It was five years ago this week that theTravelsketcher and I visited Galiano Island, so I’m taking a break from writing about France to share some photos and thoughts of this gorgeous location. Galiano Island is located in the Gulf Islands at the southern end of the Strait of Georgia, between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia.
This large archipelago includes the San Juan Islands in Washington State. The stunning scenery and tranquil feel of the island will draw you in, and you will not want to leave.
After crossing the border at Blaine, WA, it takes about 20 minutes to get to the Tsawwassen Ferry Landing. The crossing takes about 50 minutes and is a beautiful ride. Be sure to make a reservation in advance.
Galiano Island offers a wide range of accommodations including camping, cabins, resorts, and bed and breakfasts. We stayed at the Cliffhouse Cottages which is run by a delightful couple who are warm and welcoming. We stayed at the Treehouse which is cozy and comfortable, and has a nice view of the water.
We were invited into the Cliffhouse (as the name indicates, it is perched right on the cliff and has a beautiful view of the water, islands and mountains) by some delightful ladies, all in their 80s, who were visiting Galiano to do some hiking. We shared a bottle (or two) of wine, and they told us how they escaped Eastern Europe before WWII for Vancouver, BC. They met shortly after arriving in Vancouver, and formed a lifelong friendship. Meeting people and hearing their stories is one of the things I love about travel.
The ladies had hiked to the top of Mt. Galiano that day and encouraged us to give it a try. I hope I’m that spry when I’m in my 80s! This 5.6 kilometer moderately difficult hike, offers spectacular views at the top and an abundance of soaring eagles.
Speaking of eagles, we came upon an eagle’s nest while strolling along the beach, and I was able to get a photo of her feeding her eaglet.
I was amazed by the beauty of the island and took many photos.
There are just a few restaurants on the island, and some are open only seasonally, so be sure to check availability before you go. The Crane and the Robin was one of our favorites.
There are art galleries, beaches to explore, hiking trails and many other activities on the island. We were there for three days, which wasn’t enough time to explore this gorgeous place. I hope to return someday when we’re back on that side of the world.
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As always, I would love to hear from you, so please leave a message.
Wishing you grand adventures,
Tricia
Travels Through My Lens 
That part of the world is one of the most beautiful in the world, thanks for bringing back the memories.
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Agreed. I love the PNW.
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What a beautiful mass of water! The Treehouse looks like such nice accommodation – in nature, that’s great! Your views from high up the mountain are spectacular and such special photo’s of the eagle feeding the little ones.
It is indeed a lovely place – I can see that one will have to make sure your camera’s batteries are fully loaded 😊.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it; it truly is a beautiful part of the planet. That hike was totally worth the effort. Thanks for stopping by!
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Beautiful photos! I especially liked the eagle and her eaglet. I remember you and Terry talking about the trip and how tranquil it was. I love the Hobbit house!
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Thanks Nancy!
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My goodness, what stunning views! How incredible to meet those ladies and hear their story. And to be able to capture that rare moment of seeing an eagle with her babies. All around a fantastic post! I hope you have a great weekend 🙂
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Thanks so much Meg! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. It is such a stunning place; I just love it there.
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What a coincidence. I was going to do a post this week about the Gulf Islands, but we decided to have a last minute sailing trip from Vancouver next week. So I’ll post about both in a week or two! You have gorgeous pictures. When we were there we didn’t get on to land much, just the sailboat. Maggie
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That is a fun coincidence. Thanks so much; I’m glad you enjoyed the post and photos. I’m looking forward to your post about the Gulf Islands. I’ve only been to Galiano and Vancouver Islands, but hope to see more at some point.
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I love to see YOU and THE TRAVEL SKETCHER in some of these photos. What a beautiful place!
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Well, as you know, that’s a rare occurrence!
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It looks absolutely lovely, and wow the eagles are so special 🙂
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It is a gorgeous place. I never tire of seeing eagles. Thanks for your comment!
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Stunning outstretched views
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Thanks for your comment! It’s an amazing place.
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This place is like something out of storybook. Huge props to you for catching that Eagle’s Nest. The experience with the ladies at the Cliffhouse sounds special, I bet they had some incredible stories to tell. You’re right about the sauna, there’s definitely a Tolkien-like quality to it.
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The island does have have enchanting quality. It was a very special few days with meeting the ladies, seeing eagles and the stunning scenery. Thanks for your comment!
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As always, your pictures are absolutely gorgeous.
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Thank you!
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