Take the Ferry to Bowen
"Bowen Island, British Columbia, is an island municipality in Howe Sound, and within Metro Vancouver. Approximately 6 km wide by 12 km long, the island at its closest point is about 2 km west of the mainland. There is regular ferry service from Horseshoe Bay, as well as three water taxi services. There were 3,551 permanent residents as of the 2007 BC Stats Estimate, a number that is supplemented in the summer by roughly 1,500 visitors, as Bowen Island is a popular vacation home location for British Columbians. About 500 workers and over 200 students commute to offices and schools on the mainland each day. The island has a land area of 49.94 km² (19.28 sq mi)." See Wikipedia Link.
Greeting you when you get off the ferry at Snug Cove is the building in the photo above. It was once the General Store of the Union Steamship Company. Now it is the Bowen Island Public Library. The land in this area was orignally owned by Captain John Cates. He brought visitors here on The Britannia, one of the ships owned by his Terminal Steamship Co. In 1920 The Union Steamship Co. took over Cates holdings and held them until 1950. The Arts and Crafts style Library was built in 1924 by the Union Steamship Company. Behind it is the Bowen Island Museum and Archives. Across the street from the library are a series of stores including: clothing stores, restaurants, gift shops, a bakery and pubs.
To walk on to the Bowen Island Ferry from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver costs $8.85 round trip. The ferry leaves about every hour on the hour 6 am to noon, then on the half hour from 2:30 pm to 9:35 pm. To check updates on the ferry schedule see Link bcferries. The short but spectacular cruise gives magnificant views of Strait of Georgia and the mainland mountains.
Photo: Taken in October 2006 by SW.
Link: https://www.bcferries.com/bcftravelcentreLink: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowen_Island
