“Saturna” comes from the Spanish sailing ship Saturnina, which was commanded by José María Narváez during his exploration of the Pacific Northwest coast in 1791. The island was first settled in the late 19th century. The first and largest landowners were Warburton Pike and several of the Payne brothers.
Saturna Island’s moderate climate and quality accommodations make it an ideal year-round destination. Saturna is bordered by the Georgia Strait on the east side and the Haro Strait on the south. It is a rural hideaway with abundant wildlife and great natural beauty. It has scenic trails, spectacular views and easily accessible beaches. Rent a kayak and cruise the coast, or shop for local crafts at local galleries. The island’s amenities include two general stores, a sea view pub, a bakery, a coffee shop and a fine-dining restaurant. Saturna Vineyard offers tours, a bistro and tasting in the wine shop.
Our adventure began with a one hour ferry ride from Swartz Bay to Lyall Harbour. We arrived in the late afternoon, took a quick tour of Winter Cover Marine Park (one of the most beautiful spots on Saturna and the site of the July 1st Lamb BBQ) and made our way to our East Point Resort accommodation.
Just steps from East Point Regional Park, we had an ocean view cabin with a spectacular view of the entire east side of Saturna Island. The view was to die for. We checked in and headed to Saturna Lodge for dinner in the evening. The manager, Ingrid Gaines, was there to greet us and we thoroughly enjoyed our three course dinners. The scallops were divine and for main course we savored the fresh halibut and strip steak. Chef Kevin Davidson presented the dinners magnificently. Although we didn’t need dessert, we thoroughly enjoyed Kevin’s creations.
Fully sated, we returned to enjoy a good night’s sleep by the water’s edge at East Point Resort. When we arrived, the Resort owners and managers already had a roaring fire in the outdoor fireplace. We shared some of his wine and great company for a few hours before retiring. Good food, great company and comfortable accommodation – our trip was off to a good start!
East Point Resort consists of a small number of cabins with kitchens and is located on beachfront property on the southeastern tip of Saturna. It’s a great place for an extended stay retreat and is family oriented with a sandy beach. Serene, comfortable, and views that last forever best describe this community. From East Point many of the San Juan Islands can be seen and much of the mainland coastline can be seen from Vancouver south to Washington state. There is a beach below the Resort that is easily accessible and there is a Lighthouse next to it as well as a Regional Park. The cabins overlook Tumbo Island, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Park.
The next morning, we started with breakfast at Lyall Harbor Bed and Breakfast, with our tour organizers Len and Donna Digance. They have a beautiful B&B overlooking Lyall Harbor and the North Vancouver mountains. It is a spectacular house with very well organized B&B services. Len and Donna are exceptionally hospitable hosts and Len is a professional chef. Breakfast was sensational and included West Coast Eggs Benedict, with hot scones, fresh fruit salad, juice, coffee, tea and more. it was a delight