GABRIOLA ISLAND VACATION RENTALS, BRITISH COLUMBIA |
 |
 |
|
|
Why Vacation in Gabriola Island |
| For the travelers who are really interested to experience the best offered by the west coast, Gabriola Island is the right choice. Gabriola Island situated on the west coast of British Columbia, ranks high in the list of Gulf Islands and is considered the "Queen of the Gulf Islands." |
|
|
Gabriola Island Vacation Rental Information |
| Gabriola Island vacation rental homes include condos, waterfront cottages, cabins and vacation homes. For a retreat for cozy twosome you can opt for a secluded 1 bedroom Gabriola Island beachfront condo amid splendid natural surroundings or a 2 or 3 bedroom vacation home that can sleep up to 4 to 6 people for a family for 4 to 6 people. Most of the Gabriola Island vacation rental homes are fully furnished and feature a host of amenities such as Badminton court, high speed internet, VCR, DVD player, cable TV, Radio, Videos, Phone, fireplace, firewood and books. |
| |
FEATURED VACATION RENTALS - GABRIOLA ISLAND, BC |
Set within a 21-acre oceanfront estate, this 4BR waterfront Gabriola Island vacation home is an ideal weekend hideout. More Info > |
|
|
|
|
 | |
|
Special Information for Booking Vacation Rentals in Gabriola Island |
| Usually a minimum night stay of 2 to 3 nights may be required and a reservation is recommended especially during the busy summer months between May 15 and October 1. Most of the Gabriola vacation rentals require you to make the payment on your vacation rental home at least 60 days in advance. Some of the rentals may even charge you a cleaning fee or a security deposit. You would need to check with the vacation rental owner if the property is pet friendly. Some of them may allow pets at an additional cost. Most of the vacation rentals usually don’t allow smoking. |
|
|
Must See in Gabriola Island |
| There are plenty to look forward to at Gabriola Island and a Gabriola Island vacation rental gives you just the excuse to spend your days at leisure and enjoy its myriad facets. Wildlife including sea lions, seals, deer, raccoons, and otters are in abundance and worth appreciating. Experiencing the scenic views of farmland mixed with ocean is a must. You may also find many kinds of birds including herons and bald eagles. The island contains lots of land-based recreational opportunities as well as water sports in the natural harbors of Silva Bay and Degnen Bay. Gabriola is also identified as "Petroglyph Island" because more than 50 indigenous rock carvings have been exposed mostly at the southeast end of the island. No one knows exactly how old the petroglyphs are but it is thought that the oldest carvings are at least 2,000 years ago. |
|
|
Sights and Attractions in Gabriola Island |
The Scenic Gabriola Island is an ideal vacation spot for the visitors having many attractive sights mainly comprising of provincial parks and a museum. Book a Gabriola Island vacation rental and explore the many interesting sights in and around the area.
• Gabriola Sands Provincial Park
• Gabriola Museum
• Drumbeg Provincial Park
• Sandwell Provincial Park
• Pirates Cove Marine Provincial Park |
|
Outdoor Recreation in Gabriola Island |
| Gabriola Island is surrounded by some of the best sailing grounds on BC coast and is ideal for traveling by water. It offers 45 km of shoreline for beach enthusiasts, kayakers, boaters and nature-lovers. A Gabriola Island vacation rental is perfect for sea kayakers and divers looking for some adrenaline pumping adventure and fun.
• Hiking and Walking
• Scuba Diving
• Bird watching
• Kayaking
• Fishing
• Cycling |
|
|
Golfing in Gabriola Island |
Gabriola Island ranks high in the list of Gulf Islands attracting huge number of visitors every year to its various Gabriola Island vacation rentals. The island is served by a challenging nine-hole golf course with two sets of tees for eighteen-hole play at Gabriola Golf and Country Club, carved around scenic Hogan Lake. Gabriola Golf and Country Club golf course opened in 1980, offers a full service club house that always welcomes non-members. Its undulating and twisting fairways are challenging even for most experienced golfers. |
|
|
Gabriola Island Fairs and Festivals |
The Dancing Man festival is an exciting annual festival of Gabriola Island, BC and features a remarkable arrangement of folk, rock, blues and international performers. Silva Bay Maritime festival is held at the Silva Bay Shipyard School and involves boat-launching and boat races followed by dinner and dance. Other celebrations include the commencement ceremonies, tours of the visiting boat and live entertainment on the outdoor stage.
Gabriola is home to various types of artists, writers and musicians, some are of international reputation. It offers a wide variety of entertainment and varied range of events starting early in the year. The biggest is the annual Thanksgiving Weekend Studio and Gallery Tour Event in the month of October when more than 80 professional fine artists and craftspeople open up their studios to welcome the tourists. Another big event of the year is the August Salmon Barbeque. It's hard to believe the tradition on the island but is true that the Annual Salmon Barbeque has been going on for more than 50 years. Apart from above, the Concert on the Green, an Art Show in Gabriola Garden, and the Pro-Am Gulf Tournament are celebrated in August and in September you can enjoy the Cycle and Kayak Music Festival. Do remember to book your Gabriola vacation rental in advance. |
|
Dining and Nightlife in Gabriola Island |
| Though not many, there do remain quite a few interesting restaurants where you can enjoy sumptuous meals. The Raspberry’s Jazz Café is ideal for enjoying a cup of coffee or delicious lunch while in the background live music plays on. Enjoy contemporary cuisine amid a rustic setting at the Oceanside Dining Room or for some typically home cooked food head to Suzy’s Restaurant and Deli that serves steaks, seafood, deli sandwiches and pizzas. This place even offers take-away service, therefore you don’t even need to step out of your Gabriola Island vacation rental, just order and enjoy the delicious meal. The Silva Bay Bar & Grill is yet another great place for spending an evening where you enjoy a sumptuous meal overlooking the panoramic oceanic vistas. Adding an extra bit of charm to the whole ambience is the live music and after your meal you can always mingle with the locals over drink at the bar. |
|
|
Shopping in Gabriola Island |
The business community in Gabriola Island is having more than 300 businesses developed to serve the growing number of residents, seasonal visitors and tourists. There are no big malls or shops on the island and the shopping done on Gabriola is mostly artistic and spiritual. Gabriola Island is home to many art galleries having exclusive gift shops. Most of the commonly used merchandise and services that you expect in a small community are available at the central shopping area.
You will find the Folklife Village as one of the largest second hand shopping centres in BC which is home to a wide variety of goods such as paint and hardware, gift store, clothing, drug store, video store, photo developing store and food market. Wildflower Tie Dye sells some of the most colorful tie dye clothes that beautifully compliment the vacation ensemble. You can choose his or hers t-shirt, sarongs and even tie dye outfits for your little ones. For special mementos to take back home, Indigo Moon Silks at Moon Woven Studio should be your next stop where you can lay your hands on hand-woven treasures made with natural dyes and natural fibers. Don’t miss out on the famous Farmers Market which is held every Saturday from 10AM to noon and features fresh produce, baked goods and a variety of arts and crafts. |
|
|
Best Times to Visit Gabriola Island |
| Gabriola Island in general has dry summers, wet winters having 75% of rain falls between October and March, and moderate temperatures. The residents of Gabriola enjoy the mild temperature climate and relaxed lifestyle. The best time to book a Gabriola vacation rental and visit Gabriola is late spring, summer and fall when it hosts a variety of art, music and literary events throughout the year. In case you are planning to stay during the popular summer and fall months, you must get advance reservations. |
|
| |
Time Zone for Gabriola Island |
Pacific Standard Time |
|
|
Getting To and Around Gabriola Island |
You can fly, sail, or you can come by ferry and depending on your mode of travel each of these means will have links to assist you in making arrangements. Gabriola Island is connected by ferry service to Nanaimo and air service to downtown Vancouver, BC whereas journey from Vancouver International Airport is convenient as well as affordable. It is only an hour and a half drive from Victoria to Nanaimo, BC and then only a 20 minute ferry ride to Gabriola Island.
Various other flights available to reach Gabriola include Air Canada that flies from most major cities, Baxter Air and Harbor Air operates from downtown Vancouver to downtown Nanaimo and West Jet Airlines that cover most major cities in Canada. |
| |
| |
|
|
