Carol’s 100+ Things To Enjoy On Gabriola Island.

1. Breathe in the sunsets at Berry Point;

2. Reduce your stress and take a leisurely Kayaking tour on a summer’s evening amongst Salish Sea;

3. Attend the incredible Gabriola Theatre Festival: fantastic entertainment August 18 – 20th;

4. Respectfully explore approx. 80 petroglyphs carved in rock, thousands of years old;

5. Swim in the beautiful clear water off Sandwell Park, or just sunbathe;

6. Walk the boardwalk of Folklife Village, originally part of Expo ’86;

7. Visit Good Earth’s and many farmers’ organic gardens and take home some fabulous vegetables;

8. Take a walk amongst the wonderful elders at Elder Cedar Nature Reserve;

9. Visit Gabriola’s very own expanded library and browse the books, DVD’s and CD’s, listen to talks;

10. Hang out and have a coffee with the locals at The Hive. Opinions are offered and appreciated;

11. Grab a free map and visit the outstanding range of art studios, Thanksgiving Tour, October 7– 9;

12. Visit the Alpaca Ranch on North Road and feed the animals, or just collect your fresh eggs;

13. Explore the Island’s long history by visiting the Gabriola Museum;

14. Then, book yourselves a GERTIE bus tour of the island with one of our resident museum guides;

15. Walk or run the Yogi Trail. Boy, this trail is fantastic, peaceful and energizing!

16. Pages Marina and Resort offers camping, picnic area, and boat docks and fuel. Friendly Gabriolans;

17. Wander the docks at Silva Bay Marina, the boats come from all parts of the world, well nearly…

18. Relax at Gabriola Sands Provincial Park, take a photograph or two, and enjoy a picnic on both sides;

19. Don’t miss the Saturday Farmers Market, whether you are shopping for vegetables or crafts;

20. Enjoy Geocaching, the newest treasure hunt game. Mine is called “What bus”. See if you can find it!.

    

    
    
    21.  Explore the Garry Oaks, Drumbeg Park. These trees are very rare and exist in very few places in BC;

22. Indulge yourself and relax with a hot rock massage at the Hale Aloha Wellness Spa at Twin Beaches.

23. Explore the naturally eroded sandstone rock formations at Malaspina Galleries. Mesmerizing!

24. Visit me, Carol Martin at Royal LePage in the Folklife Village. Q&A’s welcome. 250-668-2297.

25. Build a sunshade from the driftwood logs or a sandcastle on the many Island beaches;

26. Go to The Roxy at Twin Beaches mall at the back. Need more info on this? Call me or StevieB;

27. Take a course at the Island School of Building Arts, Timber Frame. Unique in every way;

28. Anyone for tennis? Courts available at Huxley Park;

29. Cycle around the Island, so you can claim to have climbed the Brickyard Hill. An accomplishment!

30. Hike or stroll the many trails in the 707 Community Park. Take your compass;

31. Trail map available at our Co-op Gas Station & North Road Sports – $5 – well worth it!

32. Catch the last of the summer sun on El Verano Beach – cool down in the heat of the summer;

33. Go fishing for cod and salmon or just dangle a line and watch the world slowly go by;

34. Admire Gabriola’s new Medical Clinic building, a 100% community commitment.

35. Get a great sweat-on at the Gabriola’s Fitness Centre, on North Rd; See Nancy Boyes!

36. Drop in on night-jams or karaoke at the Skol Pub. Those under 60 must be accompanied by an adult!

37. Check out the Surf Pub Jam’n on Thursday nights; Burger and beer;

38. 62nd Annual Salmon BBQ on August 12th, Community Hall. Music & great community atmosphere;

39. Walk with your pet, dog, cat, ‘gater or llama on Brickyard Beach. Owners must be kept on a lead;

40. Come Alive! Attend a personal development course at The Haven. One of many courses offered;

    

41. View purple starfish in many of the Island’s rock pools. Orange ones are rare;

42. When Easter comes along, the Easter Egg Hunt for kids of all ages. Sugar high!

43. Celebrate Canada Day at the Potato Cannon Contest, Brickyard Beach. Watch out, Mudgekins!

44. Stretch & strengthen with yoga at one of several yoga studios. Put your leg where?

45. Get your tarot cards or tea leaves read. Wow! I didn’t see that coming…

46. Genuine, local players, attend Gabriola Players’ productions throughout the year;

47. Get to first base…with slo pitch!

48. Go out with one of the GROWLS wild life rescuers, then consider joining;

49. Try Tai Chi and improve your circulation, balance and posture;

50. Pilates – Yes, I can put you in touch;

51. Garden Club’s member gardens, always a delight, inspirational;

52. Take a rubbing of the replica petroglyphs nestled in the grounds of the Gabriola Museum;

53. Have a sunset swim off the point at the Descanso Bay Campground—a favourite with us locals;

54. Take the kiddies to the playground at the Community Hall, specifically designed for preschoolers;

55. 21st Annual Gabriola Lions annual “Concert on the Green”, August 12th. Family event at Golf Course;

56. Take in an art opening at The Hive, Village. Where a local artist or a group show their works;

57. GIRO Recycling Depot, end of Tin Can Alley! Wednesdays & Saturdays;

58. Check the Sounder Newspaper for newsy events and garage sales through the year;

59. Pick, and eat blackberries just about anywhere on the island in August. Luscious;

60. Marvel in awe at the many eagles as they go about making their nests & raising their young;

    

61. Listen to the barking of the sea lions at Entrance Island. Enough to know we truly live amongst nature;

62. Watch for orcas, seals, and the occasional grey whale off Orlebar Point. Thar, she blows!

63. Enjoy spectacular views of two mountain ranges from the highest point in the 707 Community Park;

64. Visit the island in December and join the Christmas bird count. Usually around December 28th;

65. Eagles Nest Monitoring program, mapping and monitoring activities in the Gulf Islands, and Vancouver Is;

66. Collect shells and hunt for sea glass at Whalebone beach also called Joyce Lockwood Park;

67. Attend drumming-up-the-moon on full-moon summer evenings at Drumbeg Provincial Park;

68. Visit the Fall Fair at The Commons every September and enjoy Island colour in all its glory;

69. Pick up a schedule of activities at Rollo Seniors’ Centre and drop in to a bingo or a games afternoon;

70. Visitor Centre – Gabriola’s Chamber of Commerce, along North Rd. A great resource on Gabriola;

71. Twin Beaches on Halloween Night to watch the fireworks. Thanks to our Gabriola Firefighters.

72. Drive Coast Rd on the way to Page’s Marina & Resort and check out the Timber Framing School;

73. Join the Facebook “Gabriola Community Cafe” to keep up-to-date on virtually everything!

74. Flask of tea, a bag of cookies, a pair of binoculars. View the heavens any clear night Brickyard Beach;

75. Discover Coats Marsh Regional Park: bring your camera, leave no footprints, feel the tranquillity;

76. Drive through “The Tunnel” on a blue-sky day. Rays of sun through the trees create magical moments;

77. Volunteer for an hour or two, or more! Gabriola has over 100 non-profit groups;

78. Stroll through the historic and peaceful waterfront cemetery off South Road. Brochure at the Museum;

79. Try to find all of the 30 public beach accesses all prominently marked with a yellow cement marker;

80. Visit the waterfront “pocket parks” in the Whalebone area. Perfect spots for a picnics and croquet;

    

81. Visit Whalebone each where you can spot UBC during the day: Grouse Mountain lights at night;

82. Charter a flight from Gulf Island Seaplanes, located at Silva Bay for a bird’s eye view of Gabriola;

83. Stop off at one of the Island’s garden nurseries, and you’ll find a delightful selection of plants;

84. Swim and scuba dive at many of the beaches around the island. No shortage of places to “jump in”;

85. Sail through our Salish Sea, experience the natural beauty and unique character of the Gulf Islands;

86. Take an outdoor seat at many of our restaurants. Perfect place to meet up or people watch;

87. Pretty amazing view from The Surf. Otters, Oystercatchers, tugs and barges; Orcas.

88. Play a round of golf. The island is served by a challenging course bordering Hoggan Lake;

89. To find out about the open times of the island’s art studios, visit the Gabriola Arts Council website;

90. Gabriola Recreation Society. Full spectrum of programs throughout the year;

91. Robert’s Place. Open year round. Good food breakfast, lunch and dinner & catering;

92. Stay a few days at one of the many B&B establishments. Go on! Spoil yourself!

93. Local weekly newspaper, The Sounder, for all the up-to-the-minute news;

94. Swim and tan at Drumbeg Park. Great fun! Picnic on the Sandstone rocks.

95. Walk with the Wednesday Walking Group. Different routes every week;

96. Take a Watercolour course with Melinda Wilde, Our Place on Ross Way;

97. Take your skateboard/bike to Huxley Park;

98. Run, jog or walk the Gabriola Brickyard Beast 10k, August 6th – Slay the Beast!

99. Silva Bay Market, Sundays in the summer. Lively island selections; Homemade licorice. My fav!

100. Community Bus System, GERTIE. Scheduled runs – recycled vegetable oil for fuel, no gas!

101. Gabriola Arts and Heritage Centre. Renovations underway – see the transformation;

102. November/December Christmas craft fairs abound; Keep an eye open for early announcements.

103. Degnen Bay Government Dock if you’re looking to anchor or tie up; Call the Wharfinger.

104. Yes, we have a taxi service. Getting around Gabriola is easy;

105. Missing Gabriola when you return home? I’ll send you my video link. Email me at carolmartin@telus.net

 

All activities may be seasonal and are subject to change.  However, Gabriola remains awesome!

No responsibility or liability assumed for information or suggestions contained herein.

 

Carol Martin
Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty Gabriola

250-247-9333
Email Carol
Website