MICROPLASTICS POLLUTION | Tiny Particles, Big Problem

We say it all the time, that we need to save our Oceans, to change our habits, to keep trash out of the sea, but since we aren't seeing the global shift that we really need, we think it bears repeating. We have to ask - does it not seem odd, that more people aren't woeful, or even terrified about the negative effects that have been reported? We know that life on Earth exists primarily because of our abundance of water, so how are we not linking that to how we are treating the planet's Oceans and waterways? In the immortal words of our hero Sylvia Earle "No water, no life. No blue, no green." We dwell in the green, and all around the blue - if they disappear, so do we.

 

It would seem that the younger population is not as complacent about this reality as some have been in the past. Let's give a shout out to the next generation and their ability to get the world's attention! With the awesome momentum that Greta Thunberg + the global Climate Strikes have created, issues ofall kinds surrounding pollution + Climate Change are getting a bigger voice. We can all give a big cheers for that!

One topic we are especially happy to see rising to the forefront of this movement is the affect Climate Change is having on our Oceans, and what we are doing that directly affects their health - that's unfortunately not a short list. We want to bring a little extra awareness to one of the biggest issues on that list - microplastic pollution.

Historically speaking, it is no longer surprising when some of the smallest culprits become the biggest problems. Mosquitos carry some of the world's deadliest viruses, germs we can't even see cause epidemics, and here we are in the middle of a different kind of sickness caused by tiny offenders that has been evolving for decades. It's sadly not unforeseen that the plastics that are floating around in the sea are breaking down and getting into everything - Arctic ice, fish bellies, RAIN!, AIR!, our food - which means it's in us too! We know this is wrecking havoc on marine life + their habitats, what we don't know is what are the long term effects on the rest of the world, and on our own bodies? Nothing is boding well at this point.

The textiles industry is a bigger contributor than we'd like to think, maybe even one of the worst, especially fast fashion producers. If we aren't wearing sustainable fabrics, or using a product like the Guppyfriend Washing Bag to help capture microfibres, then every time we do laundry, the fibres released from any synthetic clothing get dumped into our waterways + will stay there forever. That is a big reason we chose to create from natural fibres - they are biodegradable, plastics are not. We haven't reached perfection in our fabrics yet, but we are researching constantly to find the best options for our bodies + our planet.

We aren't scientists, and we are very grateful for the minds out there who are putting their research efforts towards finding answers that will wake up the public + hopefully garner enough lobbying power to see real change from policy makers. That being noted, we know those in the know can say it better than we can. Check out these articles + videos that highlight the ways microplastics harm our Oceans, and what else is being done to understand the growing impact they are having on our environment as a whole.

• The HUGE Problem of Microplastics - oceana.org 
• How Your Clothes Are Poisoning Our Oceans and Food Supply - theguardian.com
• The Big Problem of Microplastics -  nottingham.ac.uk
• As Synthetic Microfibres Infiltrate Food, Water, and Air, How Can We Prevent Future Release? - eco-business.com
• The World's Oceans Are in Danger, Major Climate Report Warns - New York Times
• Immerse your senses in the beauty of the underwater world with BBC Earth's Blue Planet II. It is a beautiful and insightful documentary that could inspire you to take action!

We're so happy that the microplastics problem that our Oceans are facing is finally getting the attention it deserves, or at least, the start of it. There is much more research needed to understand what the lasting affects of this toxic habit we have will be. Let's hope that the powers that be recognize that there need to be significant shifts in policy (especially for industry) for us to conquer these issues going forward, and actually enact them. And we, as the public, can help that change by using our dollars, our votes, + our voices to make a difference. Don't wait.

Support organizations trying to make a difference!

• The Ocean Cleanup
• The Plastic Soup Foundation
• Mission Blue

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/microplastics-pollution

RETREAT AT HOME | Time Off Everyone Can Afford + Benefit From

Summer can be a whirlwind, can't it? Feel like all the vacationing you did might have left you with less energy than more? But To Do lists are back and the budget is spent, so what do you do if you still need a little relaxation fix? Well, who says a retreat has to be somewhere far away, or take up a whole week? We say away with that myth, and plan an awesome retreat at home. Even if you can only make it for 24 hours, make it a focused and nourishing day. 

Get a group of your closest buds together, pick a day or two that works for everyone, and commit to it. So often the reason we don't do this kind of thing is limits on our time. If you don't set it aside though, it won't happen. Parents, rustle up some childcare (overnight if you can shake it), you need time to connect with friends too!

Have everyone pitch in with planning + execution. We're willing to bet that within every group there exists different strengths for things that you would normally have to pay someone to do for you. Make the themes revolve around connection, health, the natural world, + slowing down for some conscious re-charging. We have a few ideas to get you started.

 

Get Artsy - Nominate your most artistic friend to plan a session where you all create together. If they have a particular skill to share, do that! If not, there are all kinds of ways to be creative together that don't involve a ton of supplies. Get thrift store mugs and paint them; do a paint-night style session where you all paint from the same picture; get blank cards + DIY them; have everyone bring a fav photo or piece of art, + upgrade thrifted frames with paint or stain + frame your mementos; pick a piece of clothing you want to alter + dye it, patch it, distress it, to give it new life. There are so many options! If you can't compile what you need from your own homes, look for supplies like brushes, canvas, frames, even blank cards at second hand stores.

Exercise - Everyone will benefit from moving more, but here on the West Coast, this is easily one of the most nourishing things you can do. We have so much natural beauty surrounding us. Get outside + hike to the top of a nearby mountain, or find a long walk along the Ocean (bonus points if you do both!). Getting moving outside is something we all need!

Clothing Swap - Get everyone to go through their closets + bring anything they would donate. Toss it in a neat pile in the middle of a room and swap! If you want, include shoes + home decor items. Everything left over gets donated to good will.

Meals - Collaborate on a meal plan full of nourishing foods. Unless you have one person who wants to take on all the cooking, divide up the meals and have someone different lead each meal and the rest help with prep and cleaning, so the division of labour is broken up. If you can find a market or a store that sources from local farmers, so much the better! Connecting with each other + with your food is the important part. For an extra elevation - have everyone bring a drink of their choice for your evening meal and share via tasters for your own DIY tasting. Or have your super talented chef friend teach everyone to make something, like an at home cooking class.

Yoga/Meditation - If you have a friend who is a teacher, or just a great home practitioner, ask them to create a beginner routine that they can lead everyone through. If not, then find something online that you can easily follow along to. Set your space up so it is calm + there are minimal distractions. Burn incense or candles to add the sense of scent into your practice. 

Self-Connection - After this session, or really whenever suits your group, have everyone take a focused hour to themselves, even if you're all still in the same room. This could be for writing and reflecting, for resting, for moving, for listening to a guided reflection or music - whatever you each individually need to mindfully connect with yourself. If you're the types for sharing, come back together for a debrief after, but not essential.

Exploring - One of the most funs parts of getting away somewhere new can be exploring the town and surrounding areas. If you want/have time, have everyone pick 1-2 shops or spots in your town that you can toss into the mix for an exploring session. Ask that they all have a focus on sustainability, like they are conscious retailers, second-hand (consignment + thrift), or they involve an experience, be it inside or out.

Sleep Over - Remember how much fun it was to stay overnight together as youngsters? That connection that comes from falling asleep talking, or giggling? Even just sharing in peacefully drifting off surrounded by people you love. We don't get the chance to do that as often as adults. Hopefully you'll have someone willing to volunteer their house to have a sleep over so you can continue the fun for longer!

These are only a handful of ideas. Every group of friends is going to have a different set of interests + skills to bring together. Every experience will be unique + beneficial in different ways, and hopefully everyone will enjoy some meaningful time spent with friends. And you never know, it could be your new thing! How fun would it be to do annually? We hope you do it + love it. Share your ideas with us, we want to hear them!

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/time-off-retreat-at-home

OUT FOR FALL | Balancing Your Ions For A Better Mood

Fall - the time for cozy sweaters, hot tea, and misty mornings. The urge to bundle up inside while it rains and winds is strong this time of year. More than ever though, we need to commit to time outdoors to balance ourselves. 

As we transition into greyer months, we all see a lot less of the sun, and could be in danger of seeing our bright moods fade with the darker days. The sun may hide away for the next few months, but we don't have to. What makes a true West Coaster if not a year-round love for the outdoors, no matter what the weather? Don't let the rain or the chill deter you - it is still really important for us to spend time outside to keep our health balanced and our moods high. 

Whether it's just a hum drum attitude, or something more serious like Seasonal Affective Disorder, there are ways to combat the downer days that can accompany longer dark spells. Did you know that spending time near the water - Ocean, river, or otherwise - can help lift you up? (really, is there anything water can't do?) It goes beyond a cleansing feeling, and takes us back to basic chemistry. We are all made up of atoms, which have a balance of energy inside them made up of positive, negative, + neutral particles. Sometimes, these particles get "traded" back and forth, creating Ions, which have positive or negative balances. We won't get into the chemistry more than that (mostly, because we don't want to make a mistake! It's been a long time since High School Science class), but we can talk a little bit about how those Ions affect us.

Apparently, the way we have constructed our lives means that we have a lot of Positive Ions coming at us from electrical equipment like TVs, computers, cell phones, printers, and other commonly used devices. They have been shown to have a negative affect on our bodies when exposed to them in excess, which by the sounds of it, we are constantly!

"An excess of positively charged ions in your environment can contribute to tiredness and a lack of energy, tension, anxiety and irritability. Positive Ions in the air have even been investigated as a contributing factor for asthma, allergies, migraines and depression." - negativeionizers.net

That doesn't sound great, eh? So what's to be done? Find a balance with Negative Ions. Negative Ions occur in great numbers in nature - in forests and moving water, like the Ocean! Cities can be "Positive Ion prisons" with all the electronics and pollutants they contain. Considering that we are beings of this Earth, it should be no surprise that getting back to a natural environment is what is best for us. And apparently this isn't news to us - scientists from eras far before ours have studied the affects of moods from things like waterfalls and storms, where a lot of Negative Ions are produced. These negatively charged atoms have been linked to cleaner air, decreased airborne bacteria, decreased stress, lower blood pressure, better sleep, and improved well-being and mental clarity (among other things). 

So what we're saying, is although you may have to pack away your bikini for the next few months, don't stop scheduling in regular beach visits and forest walks. It's not just the calming rhythm of the waves or misty evergreens that boost our moods, it is air we breath in around these natural places, purified by Negative Ions, that recharge us and bring us new energy. 

Living in coastal communities gives us the advantage to be able to visit the Ocean often. Not everyone is a year round boater, but for those of you who are, we applaud your commitment! You won't want to be out if it's stormy and dangerous, that's what those cozy days are for. If you do have a boat in the water though, do take advantage of calm Fall waters to get out and connect with the healing energy that the Ocean provides us. 

Next time you're feeling a bit low, stroll the beach, walk the trails, follow the river, and let the powers of the outdoors heal you. Make it a goal to do it every week and keep your mood boosted all year long!

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/out-for-fall

WELL KEPT | Sustainable Shave, Cleaner Beaches

A vision of a man in a black and white movie standing over a wash basin with white foam on his face, and a white towel draped over his shoulder. Carefully, he slides an open blade down his cheek to glide away the stubble + the cream. 

That's a romantic, even sexy image that we've seen again and again in the media over the years. How many sexy shave scenes of women can you think of? Probably not many, or none. The narrative around women's shaving up until the last few years has been one we were meant to keep hidden behind the shower curtain. We were meant to show up smooth and well groomed without razor burn or complaining about ingrowns. And us considering the idea that we could show up unshaved at all? Shocking! Shaving trends have come + gone since the dawn of civilization, and thankfully, we're back to a time when women finally have a choice to shave or not, although it is still arguably steeped in controversy.

If you are in the shave club, you need the proper tools to make it happen. We don't want to be rubbing hair off our skin with pumice stones like they did in ancient times (ouch!).  The unfortunate thing is that since it became the norm for ladies to shave, it also became the norm to use multi-blade disposable razors and heads. These plastic atrocities are now clogging our landfills + Oceans, and they sure aren't going anywhere safe any time soon (Will we never get it right the first time?). What's the best way forward?

Photo Credit: Well Kept

The ladies of well kept found themselves asking this question too. Having shifted their lifestyles to include more sustainable options, Emilie Johnson + Natalie Farrell discovered a void for quality, sustainable products for women's shaving needs, and decided to fill it themselves. They have created a line of lovely, sustainable self-care products that will take the chore out of shaving and make it an enjoyable ritual. 

The company was born out of a genuine need to create beautiful things that help rather than harm the planet, and has grown from there. They started with a wooden handled razor, which has now been replaced with a sturdy brass safety razor that has gained an enthusiastic following. For those new to the safety razor world, the most important thing to know is that it is the last razor you should ever have to buy. The well kept team has provided us with a simple 3-piece safety razor that takes a standard recyclable razor blade. In the long run, it is more cost effective, offers a more precise and closer shave, and is less likely to irritate your skin. And best of all - you're not tossing plastic handles and blades into landfills, ever!

There seems to be a little fear out there about switching to a safety razor - we get that. Most of us have been trained our whole lives to depend on a chunky, plastic guard to cover the multiple blades we've been told we need. A safety razor is called that for a reason - it is still designed with a guard, it just looks different. well kept (and our team here who is loving them!) promises that with a little practice, there is no need to be afraid. Go slow the first few times you use one to get used to it, as it is heavier than a plastic option, and you will be just fine. The well kept ladies have written an excellent "how to" guide to go along with them, which you can find here.  

Photo Credit: Well Kept

To enhance the experience of shaving with a quality razor,  Emilie + Natalie have brought luxurious shave oils, soaking salts + milks, + other beautiful items into their line to accompany their razors, all sourced + produced with the well being of the planet in mind. It helps that everything they make not only makes you feel great, but looks great in your bathroom, right down to the packaging. Surrounding yourself with things that you find aesthetically appealing keeps the mind calm + happy.

As Vancouver based gals, these co-founders spend a lot of time around the Ocean, so naturally their desire to keep the world clean intersects with a passion for the sea. Their hearts break knowing our trash is ending up clogging the homes + bodies of marine life, and showing up on our shores. They committed to their own beach cleaning initiative - #KeepTheBeachWellKept - which for them "...means picking up 5-10 pieces, or more, of garbage that is washing up on our shores every time [they] are at the beach." We love that! The Ocean to them is a way to reset yourself, which anyone who runs a small business knows is a necessity, as often as you can find a moment away from your never ending To Do list.

We love supporting women-led companies, especially those so aligned with our values. We invite you to do your part to #KeepTheBeachWellKept by cleaning up our beaches, and by making the switch from disposable + convenient, to long-lasting + beautiful tools + products for your shaving.

Their razors have done so well in stores we are having trouble keeping them on the shelves! Visit us today to talk to our staff about making the switch to a more sustainable shave life.

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/well-kept-smooth-shave-cleaner-beaches

SIPPING SEASIDE | Beach Day Mojito

The sun is shining, the sand is hot, and the sound of the waves is lulling you into a peaceful calm. Relaxing days on the beach is what us West Coast mariners live for in the summer.  Our wicker bags, flip flops, and life jackets are always by the door ready to go. We become expert picnic packers. Just add saltwater and sunshine!

What better way to kick back against a driftwood log than with a mojito! With very few ingredients and little prep, you will be on your way to a perfect beach day in no time. Follow along for our go-to (read: made up) recipe that we whipped up on a recent Staff adventure day.

Ingredients

White rum

Lime

Mint

Coconut Sugar

Club Soda

Ice

Tip: Ice might not make it in the cooler on a hot day. Dig a little hole in the sand when you get to the beach + chill your rum + soda in the cool Pacific waters.

We could give you measurements, but who is measuring things on the beach? We're not. Pack whatever pitcher you have in the cupboard, it will probably be close to 2L. Depending on how many people you have with you and how long your afternoon will be, you'll want to pack enough supplies to fill it a time or two.

To start, squeeze a few limes into the bottom of the pitcher. Add in a handful of mint (preferably from someone's backyard), and a few cautious spoonfuls of sugar. You can always add more sweetness later if you like, but you want the drink to keep its fresh zing. Muddle the lime, mint, and sugar together. We used coconut sugar to keep it natural. If you're prepared, you'll have a wooden spoon, or you can source a piece of appropriately sized driftwood! Don't over muddle, or the mint will become mush; just enough to get those flavours mixing.

Pour in about 8-12 oz of rum, and top with soda. If you have ice that hasn't melted yet, throw some in there, and a few rounds of lime. Garnish with fresh fruit like raspberries or pineapple for a fun twist.

Pour into reuseable glasses or jars, and cheers to a great day! We used our re-useable glasses from our SALT candles. You can burn them down to the bottom, clean them out, and use them again and again for all kinds of bevies. Ahhhh, refreshing + sustainable!

Be sure that the last step of any of your beach adventures is packing out what you pack in. Even the biodegradable items like lime rinds need to be tossed into an appropriate spot to keep the beach clean for everyone, including marine life. Responsible beaching means more beaching for everyone!

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/sipping-seaside-beach-day-mojito

UNDERWATER WORLD | Coolest Marine Creatures in the Pacific Northwest

Who out there dreamed of being an Explorer when they grew up? A Sailor? A Discoverer of New Lands + Species? Maybe a Pirate? Except for maybe that last one, we are right there dreaming along with you. When you become an adult, those dreams can be replaced with real jobs that you can pursue - Geographer, Boat Captain, Oceanographer, Scuba Instructor. Whether it is your full time job, or how you fill your leisure time, you should never stop exploring and being curious about our natural world.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are lucky enough to have two worlds to explore - above and below the water. It's no surprise that we are particularly enamoured with the beauty of our underwater ecosystems. Did you know we have some fo the best cold water diving in the world? Jacques Cousteau himself said that British Columbia has “the best temperate water diving in the world, and second only to the Red Sea.” Pretty high praise!

If you grew up right on the Ocean, our local marine life that hangs out on our shores will seem relatively normal to see regularly. Venture out just a little further and there is a jungle of colours and creatures underwater that we bet anyone, from near or far, would be delighted to see up close. Here are a few creatures we get excited to find when we dive under.

 

Giant Pacific Octopus

Believe it or not, our coast is home to the largest octopus in all of the oceans! That is pretty awesome. All marine creatures are spectacular, but Octopuses are a special kind of amazing. These are the largest and longest lived of all the species, with an average length of 16 feet and average lifespan of four years. They are generally a reddish brown colour, but they can change colour to blend in with their surroundings. They will die after they breed, with the females living about 6 months to tend to her eggs, a period in which she doesn't eat! Octopus are seriously smart and mischievous creatures. We marvel at them every time we are lucky enough to see one!

Sunflower Seastar

The purple starfish you will commonly see along our tidal shores is like the small cousin of this seastar. Sunflower seastars usually have 16-24 limbs, which they can shed and re-grow, and can grow up to a metre across! They have thousands of tiny tube feet along the underside of their limbs that allow them to move at one metre/minute, the fastest pace of any seastar in the area. These flowerly looking creatures are actually predators. They will feed on shellfish, sea cucumbers, snails, urchins (their favourite), and more. Their colour varies from bright oranges and reds, to deep purples. You will find them hanging around seaweed beds, hunting and avoiding King Crabs, who like to feed on them.

Wolf Eel

This very long creature is actually a fish, not an eel, despite its name. They can grow up to 6-8 feet, and weigh up to 18 kg. While not the most attractive fish, they are actually very romantic, pairing up in long-term relationships and making homes, or "dens" together in rocky crevices. If they live up to their maximum life span of around 25 years, they may stay with their mates for the better part of two decades.  That's commitment. Their large mouths are designed to get past the spiky exterior of a sea urchin, or break open shellfish and crabs. Although known to be curious enough to approach divers, they should still be given space. 

Photo Credit to eikojonesphotography.com

Rockfish

There are many spiky, spiney fish that fall into the rockfish category, we couldn't pick just one. These fish range in colour from the browns and bieges of their surroundings, to vibrant red, orange, and yellow (Check out a great gallery of the many species here).  Most people seeing them for the first time would rightly assume they might be dangerous to the touch. These fish are characterized by "...dorsal, pelvic and anal fins equipped with very sharp spines that contain a trace of mildly toxic venom." If they keep themselves safe, some of these fish can live up to a couple centuries. Not quite prehistoric, but a good long life!

Photo Credit to Racerocks.ca

Giant Plumose Anemone

Anemones are like living flowers of the underwater world. There are so many amazing varieties the world over. The Plumose Anemone is a tall column, with a fluffy looking tuft of thin, short tentacles, sort of like the head of a cauliflower. They are usually white, but can be brown, tan, or pinkish. When touched or threatened, the tentacles may retract into the column, and shrink down. Don't let that mislead you to think they are shy though. Anemones are carnivores. They will suck small animals in with their tentacles and into the centre of their oral discs to be devoured. Pretty, but deadly to small marine life! 

Bull Kelp

We know this isn't a creature, but it sure is home to many, so we think it deserves an honourable mention. This beautiful marine plant grows up to 60 ft tall, and waves its supple blades in the waters like leaves on a tree. It is an annual seaweed, growing from spore to maturity in a year. Fish, crabs, urchins, seastars, otters, and more hide amongst it's stalks for safety and for play. If you grew up on the coast, you might have played jump rope on the beach with long dried tendrils of kelp, or used the head as a make believe bowl. Fun for the whole family! 

This is only a small snap shot of the things that you could discover in our salty seas. We hope that you find a little inspiration in the beauty of these creatures to get out and interact with the Ocean. There is a whole new world down there! And wherever you are, do remember to respect the marine habitat of where you are diving and give creatures the space they need.

If you have never been exploring underwater and are looking to start, head to Frank Whites Dive Store in Victoria for gear, courses, and expert advice on all types of Ocean recreation.

For those of you who are already big into the diving scene, what are your favourite things to see underwater? And if you're willing to share, what are your favourite spots?

 

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/underwater-world-strangest-marine-creatures-in-the-pacific-northwest

SUMMER BOATING | Exploring the Pacific West Coast

There is no arguing that summer is the best time to be out on the water. It's calmer, it's warm - everything is sparkling. It's the ideal time to interact with our coasts as often as you can. Whether you are looking forward to a few weeks away in a destination you've planned for months, or you are tossing the lines off the dock on a sunny afternoon and setting off to wherever the tide takes you (we hope you get to do this often!), we encourage you to get out there and celebrate the beauty of our coast. 

We here on the West Coast of Canada are blessed with a ton of small islands to explore. Why not get out there and find some awesome coastal hideaways? There are so many hidden (and some not so hidden) spots to discover and tour. Here are a few of our favourites in the waters nearby the Southern end of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. 

Boat Only

For the mariner who wants to visit those special spots only accessible by the sea, these gems are worth dropping anchor for.

Sidney Spit

Just a few kilometres away from Sidney, BC, this narrow finger of land offers thousands of metres of white sandy beaches to wander along. Perfect for a sunbathe, a picnic, or a long, leisurely ocean-side stroll. Pretty much as close as us cold-water mariners are going to get to tropical in these parts!

Portland Island

Get ready to explore the cliffs and beaches along over 10km of walking trails that traverse this Island. Count how many different trees you can find, and identify which grew naturally, and which are part of gardens planted long ago. Pro Tip: Look for fruit you can forage...we give you our totally unofficial permission. Located between Sidney and Salt Spring Island. 

Russell Island

A good stop for a spot with a little extra history. There are still remnants of the Hawaiian Mahoi natives who originally inhabited the Island in the late 1880s. (We sort of get why they left for hotter climates) Located at the entrance to Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island.

Wallace Island

There is something inexplicably sweet & calm about this little place. Make your trip an overnighter and stay in one of the campsites (pit toilets & picnic tables available). There is a small dingy dock to tie up to, and stern tie rings to claim. Located in the Trincomali Channel between Salt Spring and Galiano Islands.

 

Boat or Car

If you're not sure what your summer plans are yet, or you just prefer the spontaneity of heading off on a weekend, boat or car, to whatever local destination is next on the list, these options give you more travel choices, as they can be reached by boat or car.

Ganges, Salt Spring Island

Our hometown! Ganges is at the heart of the biggest of the Southern Gulf Islands, and is where SALT's first store is located. Whether you're coming by ferry, or by a boat of your own, you'll be able to enjoy wandering through the shops, sitting in our restaurants, & interacting with our eccentric locals. Saturdays are busiest but they treat you to the infamous Saturday Market full of local food and artisanal creations. It's a must attend. We're a little biased, but we think it's a great spot to spend a day or a weekend!

Genoa Bay

A bay of rustic buildings and notable charm, with a restaurant that totes a number of high reviews. A good place to relax, or get out and stretch your legs with a hike. Located on Vancouver Island, near Duncan. 

Gabriola Island

A little further North across from Nanaimo, you'll find this small but thriving community. A stop in here promises parks, beaches, and fresh local cuisine. Rent a bike or a scooter and tour the island beyond the marina!

Along the way to any of these beautiful West Coast spots, there are multiple opportunities to swim, fish, and watch marine life like seals, otters, and if you are extra lucky, dolphins or whales. We have one of the most diverse populations of cold-water marine life living in our waters. Spot a spider crab hanging onto bull kelp, vibrant purple starfish clinging to rocks, or playful sea anemones waving their tentacles in a tidal pool or peeking out from under a dock. All these creatures and the habitats they live in deserve our protection. On your merry travels, take care with your waste, your fuel, and where you plant your feet as you walk. Responsible visitors mean those places you so enjoy discovering stay beautiful for generations to come. 

Stay safe and Bon Voyage! We'll see you on the water! 

Where are your favourite places to come ashore in the summer? We are always looking for our next favourite spot! Seriously, we showed you ours, you show us yours.

from SALT Shop - Journal https://saltshop.ca/blogs/news/summer-boating