Travel
3 places to visit on Vancouver Island
Travel
3 places to visit on Vancouver Island
This paradise offers everything from charming urban centres to untouched wilderness
Nestled against the southwestern edge of British Columbia in the Pacific Ocean, this 460-kilometre-long island is known for its breathtaking natural scenery, arts communities and mild temperatures. You can go from whale watching to visiting gorgeous urban gardens to eating gourmet meals in the same day. But why would you want to? To our mind, the delights of this island are best savoured over a week or more. Here are just a few hot spots to whet your appetite for this coastal paradise.
Victoria
Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the city of Victoria is the largest on the island, and boasts Canada’s mildest climate. This means there’s a unique feel to the historic public buildings, Victorian houses, plethora of gardens and wildlife, and you can often imagine you’re in the south of England. Celebrated for its outdoor-friendly lifestyle, Victoria’s lovely harbour and extensive waterfront, abundant parkland and several formal gardens—including worldrenowned Butchart Gardens—are must-see destinations that promise a glimpse of Canada unlike any other. TOURISMVICTORIA.COM; BUTCHARTGARDENS.COM
DON’T MISS
This time of year, Goldstream Provincial Park is home to thousands of salmon swimming up the river to spawn.BCPARKS.CA/EXPLORE/ PARKPGS/GOLDSTREAM
GOURMET ADDRESS BOOK
• Finest at Sea (the best tuna tacos!), 27 Erie Street, Victoria, finestatsea.com
• Red Barn Market (a must to buy local and even get a sandwich for the road), 325 Menzies Street, Victoria, redbarnmarket.ca
• Fairmont Empress (perfect for teatime or cocktail hour), 721 Government Street, Victoria, fairmont.com/ empress-victoria
Cowichan Valley
On the way from Victoria to the vineyard-heavy Cowichan Valley, take a slight detour to visit the Malahat SkyWalk, a 600-metrelong, fully accessible tree walk culminating in a lookout tower 250 metres above sea level, with spectacular views over Mount Baker, Saanich Peninsula, Finlayson Arm and the Coast Mountains. After getting your fill of the forest, carry on to check out the wine bars and cider houses, galleries, fishing spots, hiking trails and beaches of this fertile area on the east coast of Vancouver Island. TOURISMCOWICHAN.COM; MALAHATSKYWALK.COM
DON’T MISS
Driving along the backroads around Cowichan River Lodge to witness the fall colours of the ancient trees. THECOWICHANRIVERLODGE.COM
Tofino & Ucluelet
Over on the west coast of Vancouver Island lie these two towns renowned for surfing, kayaking and wildlife viewing. With Tofino part of the beautiful Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and Ucluelet surrounded by the vast Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, these areas are ideally situated to bring you up close and personal with Mother Nature’s best. The windswept Long Beach lies between the towns, and if you want the chance to spot some of the elusive wildlife (like cougars, wolves, black bears and whales) in the surrounding forests and ocean, take advantage of a guided bear tour or hop in a kayak or zodiac for a marine mammal tour you’ll be talking about for years to come. MYTOFINO.COM; PC.GC.CA/EN/ PN-NP/BC/PACIFICRIM
DON’T MISS
Hiking the Wild Pacific Trail or the Lighthouse Trail. PC.GC.CA/EN/PN-NP/BC/PACIFICRIM
GOURMET ADDRESS BOOK
• 1909 Kitchen + Bar (for seafood and a view), 634 Campbell Street, Tofino, tofinoresortandmarina.com/ restaurant/1909-kitchen-bar
• Wolf in the Fog (for the Cedar Sour cocktail), 150 Fourth Street, Tofino, wolfinthefog.com
• The Foggy Bean Coffee Co. (for delicious coffee and fresh roasted beans to take home) 1601 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet, thefoggybean.com
Recommended
Comments