Since the early 1900s, Bowen Island has been a favourite destination for Vancouverites seeking a quiet retreat, a place to experience the full extent of British Columbia’s natural beauty, and to engage in fun, family-friendly activities on land and water. It’s the second-largest island in Howe Sound, and the only one with car ferry service, with many of its 4,200-plus full-time residents making the daily 20-minute ferry commute to Vancouver. Ferries depart from both Snug Cove and Horseshoe Bay more than a dozen times per day.
Snug Cove village is the island’s hub, with restaurants, retail stores, medical offices, a pharmacy, a public library, a post office, museums, a credit union, a public elementary school, a private middle school, and many other useful amenities. Nearby, Artisan Square is home to artist studios and galleries, boutiques and cafés. Crippen Regional Park offers plenty of opportunities for hiking through uniquely wonderful ecosystems, and the trails to the top of Mount Gardner must not be missed.