Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island might just be the ultimate gastronomic getaway. Over 200 growers tend the meadows, fields, and valleys of this largest of the Gulf Islands, cultivating everything from sheep to bamboo to grapevines. Island artisans produce hand-crafted goodies such as cheese, chocolate, roasted coffee, and fine wines made from island-grown grapes. The town of Ganges is a showcase for the island's bounty, especially on Saturdays in the summertime in a fabled market that is part commerce and part celebration. Accommodations range from lakeside cabins to elegant country inns.