Victoria - The Capital of British Columbia

The Inner Harbour is at the heart of enchanting Victoria.   This special area helps define the essence of Victoria. This little Eden embraces the Empress Hotel, Parliament Buildings, Harbour Promenade, and many first class hotels.   It was near here, at Fort Street, Fort Victoria began in 1843.  Here most major events begin, such as Marathon races; major events happen, such as up to one hundred thousand Victorians gathering for Seaside Symphony, or fireworks.
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Sooke

Just 40 minutes west of Victoria, Sooke is a local haven for those in search of adventure on the ocean, lakes and rivers as well as those who prefer to keep their feet on terra firma with wilderness hikes on carefully groomed or untouched trails.   East Sooke Park is a local favourite with miles of unspoilt trails and coastline.

South Cowichan Valley
Malahat ~ Bamberton ~ Shawnigan Lake ~ Mill Bay ~ Cobble Hill

The Drive North from Victoria provides incredible views at the Malahat Summit. Glacial fjords, rolling country, gulf islands, coast mountains capped with the ten thousand feet high volcano Mount Baker in Washington State. This is the view at the legendary Airie Hotel.

As you continue heading North, you will encounter many quality Motels, Hotels, B&B’s, Inns & Campgrounds as you pass through rolling farmland & towns. Mill Bay, nearby lakside resort Shawnigan Lake, with its private schools, shops, Inns. Nearby legendary ghost town Leechtown. Try to follow the old country roads as you drive up the East Coast of Vancouver Island. Along these lanes you will find secluded villages, beginning with Cobble Hill.

Stop & pause at this quaint place, with its store & pub. Follow the old Cowichan Bay Road past the new highway, gently rolling fields & meadows, down to Cowichan Bay. Quaint stores, marinas, shops, cafes, pubs. Head towards replica ghost town at Whippletree Junction, & shops along the way. Continue north to Duncan. And down country lanes, nestled in sandy coves, an occasional marina, shop, pub: red-barked Arbutus trees clinging to rocky seaside cliffs, sunset over the Gulf Islands. Try to stay near this "Old Island Highway"as you travel up the East Coast.

Thriving Duncan

Off the new highway is the quiet, turn of the century town of Duncan. Delightful ambiance, shops & attractions, Duncan is at the heart of the Cowichan Valley. Duncan is typical of the new breed of former forest centers as it is becoming renowned for quality vineyards, orchards, displays of native heritage, crafts, antique shops, resorts. East of Duncan are gentle, lovely bays & coves, villages at Genoa Bay, Maple Bay, Crofton.

Carmannah

West of Duncan, beyond mountain-rimmed Lake Cowichan-towns Youbou, Honeymoon Bay, Nitinat are roads & trails to some of the last grand surviving stands of stately trees: centered around Carmannah Valley.

Chemainus

This is one of west coast Canada’s most famous & sought-after areas. Chemainus is renowned as the former home of the largest sawmill in the old British Empire, shut down, and phoenix-like, recreated itself as an entrepreneur & artists mecca.

Shops, theatres, parks. Ferry to enticing gulf islands: Thetis & Kuper , scattered like gems in the quiet sea. Drive the "Olde" highway through Saltair, Ladysmith, and many little towns along the lovely seaside,: you will pass beautiful scenes: red-barked, gnarled Arbutus trees hugging coastal rocky land, next to quiet sandy beaches, the warmest ocean north of San Francisco around here.

Beautiful Nanoose Bay

Centrally located 20 minutes north of Nanaimo and 15 minutes south of Parksville, Nanoose Bay is a semi-rural paradise.  Brickyard Cove, Notch Hill Park, Schooner Cove Marina and the gorgeous Fairwinds Golf Course offer fishing, hiking, sailing and of course, world class golf. 

The locals call Nanoose Bay the banana belt of Canada as it is renowned for its sunny, dry climate and beautiful vistas.  To enjoy the ambience of the area, turn right at the PetroCan station and drive around the peninsula before taking Northwest Bay Road into Parksville.

Parksville

Long appreciated for its gentle sandy beaches, Parksville and the surrounding district offer popular Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, the North Island Wild Life Recovery Association and its Museum of Nature, Butterfly World, the Horne Lakes Caves, Englishman River Provincial Park, Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park, Mount Arrowsmith, the Coombs Country Market with live goats grazing on a sod roof, shops, artists' studios, mini golf, and much more.

The West Coast

The wind-swept West Coast of Vancouver Island has miles of sandy beaches, pounding surf and rugged cliffs.  The power and beauty of nature in her most magnificence is epitomized by this wonderful area.

Tofino, Ucluelet and Long Beach

Located on the northwest corner of the Barclay Sound inlet lies the fishing village of Ucluelet. Settled in prehistoric times, the name means the people with the good landing place for canoes. This is one of BC’s top ports for its volume in landed Salmon.

Ucluelet relied on coastal steamers for regular communications and supplies until the first road reached them in 1959.

On the coastal plain between Ucluelet and Tofino lies the Long Beach portion of the Pacific Rim National Park. This is a 20 km (12 mile) expanse of beach, surf, rocklands and rain forest.

Whether you are looking for some great surfing, kayaking, or the more relaxed activity of whale watching, this area has it all. Picnic sites are plentiful at Florencia Bay, Wikaninnish Beach, Combres Beach, Long Beach and Radar Hill View Point.

Bamfield lies on the western shore of Barclay Sound Inlet. It is at the end of a long unpaved road and the beginning of the West Coast Trail, which is located 3 miles south.

The West Coast Trail is a 6 to 7 day, 72 km (43 mile) wilderness hike for the experienced. For less qualified hikers, the first six miles leading to Pachena Point Lighthouse is quite easy and camping is available for a small fee payable to the Indian people there.

Bamfield holds a worldwide reputation for its character. The town is a mixture of the pas and the present with a rustic boardwalk winding by shops, galleries and lodges.

The Broken Islands group lie between the harbours of Bamfield and Ucluelet. Part of the Pacific Rim National Park, The Broken Islands are a collection of 98 scattered islands, rocks and reefs that support rich sea life, gale stunted trees, thousands of birds and herds of sea lions. Rated as one of the best dive sites worldwide, this is also an extraordinary place to view shipwrecks.

On a narrow neck of land at the end of the road, Tofino looks over the waters of Clayoquot Sound and Meares Island. Tofino, named by the Spanish in 1792, is the gateway to Calyoquot Sound, the largest intact, ancient temperate rain forest left in the world. Five hundred year old Sitka Spruce trees tower 300 feet and are up to 10 feet in diameter.

Fishing has always been the main industry for Tofino. At the West Coast Maritime Museum there is a private collection of seafarer’s memorabilia, including wreckage from many shipwrecks. There are also items from the era of the fur trade and colonial days.

From the sea, sheltered coves up the coast beyond Tofino protect boaters while visiting historic Fort Defiance on Meares Island, Gibson Marine Park near the fishing village of Ahousat or Hot Springs Cove at Maquinna Park.

Located approximately forty miles inland from the Pacific Ocean through Barkley Sound, Port Alberni was first settled in 1860 by nine men who constructed the first sawmill in British Columbia. The area flourished with the coming of the Canadian Pacific Railway which reached Port Alberni in 1911.

Today Port Alberni is a shipping harbour, fishing centre and the hub of Vancouver Island’s forest resource. Known as the Salmon Capital of the World, fresh seafood can be sampled at the Alberni Harbour Quay where there is a farmer’s market, art galleries, gift shops and restaurants.

The rocky peak of Mount Arrowsmith towers some 5962 feet above the Alberni basin. The outdoors are prevalent to the life style of the coast. The Port Alberni area includes the Robertson Creek Salmon Hatchery where you can enjoy a guided tour. The J.V. Clyne Bird Sanctuary, which offers a great viewing area for bird lovers. At nearby Sproat Lake Provincial Park there is swimming, fishing and boating.

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