Travel Guide Texada Island

Named by Spanish explorers in the 1900s, who found gold and many other minerals, this 18th-century mining town was home to bootleggers during the American Prohibition era. Only 35 minutes by ferry from Powell River, it is the largest island in the Strait of Georgia. A stop can be made at Van Anda, at the very north of the island, a historic village that once lived around its saloons, opera house and hospital. Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to paddle a canoe, kayak or paddle on one of the 10 lakes in the region. The past linked to the Tla'amin people, the original inhabitants of the site, is still well marked and certain indigenous lands such as Pocahontas Bay belong to them.