Bowen Island sits in spectacular Howe Sound just a 20 minute ferry ride from West Vancouver via an 80 car ferry. Because of the island’s proximity to downtown the majority of the year-round residents (approx. 3000 pop.) commute daily. As the ferry schedule is almost hourly, fitting a trip to the city into your day is no problem giving you the best of both worlds. If your day on the mainland is a little longer, a 45 passenger water taxi (foot traffic only) runs nightly around midnight. There is also an island bus service during peak travel times.
Amenities: We have excellent resident physicians adjacent to the pharmacy and a professional 911 ambulance/paramedic team. Grocery shopping in Snug Cove (as downtown as we get) is very casual. Liquor & wine are available at the General Store, along with most everything else you may require including video rentals. Several restaurants, pubs and a gourmet deli cater to you when you're "all" on vacation. Fishing charters and boat rentals are available in near-by Horseshoe Bay.
Activities: For the adventurous seasonal sea-kayak rentals are available locally, a great way to explore the surrounding waters. The island is also a mecca to mountain bikers, and hikers enjoy the well maintained trails criss-crossing the landscape.
Tennis: Our private ocean front tennis court is regulation size and professionally surfaced. The court landscaping includes several viewing areas, complete with a mid-court shade garden for relaxing between games. As the island has a variety of "micro-climates" often quite different from that of neighbouring Vancouver, it is our experience that with the luck of a mild winter great tennis days can be enjoyed virtually year-round.
Skiing: Bluewater is 90 minutes from world class skiing at Whistler Mountain, or you can enjoy great local skiing on Cypress, Grouse or Seymour Mountains, a mere 30 minutes away.
Bowen Island Golf Course: The Russ Olson designed 9-hole par 35 course is approx. 3000 yards with multiple tee box options suitable for players of all skill levels.
The Cottage: Situated on the Western shore of the island our WSW exposure affords you the longest summer days and spectacular sunsets. Access to Georgia Strait is immediate and sport-fishing, particularly salmon, is renowned. For the avid sailor the typical summertime westerly breezes make the surrounding waters a paradise.
The cottage sits in a sunny clearing approximately 150 ft. back from the shoreline on a quiet and very private 1 acre property. Surrounded by old growth firs and cedars with a driveway to your door. The beach is easily accessed by your own gateway to a path that meanders alongside a lush fern filled creek. The tiny cove offers a very tranquil, safe and clean low-slope pebble swimming beach. Because of the SW exposure of the beach, swimming throughout the summer can be enjoyed until well into the evening. On a busy summer weekend this beach rarely has a population of more than a handful. A guest deep water mooring buoy, suitable for boats to 30 ft. is just off the beach but boaters must provide their own dinghy transport ashore.
Features: The Cottage is a classic 1000 sq. ft. west coast post & beam design with spruce ceilings throughout and an open living room/dining area complete with a "Casablanca”ceiling fan. Centrally heated and carpeted throughout the living room also features a large stone fireplace.with an electric fireplace insert for a real fire like ambience but without the hassle of chopping firewood.
Double glazed picture windows face the sea and french doors open onto a further 1000 sq. ft. of step-down sundecks. The hot tub sits on a separate gated private deck along with an outdoor hot shower by the beach entrance for your comfort and convenience. The decks are comfortably furnished including a barbeque and outdoor kitchen area. The living room includes cable TV, high speed internet, DVD, CD player, telephone and rattan furnishings. One sofa opens to a queen-size hide-a-bed for extra accommodation. The kitchen is traditional "galley style", naturally lit and containing all necessary appliances along with a microwave, all cooking implements, coffee maker (& grinder), blender, juicer, and a variety of spices.
The master bedroom has a full bath/shower ensuite and the picture window enables you to enjoy the eagles and passing boat traffic from your king size bed. A ceiling fan allows you to keep the room at your own comfort level.
The second bedroom contains 2 twin beds (that can be modified to another king size bed upon request), naturally lit and adjacent to a second full bathroom. All bedding, sheets, towels (not beach towels) etc. are on hand. The cottage has an apartment size washer and dryer but maid and laundry service are not supplied.
Pets and Smoking: Your well-behaved pets are welcome, but we do ask that "pet-parents" be considerate of those who follow. Dog control regulations are enforced during the summer months on island beaches. As this is a Non-Smoking cottage and as a courtesy to others we ask that smoking please be confined to outside.
Our Goal: We want your stay to be relaxing "Island Style" so put your watch away and your feet up. To enable you to travel light, ideally you should find the cottage equipped with almost every little household item. Of course if you are visiting us in the winter the face of the island is quite different. You may prefer to curl up in front of the open fire and watch the weather systems pass through (real firewood is on hand.
