Located just steps from Galiano's finest sand beach, on a lovely sheltered bay with an eastern exposure, this is a wonderful vacation place for everyone in the family. Children play all day on the beach, explore tide pools, or romp in the forest. Exposed at low tide, an extensive sandbar in the center of the bay is great for building castles, examining intertidal life, or swimming in the shallow water. Adults relax on the beach, or in a hammock or chaise lounge. As in all of Canada, the shore is public land below the high water line. Activities will take you to the hiking trails in the forests, along the shore or up to the scenic ridges of the island. If you arrive by boat, we have a mooring buoy in the bay or government docks nearby.
Located on six private acres of mature cedar, Douglas fir forest, the house itself is set in a grove of alder trees along the shoreline. Dozens of songbirds, and hummingbirds, visit our bird feeders each day, while Bald Eagles perch in the trees overlooking the bay, the Great Blue Heron stalks its meals on the water's edge, cormorants, kingfishers, ravens, otters, and harbour seals can be seen in and around the bay. To the east beyond the bay are smaller islands, seen against a spectacular panorama of the southern Strait of Georgia, with Mount Baker, and the Coast Range of mountains as backdrop.
Our custom-built home,completed in 2004, has three bedrooms on the ground floor, each with full en-suite bathroom. There are two queen-size bedrooms and one bedroom with either two twins or a king-size bed. There are air beds available. French doors open from each room onto the red-brick porches. The attractive decor is highlighted by our collection of original art. Our well-equipped kitchen opens onto the living and dining areas at the front of the house, looking over the beach and bay. Double French doors open onto the covered front porch, a great place to eat meals or relax just 25 feet from the shore. Only the ground floor is included in the accommodation. Upstairs is the owner's private area, primarily studio space.
Get up early for an incomparable sunrise, see the sunset from a nearby point of land or, if the timing is right, the moon rise over the water is very special.
Galiano Island is 15 miles long and about a mile or so wide so we have over 30 miles of shoreline to explore and several Provincial and local parks that preserve the forest and adjoining shore and ridge tops. Our full-time population of about 1000 grows moderately in the summer. We have restaurants for fine dining as well as casual cafes and a very nice bakery. There are two groceries, a market, gas station, and post office, but no bank or pharmacy; though there are three generic ATMs. It is important to reserve ferry travel early!
Galiano is a rural community with a very small village and has been able to retain its natural forest and shoreline, even though we are located only about one and a half hours from major cities. British Columbia's Gulf Islands are a world apart.
Fall, winter and spring bring special beauty to the bay. Flocks of sea ducks, gulls and water birds arrive in October and stay until spring. Harbour seals, mink and otters are more frequent visitors. The sunrise is not so early as in the summer but at at a time for all to enjoy the red skies over the Cascade Range and Mt.Baker. If you happen on a seasonal windy day, the pounding surf and breakers on the rocks are gorgeous. The forest is at its best when the moisture is higher than the dry summer months. The moss glows green. The island life is quieter, peaceful but the community events, to which you are welcome, are more common; from the Fall Harvest Community dinner Mushroom Festival, to a series of Christmas Craft Fairs and Nettlefest in the spring.
Keywords: beach, House, waterfront, sandy beach, family home, quiet, sunny, special rates, summer, dogs, children, forest
