Gulf Island Getaway: Salt Spring Island is ‘waiting for you’

At just under an hour and a half on a direct ferry from Tsawwassen, Salt Spring Island makes perfect sense for a weekend getaway. If you’re ready for a 48-hour retreat from the glass-and-concrete jungle, here are three ways to unwind on the largest—and arguably most popular—of the Southern Gulf Islands.

“We’ve been waiting for you!” our hip-cool server entreated as we walked into Cassette Cafe and Dive Bar on Lower Ganges Road. And for a moment, we believed him.

Unwind is the driving mission at Cassette, and owner Mike Jacobsen explains how the building’s history influenced the brand. “We call the restaurant side of the business a dive bar because it is a 1950s gas station, and it’s a bit gritty,” says Jacobsen, taking a break from the open grill where he and his staff cook up an assortment of diner-redux classics.

“We have really good people, a good vibe and the food and drink are delicious.”