A scenic, two-hour ferry ride from Vancouver, the artist’s colony of Salt Spring Island has a well-established gallery route and several vineyards that offer tours and tastings of local, handcrafted wines. Hiking, cycling and enjoying the enormous Saturday Market, open from April to late October, are all entertaining options, but if you’re lodged at Hastings House Country House Hotel, you may not want to leave the property at all.

A collection of historic buildings, including a former barn, have all been converted into suites, each uniquely furnished and decorated with heated slate floors, fireplaces and soaking tubs. Overlooking the marina and bordered by hillside meadows filled with grazing sheep, the pastoral setting evokes images of a storybook world. Enjoy afternoon tea and a spa treatment, followed by an evening meal prepared by chef and author Marcel Kauer, who transforms local fish, shellfish, produce and dairy products into unforgettable feasts.

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