To anyone from the UK, 'one and a half hours away' is a fairly long time, at least a jaunt worthy of a weekend vacation. To anyone from Canada, it is a time frame that means little more than a quick Sunday afternoon drive. Nestled in the sparkling Pacific ocean, the Gulf Islands are little gems of another way of life, slower, more community orientated and more in touch with the natural surroundings. Salt Spring is the largest, boasting a population of 10,500, leisurely living on 182.7 sq kms of natural beauty, wildlife and harbours. As the title suggests, a world away from the urban metropolis of Vancouver all for the price of a quick ferry ride.
