Texada Island in the Strait of Georgia

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• In 1900, the names of some of the Texada landmarks aptly described island activities at that time; Blubber Bay, Rumbottle Creek, Midas Street and the Bucket of Blood Saloon!

• Just before you reach Shelter Point, the road passes through Gillies Bay, one of Texada's two commercial centres. There's a food and liquor store here, a gallery featuring local art, and a farmers' market held on Sundays in summer on the Gillies Bay Ball Field. The island's unique Flower Rock jewellery can be found in Gillies Bay.

• Limestone quarries on Texada Island

  Don't miss Texada's Sandcastle Competition at Shelter Point Park in July, and the opportunity to view a display of architectural brilliance in the sculpturing of beach sand.

  Other festivities on Sandcastle Weekend include live entertainment, slow-pitch ball games, Games and races, a beer garden, a barbecue, a pigroast, a dance, and much more.

• The primitive forestry campground at Bob's Lake caters to visitors who want to experience the rustic beauty of Texada. Another forest campsite is located at Shingle Beach.

• One of the best ways to tour the island is on a bike, and there are numerous dirt roads and trails to explore. Mountain Bikers can rent mountain bikes at Gillies Bay, including cruisers, hardtails and full suspension mountain bikes.

• Hiking to the top of Mount Pocahontas, the third tallest peak on the island (1,745 feet) affords spectacular 360 degree views of Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait, and the Coast Mountain range on the BC mainland.

• Boaters will find anchorages in the many bays around the island, and limited moorage at Marble Bay near Van Anda, on the Northeast coast of the island. The anchorages aren't particularly sheltered, so weather conditions should be monitored.

• Wildlife: Gillies Bay is a spring stopover for migrating Brant Geese on their long migration back to the Yukon and northern Alaska. Deer roam freely over the island without being hunted by cougar or bear that are not found on the island. Bald eagles are common, and great blue herons and other waterfowl frequent the island's bays.

• If you'd like to savour a Mediterranean-like climate, head for Shelter Point Regional Park. Texada may be a rugged island, but it does possess this jewel of a regional park midway along its west side, 17 miles (27 km) south of the Blubber Bay ferry terminal. Note that it's best to avoid Shelter Point on the July weekend when the regional baseball tournament is in full swing. Douglas fir and western red cedar trees provide a fitting accompaniment to the beauty of the nearby beach with its exotic-looking sand dollars, sea anemones, and oversized moon snail shells. Most of the 47 vehicle/tent campsites are set back from the expansive sand and polished pea-gravel beach. A breeze blows almost constantly across the Strait of Georgia, but Shelter Point comes by its name honestly. Camping is especially good between April and October, when there are plenty of clear, warm days.

• A nature walk along the forested shoreline of Shelter Point Regional Park takes visitors through a setting that could have been the inspiration for author J. R. R. Tolkien's giant marching trees featured in his Lord of the Rings trilogy. Long branches from two groves of Douglas fir spread like muscled arms above each end of the trail. Although sturdy, most of their tops have been cropped by winter storms. Eagles and osprey rest in the tallest boughs when they aren't out cruising the coastline for a meal. Others also have drawn sustenance from these waters for many generations. When the tide is out, look carefully from the promontory at the south end of the nature trail and you may be able to discern an ancient V-shaped rock fishing weir, fashioned by Indians of the Sliammon Nation. Once frequent visitors to Texada, their traditional village was located where the Powell River pulp mill complex now stands.

  Near the south end of the trail stands the gnarliest Douglas fir of them all, a full 7 feet (2.1 m) in diameter. As you look west from here across the Strait of Georgia at the Comox Glacier's broad white expanse, you get one of the best views of central Vancouver Island. Lasqueti Island lies off to the southwest. The trail loops back from its southern terminus at a gravel road through the forest to the giant fir. You can also choose to walk partway on a rough shoreline trail that branches away from the main trail and leads past arbutus and western red cedar. Also watch for the wild honeysuckle vines that entwine themselves around tree trunks in several places. The 2-mile (3-km) loop trail begins south of the entrance to the park's newly expanded campsite area. Although not well marked, the trail is easy to locate.

• Island Hopping
  Travelling between the Southern Gulf Islands and Northern Gulf Islands can be accomplished in small hops. Each of these islands is a world unto itself, each with its own history, culture and colourful characters - each island deserves at least a day or two for exploring.