Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands

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Many travellers believe spring and summer are the best times to explore. That means the off-season often gets the “cold-shoulder,” despite offering a variety of perks for those looking to save money or avoid crowds. Southern Gulf Islands Tourism lovingly refers to the off-season as “Cosy Season” and we think they might be onto something!

With their new “Nothing is the New Something Campaign,” Southern Gulf Islands Tourism is encouraging tourists to fully embrace the trendy movement of disconnecting from hustle culture and reconnecting to a slower way of living.

With burnout on the rise and work/life balance growing in demand, disconnecting from regular obligations is gaining popularity. But the concept of “slow living” is old news to the residents of the Southern Gulf Islands. In fact, on the islands you could say “slow living” is just plain old “living.”

With cheeky catch phrases like “The subtle art of not showing up” and “How to not crush your goals,” the message from Southern Gulf Islands Tourism is pretty clear: Take time to rest, relax and fully embrace your inner islander by trading in the laptop and smartphone for slow mornings, afternoon naps and tasty treats from local bakeries this off-season! (If you’re visiting Salt Spring Island, we suggest a local favourite Barb’s Bakery & Bistro.)

The Southern Gulf islands are gorgeous throughout the year, with the ‘cosy season’ offering the same views, without all the crowds! Katrina Leslie / West Coast Traveller photo

The shoulder season is the best time to practise Nothing is the New Something!

Here are three reasons to use a few of your vacation days and get in on the art of doing nothing on the picturesque Southern Gulf Islands:

1. There’s nothing quite like having a West Coast beach all to yourself!

Sure, sunbathing might be off the agenda, but frankly those UV rays are not good for you anyway. You’ll need to dress for the unpredictable weather patterns for your shoulder season beach day, but we think the positives outweigh the negatives!

Pros:

Vast, breathtaking beaches all to yourself (added bonus: mist-covered beaches make for epic photos!)
Gorgeous green forests to hike and explore without the bustle of busy summer trails.
‘Cosy’ takes on a whole new meaning when you’re enjoying your favourite warm beverage from a local café at a beach with your favourite adventure buddies.
Grey, foggy beach walks stir something in the human soul, so if you’ve been facing a creative block, an off-season island adventure might be just what the doctor ordered!

Cons:

It’s cold, and it might rain…but as long as you dress accordingly that doesn’t have to ruin your fun!

Not sure which island beach to check out? Consider Montague Harbour on Galiano Island, Bennett Bay on Mayne Island, Beaumont Marine Park on Pender Island or Ruckle Park on Salt Spring Island.

A little rain never dampens spirits on the West Coast! Katrina Leslie / West Coast Traveller photo

2. Artisan food and wine tasting is even better when you are not stuck three-deep in a crowd of like-minded travellers.

The vast crowds of tourists during the peak summer months can make getting into local vineyards and artisan cheese farms a nightmare, but many of these same locations are open during the shoulder season. A quick web search or phone call to research reduced hours or reservation requirements can get you all the information you need for planning your stress-free, crowd-free visit during the cooler months.

Another bonus to having the place all to yourself is the opportunity to enjoy more genuine conversations with the owners and staff members who, while always delightful, understandably don’t have as much time to provide all their guests with one-on-one attention during their busy summer months. So if you’re looking for that VIP feel without the VIP pricetag, booking an off-season food and wine tour is the way to go!

(If you are visiting Salt Spring Island consider checking out Salt Spring Cheese and Salt Spring Vineyards (we highly recommend the Blackberry Dessert Wine!)

Local resident deals make off-season stay-cations a worthwhile investment that you can feel good about!

Need a vacation but can’t take more than a long-weekend off? Can’t justify crossing international borders this winter but still need a break? Staycations offer a variety of benefits and can be just as relaxing as a more traditional vacation.

Many B&Bs and boutique hotels even offer local resident deals. So practise the art of “Nothing is the New Something,” turn off your phone for the weekend and know that you’re helping support your local economy, saving money by staying local and still taking that invaluable time for yourself.

Find more information and details on how best to embrace “nothing” as the new “something” here and plan your escape to the Southern Gulf Islands today!

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!