Two ferries from the Comox Valley — first to Denman, then across to Hornby — bring you to one of the most unusual small islands in British Columbia. Three hundred metres of crescent-shaped white-sand beach at Tribune Bay are unlike anything else on the Strait of Georgia, and the sandstone cliffs of Helliwell Provincial Park on the east side drop straight into water frequented by sea lions and orcas.
The island's 1,000 permanent residents include an unusually high proportion of working artists; the Hornby Festival in August is a week of concerts in the community hall. Bring a bike — there are no taxis, and the only car-rental option is unreliable.