My secret spot

Once upon a time, I lived on a little island that felt like worlds away from the bustling city of Vancouver. I had never heard of this little place before a job brought the opportunity, but I will remember it fondly forever. Quadra Island is one of British Columbia’s best kept secrets. It’s much like the Gulf Islands, but further North and much less popular. During the peak of summer, the population only gets up to about 5,000 and goes down by almost half for the remainder of the year. The mass of islands that Quadra is a part of is called the Discover Islands, and they are worth discovering.

Credit: Natasha John

There are two ways to get there; the first is taking a ferry over to Nanaimo and then driving up to Campbell River and then taking another short ferry ride (ten minutes) over to Quadra. The second option is to fly, which I did this past weekend. There are a few different providers that fly direct from Vancouver to Campbell River and I flew with Pacific Coastal and had a wonderful experience. In less than 40 minutes, you will have saved yourself about 4 or 5 hours of time, which is about how long it takes when using the former method. If you have time on your hands, the ferry ride over to Nanaimo is lovely and the drive up Vancouver Island’s coast is even better. If oysters are your thing, you should stop off at Fanny Bay and pick up some oysters to shuck at your cabin on Quadra.

Credit: Natasha John

Once you are on Quadra, you have a few different options; you can rent a cabin, a room at a bed and breakfast, camp at Rebecca Spit or get a room at one of island’s hotels. April Point Resort and Spa is great for the avid fisherman and spa lover. The Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge is rich in Native American art, architecture and offers a peaceful oasis on the Southern part of the island. My personal favourite place to stay, excluding bed and breakfasts, is The Heriot Bay Inn because of its location, views, accommodations, recreational activities, restaurant and pub. The HBI (as locals refer to it) is about 100 years old and has some very interesting stories to tell. At one point, much of the inn burned down and has since been restored and rooms have all been renovated to suit modern tastes. On a Friday night, the pub is the place to be and on any given day, Herons restaurant serves up delicious plates with an amazing view.

Credit: Natasha John

Campbell River is known as the “Salmon Fishing Capital of the World” and lucky for you, Quadra is only a hop, skip and a jump away. If you’re into fishing, there are plenty of guides and tours to go on to catch some of the best fish you will ever eat. No joke. There are also many kayaking tours, wildlife boat cruises, boat rentals and hikes to discover and will keep you entertained from morning to night. It’s not uncommon to see sea lions, porpoises, orcas and walrus’ when out on the water, so make sure you have your camera ready. You may even see a Grizzly and other bears while you’re out on a nature tour too!

There are a number of very talented artists on the island and you can get a map of the different locations and make your way around the various studios to grab a souvenir to take home. While you’re touring the island, you should stop in at the local winery for a little refreshment. There are also plans to create a golf course on the island, but that has yet to be fully developed.

It’s a bit of a trek to get up to Quadra, but if you’re in Vancouver and you have a few extra days to take advantage of, I would highly recommend you make the journey up to one of the most beautiful places in North America. Yeah, it’s that lovely.

Credit: Natasha John