Escape the city and be fully immersed into nature where you can drive from one end of the island to the other in less than an hour. Galiano Island is a 45 minute direct ferry ride from Tsawwassen, BC and offers beautiful scenery, rugged trails and family-friendly beaches to beach comb for hours. You can see big sea lions, seals, all kinds of birds and if you’re lucky, the resident pod of Orca whales transiting Active Pass.
We visited Galiano Island with our 3 kids and dog for Spring Break and have put together a list of our top 5 Kid-friendly things to do.
For a review of where we stayed, read A Family-Friendly Hotel Galiano Oceanfront Inn and Spa.
The Best Time To Visit Galiano Island
The best time to visit Galiano Island would probably in the late Spring and anytime in the Summer, when the weather is relatively dry and it is much warmer. We visited in the early Spring (March) and the weather was still cold, a little windy and it lightly rained in the morning but warmed up in the afternoon. It was your typical Pacific Northwest Spring weather.
For how to dress your kids for adventuring in BC, check out Jan & Jul (designed in Vancouver). Jan & Jul makes outdoor gear for rain, sun, and everything in between. Designed and tested by moms in the Pacific Northwest. Ethically made and built to last – Rain or Shine!
The Best Way to Get Around Galiano Island
The best way to get around Galiano Island is by car and by bike. We packed our family into our SUV and hitched our bikes up onto our bike rack. We also brought our baby seat and bike trailer since they’re still pretty young for long bike rides. Grab a map of Galiano Island from the Ferry or from wherever you’re staying. Cell service is a bit spotty on the road so you can’t always rely on Google maps.
The Best Kid-Friendly Shop on Galiano Island
Our kids favourite shop was the Galiano Island Books! This cute little shop is on Madrona Dr., the first left when you get off the Ferry at Sturdies Bay.
The Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant on Galiano Island
Our kids loved the Hummingbird Pub! Haha! They loved the music and there was a lot to look at. This Pub also had a highchair. Just bring wipes 😉
We also really liked Babes in the Woods. We got take out and ate in our hotel room because Babes in The Woods unfortunately didn’t have a highchair and we didn’t bring our stroller.
5 Kid-Friendly Things To Do On Galiano Island
Start at Oxeeye Galiano for Coffee
There’s one main road on Galiano Island and 1 minute from the Ferry Terminal is a cute, modern cafe called Oxeeye. Make sure to check their website to see their operating hours. They have delicious, freshly made breakfasts and sandwiches, not to mention really good coffee.
Go to Montague Harbour Provincial Park and hike the trails to the beaches
Drive to Montague Harbour Provincial Park and park in the day use picnic area. The trails are not stroller friendly and can be muddy in the Spring or after rain. So our kids wore their rainboots and rain gear. We stopped at a white shell beach where all the sand was white from crushed white clam shells.
Bike to Dionisio Point Provincial Park
At Dionisio Point Provincial Park we saw sea lions, played on the beach, beach combed and admired the cool rock formations. To get here we drove to the end of Bodega Beach Drive and parked at the end of the road where there is a yellow gate that said “Private Property”. From there, we got on our bikes and biked 5 kms to Dionisio Point Provincial Park. The road is paved up until the park, then it’s a natural trail. This trail is stroller friendly, but it’s not paved. The bike ride is a bit hilly. It’s mostly downhill to the beach and uphill back to the car.
Unfortunately there is no other way to Dionisio Point Provincial Park by car. It’s only accessible by foot, biking or boat.
Watch for Whales at Bellhouse Provincial Park
Pack a picnic and have lunch and snacks at Bellhouse Provincial Park. You can park in the parking lot and walk up the trails to find a nice spot to lay down a blanket for a picnic. Bellhouse Provincial Park has the best view of Active Pass. If you’re lucky you may see the resident pod of Orca whales.
See A Beautiful, Natural Sandstone Cave
Retreat Cove has a very special secret. It is home to a supernatural but hidden sandstone cave. The most important thing about this cave is its natural beauty, so if you decide to venture out to see it, please be respectful. To find it, drive to the end of Retreat Cove Road off Porlier Pass Road. The cave is on private property so you’ll need to jump over the fence to go down to see it.
Let us know if you visit Galiano Island and if you tried any of these places! You can also see videos of our trip on my Galiano Island highlight on my Instagram: amandalbreen
Amanda is a writer, photographer, videographer and a content creator with a passion for sharing stories. With her family of 5, they share experiences, tips and ideas that empower Moms to make memories with their families right here in British Columbia.
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