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Vancouver Island lies just off the west coast of
British Columbia. Stretching southeast to northwest
its rugged west coast is cut by fjords, with towering
mountains and sheltered bays, whilst the eastern
plain has timber, farmlands, fishing streams, villages,
and modern cities.
Vancouver and the nearby Gulf Islands offer visitors
a wide range of things to do. Vancouver Island
has magnificent golf courses with spectacular
views.
There are many opportunities for wildlife viewing
including whale watching with pods of killer whales
frequently sighted along the cost line. There are
many scuba diving opportunities with abundant marine
life on view.
The West
Coast of Vancouver Island has some of Canada's best
beaches, with Long Beach being
one of the most
famous. An ancient rain forest can be found in
the Carmanah Valley. The famous West Coast Trail
which
stretches along the southwest coast of Vancouver
Island is a favoured by experienced hikers world
wide.
Vancouver Island is an ideal vacation
destination for everyone including families, honeymooners,
couples,
singles, or seniors. It offers a wide range of
holiday accommodation options including bed and breakfasts,
guesthouses, self-contained cottages and houses,
and hotels.
Campbell River
Campbell River is well known for its long 600 foot Discovery Pier. This is a
wonderful spot to stroll, relax, enjoy the spectacular views and watch the
passing cruise ships. Read more
Galiano Island
The clean, clear coastal waters off Galiano Island offer ideal opportunities
for diving with an abundance of marine life. Guided kayak tours are also available. Read
more
Nanaimo
Nanaimo is famous for its beautiful waterfront
and landscapes. Dating back to 1874, Nanaimo is
the third
oldest city in British Columbia. Once a coal mining
town, today Nanaimo is very different, offering
tourists easy access to the beautiful clean, harbour,
golf
year round, numerous festivals during summer, and
wonderful shopping and dining. The bustling harbour
is the main attraction for visitors to Nanaimo.
Read more
Mayne Island
There are many opportunities to kayak, canoe or scuba dive in the protected bays
of Mayne Island
Pender Islands
Enjoy a hike along one the many trails, or beachcombing and sea kayaking along
the coast. The islands hold regular art and craft fairs and exhibitions or
stroll through the farmers market.
Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island is an ideal destination
for outdoor enthusiasts, offering scuba diving
on
sunken wrecks,
numerous hiking trails and wildlife watching.
There are many popular swimming spots including
Weston
Lake and Stowel Lake at the south end of Salt
Spring. Cusheon Lake, in the centre of the
island and St.
Mary Lake at the north end of the island. Read
more
Saturna Island
East Point Park offers visitors wonderful
whale watching opportunities. For bird
watching enthusiasts
Winter
Cove Marine Park has a tidal marsh with
abundant bird life.
Victoria
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia and lies on the southern tip
of Vancouver lsland. Victoria is known for its breathtaking harbour and heritage
homes, many of which are available for vacations as either rental homes or
Bed and Breakfasts. A visit to the famous Butchart Gardens is a must. The 55
acres offer visitors spectacular floral displays with amazing views from the
many pathways that weave their way through the four main gardens. Read more
Canoeing, Kayaking, River Rafting
The Gulf Islands, off the south coast of Vancouver Island are known world wide
with kayaking and canoeing enthusiasts. They offer numerous sheltered waterways
and
sandy
beaches. Guided day trips are available and depart from Tofino harbour for the
Clayoquot Sound. The calm,
protected waters of nearby wilderness
areas are ideal for beginners.
Experienced paddlers can venture to the coast and surf.
Golf
There are numerous golf courses dotted around Vancouver Island. They range
from family oriented mini golf courses to challenging 18-hole course.
Horseback Riding
There are many places that offer horseback riding experiences on both Vancouver
and Salt Spring Island. Trails wander among farms, through forests and past
magnificent scenery.
Mountain Biking
Mountain bikes can access a variety of trails and logging roads around Sooke
and Shawnigan Lake, Mt. Washington in Strathcona Provincial Park and the
Snowden Demonstration Forest near Sayward. Trails range in variety to suit
beginners to experts.
Scuba Diving
Vancouver Island has been described as one of the best cold-water diving destinations
in the world. The coastline, offers a variety of dive locations including
inlets, islets, artificial reefs and underwater gardens that provide a habitat
for more than 300 marine species. Popular locations include Ogden Point breakwater
near Victoria, Ten Mile Point and Race Rocks, The HMCS MacKenzie, off of
Portland Island and S.S. Alpha, a 67-metre iron steamer that sank in 1900
off the southern tip of Denman Island. Quadra and Cortes Islands off the
coast of Campbell River are also extremely popular diving destinations, and
are home to one metre-long feather duster worms, giant Pacific octopus, wolf
eels, rock fish, plumose anemones and colourful sponges and corals.
Skiing
and Snowboarding
The Mt. Washington ski resort operates from
December to early April and gets an average
snowfall of 8 meters. There are around 50
trails serviced by eight chair lifts including
a 6-person Express chair. For cross-country
skiers, there are more than 55 kilometres
of trails, with something to suit beginners,
intermediate, and expert skiers.
Spelunking
Vancouver Island has more than 1,000 known caves, many are located
in provincial and regional parks.
Whale Watching
Killer whales, also known as orcas, can be seen near Victoria from April to October
and during the winter it is the Humpbacks and Gray Whales that inhabit the
waters around the island.
A major whale migration occurs
in mid winter off the west coast of Vancouver
Island
near
Tofino and
Ucluelet. During the migration approximately 20,000 Pacific grey whales leave
the Baja Peninsula and travel north to Alaska, passing Vancouver Island on
the way. The migration reaches its peak in March and April at which time
the area hosts the Pacific Rim Whale Festival. Wildlife Viewing
Vancouver Island has a wealth of wildlife including sea lions at Nanaimo, pods
of Killer Whales in Johnstone Strait, Grizzly Bears in Knight Inlet, seabird
colonies at Mitlenatch Island, Sea Lions in Seymour Narrows, and Bald Eagles.
The Elk River Valley is home to many large mammals including Roosevelt elk,
black bear, black-tailed deer and cougar.
Cape Scott Provincial Park
This large park exceeds 15,000 hectares, and offers spectacular scenery with
rugged coastal wilderness, sandy beaches, caves, cliffs, and spectacular forest.
Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park
Surrounded by four beaches and containing
a freshwater lake this 240 hectare park
offers picnic areas, hiking & bridle
trails, bird watching, windsurfing, fishing
and canoeing. Gordon Bay Provincial Park
Located on the picturesque Lake Cowichan, this park offers swimming, water-skiing
and fishing.
Mount Cain Regional Park
Mount Cain has 2 t-bar ski lifts, and offers 16 downhill runs with lots of
powder snow for alpine ski and snowboard enthusiasts.
Pacific Rim National Park
Pacific Rim National Park is famous for its kilometres of sandy beaches. Here
you can enjoy a range of activities from beachcombing to surfing. Princess Margaret Provincial
Marine Park
This marine park includes Portland Island. It receives little rain so provides
good examples of drought tolerant native plants.
Rathtrevor Provincial Park
Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville offers ideal picnic locations and has
a wonderful family swimming area with a shallow beach. Sidney Spit Marine Park
This 400 hectare provincial marine park can be accessed by passenger ferry from
Sidney. It is known for its sandy beaches, tidal flats, salt marshes, grassy
meadows and forest trails.
Spider Lake Provincial Park
Located near Horne Lake Caves, this warm water lake is known for its excellent
swimming. Sproat Lake Provincial Park
Located just 15 minutes west of Port Alberni, Sproat Lake is a popular swimming,
fishing, water skiing and wind surfing destination. Strathcona Provincial Park
Strathcona Provincial Park, is located just
30 minutes from Courtenay. It covers an area
of more that 625,000 acres and is home to
six of the seven highest peaks on Vancouver
Island, and the Comox Glacier, Vancouver
Island's last remaining ice field. It is a rock
climber’s
paradise with the towering 1,000 metre East Face
of Mt. Colonel
Foster and several of the other peaks over 7,000
feet.
Vancouver Island's climate is the mildest
in Canada. This is due to the moisture
laden ocean
air that hits the western mountains causing
extensive rain in some parts of the island. The
winds are also quite warm helping to keep
the climate mild. Summer maximum
temperature averages are 21-24°C (70-75°F).
The East coast is much drier and warmer
than the west. During winter the mountain peaks receive
substantial snowfalls creating an ideal winter playground.
The lower elevations however, rarely see snow in
winter which means that golfers and other outdoor
enthusiasts can enjoy their sports year round.
Vancouver Island is easily accessed by air or ferry.
By air
There are regular air services offered by the major
airlines to Victoria International airport and
Comox Valley Airport. There is also helicopter
and float plane services as well as chartered flights
to various Island locations.
By Ferry
Regular ferry services are available from several
mainland British Columbia and Washington departure
points to a variety of locations on Vancouver Island
and the Gulf Islands. During peak summer periods,
waits can be long for boarding so arrive well in
advance. The trip from Seattle is just over 4 hours
and from Vancouver, 1 hour and 35 minutes.
For more information about Vancouver & Gulf
Islands see http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/RegionsCities/VancouverIsland.htm
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