We're still here on Salt Spring Island...Canada's "Paradise Island".... TIC. Just had a nice visit from Der Alte, who also visited us a year ago. Unlike Vancouver and Victoria we are in a mini-climate zone, more like California, with not a lot of rain and sunny blue skies much of the year. The New York Times rated us as one on the 50 worlds best places to visit in 2016 earlier this year. We've been here 15 years. Nice ocean view restaurants and cheap property...unlike the big cities nearby.
How much is cheap CANADA ? Is it possible to get an ocean view property, close to civilization, for less than $400 k ? Just spotted this listing....looks pretty good http://www.royallepage.ca/en/proper...pring-island/294-quebec-dr/4712908/mls365877/
We've been lucky enough to visit many of the places mentioned and they are all well worth consideration. However, our probable favourite is Saltspring Island. We're just enjoying the last few days of a stay in Vesuvius Bay - reputed to be Canada's warmest bathing beach. September weather is great and we've been able to meet up with Canada Tiger (and the lovely Mrs. Canada Tiger) for drinks and match discussions. Tomorrow we set off for a few days in Vancouver and then on to Jasper and Emerald Lake in the Rockies but it really is hard to tear ourselves from this beautiful beach. The picture was taken this morning from our (rented) house
No John...we have three seaplane services to the mainland...running 3 times a day each way. You can fly directly into the harbour in downtown Vancouver from our harbour in downtown Ganges, or to the Vancouver airport. Flights take 30-40 minutes and cost about $80 each way.
That seaview property is fairly representative TC of what's available on Salt Spring in the 600k range. 400k would be stretching it. The Island is quite small so everything is "close to civilization' as you put it. In contrast even very small properties in Vancouver and Victoria are ridiculously expensive in comparison.
Thanks for the feedback CT. It seems, on the surface at least, that recent plans by the BC government to slowdown foreign investment in real estate in your province may well divert foreign investment into major Ontario centres. It's already overheated here in Toronto, so goodness knows what such a shift may mean.
Its only Greater Vancouver TC that is subject to the 15% tax on foreign investor property purchases. We are seeing some switch toward foreign interest on the Island.
Jasper is one of my favourite places in the world and wasn't overly busy last time I was there unlike Banff, although it may have changed. I lived in Kitimat as a kid and have also stayed in Mission. Would agree with all comments, Vancouver amazing, Gas Town with the steam clock is great and also worth a visit is Granville Island which has a market selling fresh food and some amazing eateries. My cousin owns a bike shop in Brentwood Bay, right next to Butchart Gardens which is truly spectacular, and his boy goes to Salt Spring on a weekly basis to fish, he says it's amazing. Again Tofino, Long beach and Cathedral Grove truly amazing. I never get bored of talking about Canada, would really love to settle back there. A Canadian thread is great, it's nice to hear about some familiar sights and everyone's experience.
Are you heading to Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park? It's pretty and offers an interesting 5 km hike. If you're driving, consider taking in Takakkaw Falls which is relatively close by and quite spectacular.
Cheers, I guess you don't venture onto the mainland that often? I was in Seattle not long ago, didn't realise how close it was to Vancouver.
Yes, that's the one. We called in there a few years back and liked it enough to want to spend a few days this time. Our problem with Canada is that there are so many great places to visit and we hate to miss them out on our next trip. As a result our itineraryl gets longer and longer! In response to djsowtz's post - we have been on a couple of boat trips around Brentwood Bay - if we'd known about his cousin we would have stopped off and hired bikes - it is lovely there also.
That's a shame, my cousin also has a really good knowledge of the island especially for biking and camping. Maybe next time. Is there any German connection to your screen name?
No German connection, a bit of a submarine connection and Das Boot was one of my favorite films. There used to be a poster on not606 who chose Thomsen as his name (another character from Das Boot) and it reminded me of how good the film was.
