The Pender Islands Handbook - 2nd Edition 2009-2010
PENDER LINKS & INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION
General:  www.penderisland.info; www.gulfislandsguide.com
Organizations: Chamber of Commerce; Community Hall
Magic Lake Estates Property Owners Association (MLPOS)/Thieves Bay Marina
BC Ferries Schedules
Local (CRD/PIPC) Parks
Gulf Islands National Park
Pender Island Golf and Country Club
Golf Island Disc Golf Course
Morning Bay Vineyard
For links to restaurants, accommodations & travel info, see below.

LOCAL NEWS AND WEATHER
Weather Forecast from Environment Canada
Marine Forecast
Tide Tables
Satellite Weather
Victoria Times Colonist
CBC News


UPCOMING EVENTS

See the penderblog for details on upcoming Pender highlights! 

See the Pender Post for the most current Pender Events.

Film Series:  Films are at the Community Hall (MAP 3) at 7;30 pm unless otherwise noted (Donation). Subscribe to the Hall's newsletter for movie listings.
Gulf Islands Concert Series
concerts are at the School auditorium at 7:30 pm

Advance tickets for special events are typically sold at Talisman Books and Southridge Country Store. Concerts are at the Community Hall unless stated otherwise.


TRAVEL INFORMATION & LINKS
Ferries
Most travelers arrive on the Pender Islands via a  BC Ferries vessel from the Victoria area (Swartz Bay) or Vancouver area (Tsawwassen).  Phone: 1-888-BCFERRY; 250.381.5452.

To get from Washington State to the Victoria area, vehicle ferry options include the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes, WA to Sidney, BC (except in winter) and the Coho ferry from Port Angeles, WA to downtown Victoria.  Passenger-only ferry options all arrive in downtown Victoria in the Inner Harbour and include Victoria Express from Port Angeles or Friday Harbor (summer only), Victoria Clipper from Seattle, and Victoria-San Juan Cruises from Bellingham.

Pender Local's Ferry Schedule
Ferry travelers in the know keep updated as to the boats that handle a particular sailing, in order to plan which ferry to take and how early to arrive at the terminal.  The Pender kiosk sometimes has locals schedules to give out. Otherwise,  the BC Ferries website has begun to list ferries where overloads are expected.

Customs
To cross from Canada to the U.S, passports are now required. For the most current information see the Canadian and U.S. customs websites.

Air
To fly into the major transportation hubs, see the websites for Vancouver (YVR), Victoria (YYJ) and Seattle (SEA) international airports.   Horizon Air connects Seattle and Victoria airports. Float plane service is also available to Pender Island via Seair from Vancouver airport to Port Washington (N. Pender), Harbour Air from Vancouver downtown to Poets Cove (S. Pender), and Kenmore Air from Seattle/Lake Union to  Poets Cove (S. Pender, summer only).
New:
Saltspring Air now has regularly scheduled flights between Port Washington and YVR and downtown Vancouver via Salt Spring Island.

Ground
Bus service between points in Vancouver and the Tsawwassen ferry terminal is provided by Pacific Coach Lines, or you can use the public Translink (bus and SkyTrain or new Canada Line).  From Victoria airport a taxi is your best bet to get to Swartz Bay terminal.  From downtown Victoria, take a taxi or use Victoria Regional Transit, Route 70.   Rent a car at or near the airports or in Vancouver or Victoria.  Try Avis, Budget, National, Hertz.  No car rentals are available on Pender, however, Poets Cove guests can ask the concierge for availability of a van for rent by the day.

PENDER ISLANDS ACCOMMODATIONS LINKS
* Under new management   # "Gay-friendly list" 
w Waterfront  (many others have ocean vistas)  o
See orcas from property
North Pender Island -
North Area
Oceanside Inn   w #
Arcadia-By-The-Sea  w  o
Central Area
Eatenton House B&B Inn (closed)  * #
The Inn on Pender Island
Port Browning Resort, marina & camping  (no accommodations) #  w
Magic Lake Area B&Bs
Ferndale on Pender B&B #
Sunshine Hills B&B   #
Gnomes Hollow B&B   #
Oaks Bluff (high bluff vista)
Delia's Shangrila Oceanfront B&B   #  w o
Sahhali Luxury Oceanfront B&B   * #  w  o
South Pender Island
Poets Cove Resort   #  w

Vacation Rental Agencies
Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO)
Breakaway Vacations/Lloyds
Great Spots

Camping

Prior Centennial Campground Reservations

RESTAURANTS
Call restaurants for current open days and hours.

North Pender:

Hope Bay Cafe  629.6668
Sharkey's Pizza at Hope Bay 629.6618 (not operating at present).
The Stand at the Ferry Terminal 629.3292
Otter Bay Bistro at the marina 629.3579 (Summer only)
Fish on Pender  629.3232
Harmony Cafe (Medicine Beach Centre)
Memories  629.3353
Birdies' Bistro (Golf Course)  629.6665
Port Browning Pub & Cafe 629.3493
Pender Island Bakery  629.6453
South Pender:
Poets Cove Syrens 629.2114    Aurora 629.2115

GOLF COURSE EVENTS Call the golf course at 629.6659 for course closures due to tournaments.  Weekly events are as follows (call anyway as there may be room if there is a low turnout):

Every Tuesday:
Ladies Day 9-1
Every  Thursday: Mens Day 9-1