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Long and finger-shaped, Galiano (pop. 1040) is one of the more promising islands to visit if you want variety and a realistic chance of finding somewhere to stay. There are two ferry terminals: Sturdies Bay , which takes boats from the mainland, and Montague Harbour , which handles the Vancouver Island crossings (both routes: foot passengers $5, cars $12.75). The infocentre is in Sturdies Bay at 2590 Sturdies Bay Rd (May-Sept daily 8am-6pm; tel 539-2233 or 539-2507, www.galianoisland.com ), which also has bike, boat and canoe rentals, motels, B&B, and an excellent campsite at Montague Harbour Provincial Marine Park, 10km from the ferry terminal on the west side of the island (tel 250/391-2300; $15 in summer, $8 in winter; 15 reservable tent sites). The island's main pub, the Hummingbird Inn (tel 539-5472) is conveniently close to the ferry on Sturdies Road. Food is reasonable at the Hummingbird , likewise at La Berengerie , near Montague Harbour on the corner of Montague and Clanton roads (tel 539-5392; $60-80), a genteel restaurant that also has three B&B rooms upstairs. For a comfortable stay in peaceful and elegant surroundings (close to Montague Harbour Provincial Marine Park), try the excellent but expensive Woodstone Country Inn (tel 539-2022 or 1-888/339-2022, woodstone@gulfislands.com ; $125-175) on Georgeson Bay Road, 4km from the ferry: breakfast and afternoon tea are included in the price. For a special treat book well in advance to secure one of the seven well-priced rooms at the Sutil Lodge , Montague Harbour (tel 539-2930, reservations@gulfislands.com ; $80-100), a restored 1928 fishing lodge on the beach surrounded by twenty acres of forested seclusion with lovely views, great sunsets and general all-round old-style delights. The lodge offers a four-hour nature cruise aboard a catamaran, and there's free ferry and canoe pick-up also. A less exalted but still good choice on the island's quieter northern end are the seven log cabins of the Bodega Resort , at 120 Monastee Rd off Porlier Pass Drive and Cook Drive (tel 539-2677, www.cedarplace.com/bodega ; $60-80), complete with kitchens and wood-burning stoves and set in acres of woods and meadows with sea views. If you're canoeing , stick to the calmer waters, cliffs and coves off the west coast. Hikers can walk almost the entire length of the east coast, or climb Mount Sutil (323m) or Mount Galiano (342m) for views of the mainland mountains. The locals' favourite beach is at Coon Bay at the island's northern tip.
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