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About the Region
As far as islands go, this one is big: big beaches, big trees, big mountains, big rivers and big experiences. Separated from the British Columbia mainland by the Georgia Straight and the inside passage, Vancouver Island is a massive island rich in natural attributes and friendly people.
Like so many places in BC, it is possible to get a little bit of everything on Vancouver Island. Victoria, BC’s provincial capital, is a vibrant, colourful seaside city which was founded in the 19th century. It is here you will find many of the buildings and streets are reminiscent of England. Not only is Victoria rich in Canada’s cultural heritage, it is home to our provincial museum, legislative buildings and archives. Victoria also boasts a large Chinatown, it’s own symphony, ballet and modern dance, a maritime museum and a lot of great street musicians. At night, the city lights up with the parliament buildings leading the way and the restaurants night clubs and cafes follow. With plenty of interesting neighbourhoods, and of course, hidden beaches and bays to explore, this is a great city to rent a bike to tour around the city center as well as do some amazing sightseeing.
To the west of Victoria are places like Sooke and Port Renfrew, where you will find a great coastline of very accessible big beaches only an hour or two from the city. The famous Sooke Harbour House is an absolute must visit for dinner if you enjoy fine cuisine, wine and ambiance. If you arrive early enough, you might enjoy a swim in the Sooke Potholes. A little further along is Port Renfrew Botanical Beach which will keep you busy for hours. This beach is best viewed at low tide as it features tidal pools like you have never seen before.
Heading north from Victoria, you will find valley after valley of rich farm land, small towns, fishing docks to walk along and forest trails to explore. Such small towns like Cowichan Bay in the Cowichan Valley, the town of Duncan and Ladysmith have managed to hang on to their village charm while undergoing major changes in recent years. This part of the island is also home to Chemanius, “the little town that could,” When faced with the lumber mill closing down, a creative Mayor at the time had the town painted! Large murals depicting Vancouver Island’s rich history are all over this little village drawing visitors and boosting local tourism, which has been its main economic driving force ever since. While in Chemanius, we suggest enjoying some live theatre at the performing arts theatre which is world renowned for its shows.
Remember that all over the island are beautiful rivers, parks and mountain roads for endless exploration. Vancouver Island is full of regional parks which often feature a local point of interest: Gold River and watching the salmon spawn and eagles feast is one of them. Mountain biking, hiking and day trips into higher alpine areas are all possible within minutes from most of these small communities peppered along the eastern shores of Vancouver Island.
As you head north toward Nanaimo, Qualicum, Courtenay and Comox, again, you will find more interesting villages like Combs and Cumberland as well as bustling small town centers with interesting shops, restaurants, crafts and local history.
North of Courtenay, the population of the island recedes and you begin to realize it was not very long ago that this island was a very remote place with a real pioneer feel. Logging, fishing and mining have been the economic staples of this region for a better part of a century but only in recent years has the population increased. The towns north of Courtenay are small, quaint and either tourist or resource based economies.
West of these areas and through the mountains are the real wilderness areas while somewhat tamed by the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet, the west coast of Vancovuer Island is still face to face with the awesome power of nature. Mile long beaches stretch out between the towns of Ucluelet and Tofino. Places where you can walk for hours along sandy shores and watch the pacific surf role in. Long Beach is a surfers paradise and playground. Wind swept trees hang on to their place as they wait for another winter filled with storms. This is a tremendously popular place in both summer and winter and both seasons offer a magnificent West Coast holiday. In winter come read, listen and watch as the storms thunder down and in the summer come read, listen, explore and relax. There is never a dull moment in this elemental paradise.
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