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Home to so much natural beauty, it comes as no surprise that the residents of Hornby Island have a lot to celebrate. Since 1982, the annual Hornby Festival has been drawing bigger crowds each summer to this well-loved event.

This Canadian success story is now in its 30th incarnation, and the 2011 festival is gearing up to be its best yet. This year’s program is wholly inclusive with classical, jazz, world beat and traditional genres of music, modern dance, childrens’ programming, theatre and spoken word.

Photo: © Jennifer Armstrong/Hornby Festival

With venues dotted across Hornby Island, some of this year’s featured guests include the Purcell String Quartet, Juno Award winner David Francey, Big Machine, Adrian Dolan’s Old Time Dance and kids’ storytime workshops with Rae Maté, Deirdre Baker and (my personal favourite) Kit Pearson.

If acclaimed musicians aren’t enough, also be sure to check out Hornby Island resident Michael Hornsby‘s art exhibit at the Community Hall, “art in unusual places” across Hornby Island, the birdhouse auction and the annual quilt raffle at the Ringside Market. For anyone that’s ever visited Hornby Island, you know how uniquely special each of these events can be.

Photo: © Joanne Ovitsland/Hornby Festival

Find out more about Hornby Festival 2011, the entire line up of events and performers or how you can become a Festival Society member on the official website.

Hornby Festival 2011 runs from Thursday, July 28th until Saturday, August 6th. Tickets to the various performances can be purchased online. They generally sell out quickly so time is of the essence. If you plan on staying overnight on Hornby Island, be sure that you book accommodation in advance as it can be very limited and the ferries do not run late into the night. A round-up of accommodation options can be found here.

Those that have been, know. Those that visit for the first time are lovers for life.

My childhood summers on Hornby Island were far more impressionable on me than words can tell the tales of, so last week I packed up the camping gear and brought J along for his first trip.

After two quick ferry rides, we found ourselves at Tribune Bay Campsite and quickly set up. Unsure if the rain would come, we hung the world’s largest tarp over our site, I pitched the tent and J got busy chopping firewood. I’m quite proud to say that not only did he teach me to chop firewood with an axe that weighs as much as I do, but he also showed me how to start and maintain an excellent campfire.

Relaxation was the priority for our first evening – something that’s not hard to do on Hornby Island. Rather than spend time exploring, we grabbed cold beer from the Co-op and grilled up some dinner. My only “luxury” when camping? A pop-up kitchen.

I love this guy…

Despite rumours to the contrary, I found Tribune Bay campsite to be exactly as it was over a decade ago the last time I was there. It’s a quiet, family-friendly campground filled with happy dogs, kids racing around on their bikes and crackling fires at every site. We were lucky enough to have fun neighbours that challenged our Monopoly skills on the second night.

One of Hornby Island’s must-sees is Helliwell Provincial Park. On our first full day, we pulled into the parking lot before the sun got too hot and readied ourselves for the 5-km picturesque trek.

Flip flops might not be the greatest of ideas, but I made do with what I had.

The biggest draw to Helliwell Park is the breathtaking cliffs that bring hikers out of the woods and along the water. A bit of common sense is all that’s required. Keep kids close and dogs on leashes. The stunning views are not to be missed!

Taking our time, we veered off the path for some beach-combing fun! Vibrant purple starfish scattered the shoreline amongst slippery seaweed and crunchy barnacles.

Another often missed but worthwhile visit on Hornby Island is Ford’s Cove. Found at the furthest end of Central Road, this marina defines “quaint.” With a pizza cafe, boat-shaped fish n’ chips stand and organic fair trade coffee, spending a quiet morning at Ford’s Cove is hard to beat.

We scrambled over and around crater-like sandstone formations that felt more like moon-walking than exploring a shoreline. Shallow waters surround the area, so spotting crabs, geoduck sprays and fish in the water provides for some natural entertainment.

For anyone that has ever visited Hornby Island, the star attraction is undoubtedly Tribune Bay beach and the adjacent Little Tribune Bay beach.

Nestled in between tall trees on one side and incredible, natural sandstone sculptures on the other, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more stunning beach in BC.

Tribune Bay features aqua water, powdery white sand and stunning vistas into the Georgia Strait further than they eye can see. J constructed a “deck” out of driftwood, I slathered us in SPF 45 and we spent a sunny afternoon at Tribune Bay.

Noshing on organic strawberries, tossing a football around and watching skilled skimboarders made for a perfect beach day.

Rarely is dining out acceptable when camping, but Hornby Island is most certainly an exception. Visiting the Cardboard Bakery is unavoidable with their tasty pastries and chocolate shakes. On our final day, we visited Jan’s Cafe for breakfast.

Jan’s Cafe has been a staple in the Ringside Market for more years than I can remember. Known for creating fresh, delicious and healthy food, my favourite part of eating at Jan’s is the sunny atmosphere and infectious smile served up by Jan herself.

Four days and three nights wasn’t long enough for us, but we’ll take what we can get. There’s so much more on Hornby Island to explore, including wineries, a distillery, a meadery, more beaches, petroglyphs, a free store with an incredible local recycling program, kayaking and biking. I suppose that only means we’ll have to visit again next year with a few extra days added for good measure! You can view all my photos from Hornby Island on Flickr.

P.S. Do as we did. If you’re visiting Hornby, fill jugs with tap water and bring it with you. Water is a scarce commodity on the Island, so leave what’s there for the locals to use.

To stay connected to the Hornby Island community or to plan a vacation to the island, visit Real Hornby online.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/0

Our annual family summer vacations were never a far distance from home, but camping on Hornby Island felt like being in a whole other world. Rolling fields, white sandy beaches, aquamarine water and locals with character were all part of the experience. It was a virtually untouched – and unheard of – slice of paradise.

Each summer for more years than I can remember, spending a week on Hornby Island was a priority for our family. Our first outing was a straight-up learning curve, having neglected to bring tarps only to be caught in a downpour on our first night. After that trip, we became well experienced and well prepared campers, skills I hope have been passed on to me.

Yesterday I excitedly booked three nights in July at the very same campsite that was the site of the downpour. J has never been to Hornby Island and I’m giddy with anticipation over stretched-out days on the beach, bike rides to Helliwell Park, ice cold beers from the cooler and more campfire s’mores than I can dare to stuff in my mouth.

Camping is one of the best and most affordable ways to see what Vancouver Island and the gulf islands have to offer. If you’re getting out and camping this summer, here are a few of my favourite tips:

• It’s always better to take just what you need instead of too much. Make a detailed list and consider whether you truly need an artillery of make-up or a stack of magazines. Get in touch with nature… naturally!
• Weather on the coast is unpredictable: sunny one day, pouring rain the next. Bring appropriate attire and lots of socks!
• Always obey fire regulations! Forest fires are common in the summertime, so if there’s a ban, respect the forest. That also means butting out cigarettes.
• Book early! Camping is a popular activity among Islanders and campsites fill up incredibly fast.
• Dogs are part of the family and love to vacation too. Though Jordy will stay with my mom, if your dog tags along, there are safety rules to follow. Keep your dog well hydrated with plenty of shade and space to rest. The sun affects them too. Also never, ever leave your dog unattended at the campsite – especially where there’s wildlife!
• Water can be a scarce commodity during summer months, especially on gulf islands and on the west coast. Bring as much bottled water as you’re able to.

Some of my friends, family and Twitter followers also have great suggestions…

• “Whenever we went camping we did those meals that you wrap in tinfoil and stick in the fire! Yum!” – @DSherps (I’ve found a few easy recipes for tin foil dinners!)
• “Fave camping tips with kids: 1) Always pack a bug box, juice boxes, Zip-locs and extra socks. 2) Stay in a Provincial park and go geocaching.” – @jmemoore
• “Keep your chips in your tent, ’cause deer really like salt & vinegar.” – Devon D.
• “You can buy vegetarian marshmallows at Karmavore Vegan in New Westminster. Great way to enjoy cruelty-free s’mores!” – @mythicmusings
• “Lots of tarps… and bring firewood.” – Kathy M.
• “Pitch your tent above the high tide line! ” – @viAdventurer
• “I went to bed one night on the West Coast Trail with a bag of peanuts in the tent. I awoke in the middle of the night listening to a pile of mice or rats trying to get in! Definitely make sure all food is hidden in the car or put in a bear bag far away from you.” – Duane Storey
• “Put a flannel sheet in your sleeping bag, it will keep you extra warm, and rolls up nice with your bag.” – Debbie R.
• “Citronella candles in beer cans hung up make great mosquito wards! ” – VancityAllie

Got any great tips to share? Add them below!

Between the wind, rain and gray skies that have plagued coastal BC in recent days, my mind has been wandering to sunshine, water that’s as blue as the sky above and toasty warm sand. Though Vancouver Island is essentially surrounded by one big beach, there’s only one place to find that tropical feeling.

Tribune Bay Provincial Park – found on the southeast corner of Hornby Island – will dazzle you with its lush green forests, powdery white sand and aquamarine water. In fact, its main beach has long been lovingly nicknamed “Little Hawaii”.

Map: Google Maps

Almost every summer of my childhood was spent paddling in the translucent water and building enchanting castles in the sand of Big Tribune Bay beach. Bathers who are happy to leave their swimsuits at home might prefer the adjacent Little Tribune Bay beach as it’s designated as being clothing-optional.

Photo: Calypso Orchid on Flickr

Photo: Tyler Ingram on Flickr

More than just luxe sunbathing, Tribune Bay Provincial Park offers a large number of recreational opportunities. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the rock formations that run alongside the western shore of the bay with tidal pools to explore and views that will take your breath away.

Photo: olicanae on Flickr

The park also features boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking on designated trails and picnicking. A nearby privately-run campground is available for those wanting to make a week of it.

As a former student of Comox’s Brooklyn Elementary, I was fortunate enough to visit the park’s outdoor educational facility with my schoolmates. We enjoyed running through meadows and falling asleep to the sound of the gentle waves.

Photo: olicanae on Flickr

Photo: ecstaticist on Flickr

For a province known for its parks with old growth forests and towering mountains, it’s surprising to find such a gem so far north of the Equator. As BC celebrates 100 years of parks, highlighting the diversity of park landscape in our province is an important part of that celebration. While it’s certainly impossible to chose the most beautiful, it’s not difficult to pinpoint Tribune Bay Provincial Park as one of the most unique – and one of my most favourite.

Photo: Proggie on Flickr

Hornby Island is accessible by ferry via Buckley Bay to Denman Island and on to Hornby Island. Tribune Bay Provincial Park is a day-use only park and campfires are not permitted in the park at any time. There is no drinking water available at the park and dogs must be kept on a leash at all times (though they are not allowed on the beach). There are no lifeguards on duty so swimming is at your own risk. Please remember to take all garbage with you. For more information on Tribune Bay Provincial Park, please visit BC Parks online.