds flock for the coffee, Sunday music jams and killer carrot cake. Order a supersize Seedy Teff cookie and homemade chai and admire the local art on display, then take in the views over Bedwell Harbour from the deck.
3 GOLF ISLAND DISC PARK
Swap your clubs for Frisbees and join the legions who ferry to Pender from all around the world just to play this free, 27hole, volunteer-maintained disc-golf course. Adored by beginners and top throwers alike, the worldclass course meanders through mossy forest and up rocky hills and is played year-round. Bring your own discs or buy some at nearby locations such as Pender Island Pharmacy and Driftwood Auto & Marine Centre.
4 DOG MERMAID ECO EXCURSIONS
Life is downright serene when you’re dipping a paddle into the Salish Sea, following kayak guru Kye Nahanni past seals sunning themselves on rocky outcrops. Tour options range from two-hour to multi-day excursions and are customizable, with add-ons like yoga, gourmet picnics and vineyard stops. Or rent one of their boats or stand-up paddleboards and explore for yourself. Either way, you may spy eagles or playful dolphins on your day out.
5 TWIN ISLAND CIDER
Step into this cidery’s tiny orchard-side tasting room, crafted from reclaimed wood and windows, to sip naturally fermented ciders pressed from heirloom apples and pears. Run by Katie Selbee and Matthew Vasilev, the operation relies on the wild yeast that lives on the fruit skins and in the air for the fermenting – giving each batch a true taste of Pender. The floral, semi-sweet, pear-based Forage Fine Perry is a standout.