Island Itineraries: Mind-Body-Spirit Getaway on Gabriola
Gabriola offers endless opportunities for relaxation, recreation, arts and culture, shopping, local food, lodging, transportation options and more! These are a few of our favourite Gabriola experiences starting in the Village and circling around the island to nourish your mind, body, heart, and soul.
Start your day at Ground Up Café & Catering with locally-roasted coffee and breakfast featuring local food producers. The owners themselves are Gabriola-grown and they incorporate local veggies, meat, eggs and other ingredients into freshly-made meals that suit a variety of dietary preferences. Get drinks, homemade baked goods, and lunch to go with sustainable packaging.
Within walking and rolling distance from the Village, you’ll find Our House Art Studio where you can join a watercolour class with Melinda Wilde, one of Gabriola’s 65 artists. Whether you think you’re a painter or not, we bet you’ll be surprised by what you can create with Melinda’s skillful facilitation.
Look out for Gabriola’s many roadside farm stands as you travel around the island. We recommend a small detour to Ravenskill Orchards where you can pick apples, find local apple and honey products, taste Gabbie’s ciders, and even Make Cheese with Paula!
If you’ve booked a session ahead of time, hop on our community bus, Gertie, or take a Gabriola Taxi, to Soul Farm where you’ll meet Thirza Voysey and her herd of horses who can offer equine therapy, tarot, meditation, and other healing experiences. We think just being on this farm will feed your heart and soul.
La Belle Vie B&B and Wellness is nearby and is a great option for a visit or restorative overnight stay. Situated on an idyllic hobby farm, your hosts offer locally-made teas and other wellness products, opportunities for guided meditation, energy movement and more.
While you’re on the south end, we encourage you to explore! Visit Page’s Resort & Marina for paddle board and kayak rentals and find local gifts and goodies at their Li’l Market.
Explore nearby Drumbeg Provincial Park, a favorite spot for a scenic picnic with views of the coast mountains, Salish Sea, and rare Garry Oak ecosystem.
At Silva Bay, you’ll find Pier Gallery Artists Collective, Woodfire Restaurant’s Fire Truck Grill, and a Sunday Market at Page’s Inn.
Gabriola offers 33 beach access points and we also enjoy over 170km of trails maintained by local volunteers with the Gabriola Land & Trails Trust (GaLTT).
The Strand and Whalebone areas (accessed off of Barrett Road) are home to some of our favourite spots, including Sandwell Provincial Park, Joyce Lockwood Community Park, Whalebone Beach, and several other public beach access points.
Please stay on trails and be respectful of the plants, animals, birds, and other inhabitants during your visit.
Head back toward the village and find freshly-baked Slow Rise breads, organic and natural foods, bodycare, and more at our local health and wellness shop, Nature Spirit Earth Market. Next, turn down Taylor Bay Road and follow signs for The Haven, a retreat centre offering programs for healing and growth. From here you can book a massage, bodywork, and movement, browse upcoming workshops, watch the sunset and wander over to the Malaspina Galleries or Gabriola Sands (“Twin Beaches”) at low tide.
Carrying on to the Berry Point area, enjoy some of our favourite ocean views and visit Connect-Balance-Thrive Wellness and Art for a sound healing experience with Gayla Meredith.
These are just a few of the many opportunities for finding rejuvenation on Gabriola. We hope you will carve out space to soak in the healing energy of being with birdsong, sea air, and starry skies. Everyone’s idea of wellbeing looks a little different and we encourage you to explore what that means for you on Gabriola, whether you find it through our new skatepark, campgrounds, play structures, markets, golf course, yoga classes, fishing charters, experiential workshops, community gatherings and more.
Join us to celebrate the ordinary and explore the extraordinary. We hope you feel better for your time here.
Thank you to local photographers, Jennifer Knight, Dylan Phillips, Stephanie Artuso, Jules Molloy, Logan Moore (with thanks to the Rural Island Economic Partnership)