You can visit all five major Gulf Islands—Pender, Mayne, Galiano, Saturna, and Salt Spring—and find accommodation and dining options. The biggest and busiest of the islands is Salt Spring, known for its scenic shoreline, galleries, and well-trafficked Saturday Market, where vendors sell hyper-local produce and artisan crafts.
One was to experience the islands from Vancouver or Victoria is on a whale-watching cruise. Orcas and gray whales, as well as seals and porpoises can be seen in the surrounding waters. Or, take a day trip that combines a morning whale-watching excursion around the Gulf Islands with an afternoon trip to Victoria’s Butchart Gardens.