I didn't plan to become someone with strong opinions about Bowen Island. But now, when someone asks me for visitor's info and recommendations, I find I actually have a lot to share. My discovery of Bowen started as research while working on Bowen Wild, and over the last couple of years have turned into many trips out here in different seasons exploring what the island has to offer.
I have a longstanding interest in the outdoors, design, and wellness. For me, Bowen sits at a genuine intersection of nature, creative culture, and emerging wellness hospitality. It rewards the kind of slower, more exploratory visit that most people don't give it. It's a 20-minute ferry from Horseshoe Bay, which makes the excuses for not checking it out pretty thin (in my opinion!).
This is my curated route from Snug Cove out to the "wilder" western end of the Island. Embedded is a Google Map of my 10 favourite places on Bowen, with a sneak peak of our project location on the southeast coast (and how to get there from Snug Cove).
Hearth Gallery | Worth stopping into right off the ferry. Hearth represents local Bowen artists. Paintings, ceramics, textiles. It's a well-curated space that reflects a creative community that's been established quietly on this Island for years. A good first impression of what Bowen is actually about.
Artisan Eats Cafe | Solid cafe, good coffee, unpretentious atmosphere. If you didn't eat before the ferry this is where you sort that out. It's a neighbourhood spot, great to sit in for a cozy coffee or grab something tasty for the road. My go-to is a grilled cheese with tomato soup or a danish to go.
Kitoki Inn | A bathhouse and guesthouse nestled into the forest, and one of the more thoughtful wellness hospitality concepts I've come across. The approach is quiet and nature-connected rather than spa-as-spectacle, which aligns with a broader shift happening in the industry right now toward more grounded, place-specific experiences. Worth booking a night if you have the time. It's an experience hard to find closer to the city.
Mt. Gardner Trail Head | The highest peak on the Island and a proper hike or mountain bike...the trail through the forest is beautiful and the views at the top are truly rewarding. Give yourself a couple of hours, bring water, and wear actual hiking shoes. As a mountain biker, biking up and down this is on my bucket list. Be prepared for a challenging climb!
Endswell Farm | An organic market garden with a historic guesthouse on the property. The farm has roots in the Island's history and the seasonal produce is excellent. For work I have been extensively researching slow living and regenerative agriculture, and this is a local example of those concepts executed with real integrity and charm.
Riley's Cidery | A cider house on a working apple orchard, and one of my favourite stops on the route. The cider is dry and well-made, the setting is beautiful, and the whole atmosphere is relaxed in a way that makes it easy to stay longer than intended. You can find Riley’s Cider in various trendy restaurants and bars in BC, but being in the orchard atmosphere feels more genuine to the product.
Cape Roger Curtis | The most dramatic stretch of coastline on the Island, with open views across Strait of Georgia. It's a short walk from the road and worth it for the perspective alone. Every time I come here I am reminded of the power of our planet and the beauty of where we live.
Alder Cove Beach | Sandy beaches are uncommon on Bowen, which makes Alder Cove a bit of a find. It's a lovely spot in summer — good for swimming, easy to spend an afternoon. Nothing more complicated than that.
Bowen Island Golf Course | This unique 9-hole course winds through old growth forest. The setting makes it feel quite different from typical golf — less manicured, more atmospheric. It's worth a round even if you're not particularly serious about the game.
Shed | The restaurant on the golf course, and the natural end point for the route (and our project site is just next door). The menu is seasonal and well-executed, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the food reflects what's local and available. I had incredibly fresh steelhead trout tacos here last fall. The perfect meal to finish the day on.
As someone who loves discovering new places, I've developed an affection for Bowen that I did not expect. I have met many people here who are pursuing what they value and what they love. The businesses here feel like expressions of local passion — creative and wellness scenes here have grown organically rather than by some master planner, giving the Island a texture that's harder to find in places shaped by aggressive development. Working on a project here, and trying to contribute thoughtfully to the Island's fabric, I'm inspired by the authenticity of what Bowen Island is and what it stands for. Most visitors meander around the Cove and little else. But there is so much more to discover. I encourage you to venture further and this place will reveal itself to you.
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Rhiannon Jones