While I’ve been lucky to explore parts like Kelowna and Penticton, there are even closer places to visit if you’re not willing to make the drive up to wine country. Case in point: Mayne Island.
Located an hour away by ferry, Mayne Island is a quaint and beautiful area to explore.
For Brian’s birthday, I wanted to take him away somewhere slightly remote. With our house building being quite a mess at the moment with no end date in sight, I wanted him to have a couple days of R&R before having to deal with more home related issues.
We stayed at the Mayne Island Resort, which is located on the eastern side of the island, about a 10 minute drive from the other side where the ferry docks are located. We stayed in a villa which is in it’s own building, 4 villas in one building (two up, two down). Ours was on the top floor with a great view into Bennett Bay.
Our accommodations were well appointed and very comfortable! Our king bed was soft and comfortable and the entire space is perfect for two (the couch pulls out another bed, so you can have 4 people stay at the villa).
Our washroom included a shower and a soaker tub. There were two patios – one of which had a gas bbq grill (which we put to good use).
We also had a kitchen area which was perfect for breakfast and one of our dinners that I made. I would like to note that there aren’t any ‘basic’ cooking necessities like oil (there is packaged salt and pepper), just come prepared. If not, there is a very small grocery store that’s closer to the resort and also the Tru Value located in the town center area.
We stayed for two nights and three days, and it seemed quite enough time for the two of us to explore. We went up to Georgina Point Heritage Park and the Lighthouse – where we spent a great deal of time looking for sea lions (a couple here when we came)!
There is also a small trail in Bennett Bay that leads to a beautiful view, the trail from our resort to the end took about 20 minutes to walk.
There are a couple shops including a clothing shop, a book shop and a small cafe. You can purchase Mayne Island made items in all these places. I purchased some chutney and relish I’m just dying to try!
On our last day, we were killing time before the ferry arrived, so we went to check out the Japanese Garden in Dinner Bay. Tranquil and beautiful, the way it’s laid out, you definitely feel like you’re not in BC anymore.
One evening, we had dinner at the Bennett Bay Bistro. The prices are fair and you get a good cooked meal that’s a pretty hefty portion. Depending on what you order, you are also able to start your dinner off with their salad bar. There is a liquor store right next door and they can serve your alcohol for a small corkage fee.
If you’re looking for a quick and quiet getaway, Mayne Island is a great place to enjoy some peace and get reacquainted with nature.
