SOOKE

Sooke Coastline

For the more macabre among you, there are several vantage points for storm watching. Sooke is also a great place to start gathering information about Vancouver Island, with a very well-appointed visitor’s bureau at the beginning of the village. There you will find knowledgeable staff, tons of free information and even a free historic museum called the Sooke Region Museum. You can also find out more about Sooke's history of logging and fishing, as well as the history of the First Nations people in the region. Guided tours of Moss Cottage are available and you can take in the outstanding view from the heritage lighthouse.

EAST SOOKE REGIONAL PARK

Sealions in East Sooke Regional Park

The coastal trail is well signposted, but it is not for beginners, and some climbing over cliffs and clambering over rocks is required. Spectacular views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains, which are actually located in USA territory, will make it well worth the effort. Among the wildlife that can be observed are bald eagles, sea otters, sea lions, seals, many different bird species, and if you're really lucky you may even see an Orca.

East Sooke Regional Park

SOOKE POTHOLES

The famous Sooke potholes are another Sooke attraction not to be missed. They lie slightly north of the town. These deep water pools, the "potholes", were naturally carved by the Sooke River into its sandstone bedrock during the last ice age. In the summer the potholes are a favorite with swimmers, and in the fall and winter months you can watch the salmon spawning, run, or just walk alongside the river trails to see the waterfalls, canyons and temperate river rainforest all around.

A Mural in Chemainus
© Tourism Vancouver Island

CHEMAINUS – "THE LITTLE TOWN THAT DID"

About an hour and a half north of Victoria along Highway 1, the quaint little village of Chamainus nestles between a mountain range and the ocean. The village is famous for its outdoor murals which make it well worth the visit.

What started as a mining, lumber mill and fishing village populated partly by Chinese immigrants is today known for its artists' depictions of mainly historic scenes in more than 3 dozen outdoor murals on house walls (37 to be exact). Add in twelve sculptures and you can appreciate that this community is a must-see for those of you who love art. After the mill closed in 1982 the town needed a way to revitalize itself, and the driving force behind the art project was a local German/Canadian business man, Karl Schutz. The visitor's bureau is a good place to pick up information and maps, and claims that Chemainus is known worldwide as the largest outdoor gallery with approximately 400,000 visitors a year. Well, who are we to argue?

Black Cat Mural
© Chemainus Chamber of Commerce

The whole village is very well maintained, and they are very proud of their heritage. The town has a huge array of tourist shops, galleries and restaurants, and there are footsteps on the pavement that lead past all the murals, so just follow them to see every one! The murals are drawn by many different artists and in different styles, so there is something for everyone. You can also take a side trip to Thetis Island from the little ferry dock in the harbor.

LAKE COWICHAN

For the more adventurous holidaymaker, the Pacific Marine Circle Road is being rebuilt to follow the South Coast past Sooke all the way to Port Renfrew. Along the way you will see amazing beaches, charming old villages, beach cabins, historic lighthouses, many provincial parks and incredible wildlife.

After the coast, the road leads inland along old logging roads and through forests to Lake Cowichan, Vancouver Island's second largest lake with many tourist attractions around it, and finally back to Victoria on the East Coast, altogether about a 255km stretch, and well worth the drive.

COOMBS

From Highway 1 (also known locally as Highway 19) along the east coast of the island, turn west inland onto Highway 4A and you will soon see the green roofs of the small and charming town of Coombs. Coombs was established at the turn of the twentieth century by families who arrived with the Salvation Army's immigration program, which brought nearly a quarter of a million poor English and Welsh to Canada. The community was named after the Army's Canadian Commissioner, Captain Thomas Coombs.

Around the little town you will find souvenir, antique, jewelry and art/crafts shops, and even a little amusement park for the kids, but most visitors come to see the famous goats on the roof. The town has a Western/Saloon style, and many of the almost-flat roofs have thick grass growing on them. On the largest building of all, the Old Country Market, you will find the famous goats, happily chomping away, oblivious to their celebrity status. Inside the Old Country Market is an amazing array of gourmet foods, local crafts and imported knick-knacks.

LITTLE QUALICUM RIVER FALLS PROVINCIAL PARK

Qualicum Falls

BRITISH COLUMBIA'S ORCHID GARDENS WITH BUTTERFLY WORLD

Continue along the Pacific Rim Highway inland and you will find the British Columbia Orchid Gardens, and Butterfly World and Gardens. Inside the huge heated greenhouse you can stroll among exotic butterflies, birds and many tropical plants.

The butterfly gardens are a fantastic experience, especially when it's wet and cold outside. Hundreds of thousands of butterflies ranging from the largest Giant Atlas Moth to the tiniest Red Periot surround the visitor, along with colorful tropical finches. The butterflies can be observed sucking juices from fruit and flowers or even landing on visitors. The lush flowers, the warmth and the perfume of the flowers will soon have you feel like you're walking in a jungle. There are signs that explain about the life cycle of the butterflies and the breeding cages at the front by the visitors shop.

Butterfly Gardens
© Oceanside Tourism

Outside is a garden that shows visitors what native plants and shrubs we can use at home to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to our own gardens.

Another tropical attraction is the World Parrot Refuge in Coombs, which provides a home for rescued parrots discarded by their owners. Educational and dedicated to parrot health, the refuge tries to raise awareness of health issue surrounding parrots in captivity. The refuge has created an almost-natural environment for the birds, with 23,000 square feet of heated indoor free-flight aviaries, and 16,000 square feet of easily accessed outdoor flights for the warmer months.

CATHEDRAL GROVE

Cathedral Grove

WILD PACIFIC TRAIL

The Wild Pacific Trail at the end of Ucluelet goes along the rugged and beautiful coastline by the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse, and is definitely worth a hike. The open Pacific Ocean is a magnificent sight, and the high waves splashing up on the cliffs and little islands are amazing to watch, as are the tide pools with all the wildlife that they leave behind. Bald eagles are common here and the plentitude of nests gives evidence to their annual return for breeding and raising their young.

UCLUELET (Population 1,753)

Ucluelet

Ucluelet can be described as Tofino's smaller, hard-working and industrious brother. You can see the fishing industry going about its work, and there are some tourist shops and plenty of hotels, motels and campgrounds around town that may have more reasonable rates than in more upscale Tofino. There are also several small surfer shops, and 60s-style cafes that are more than welcoming. In addition, there are some more traditional tourist activities such as whale watching on offer.

ENGLISHMAN RIVER TRAILS

The Englishman River Trails and waterfalls are on Highway 4A just after Coombs, almost back at the east coast, and are definitely worth a small detour. Well-signed trails lead through rainforest to the waterfalls. There are elevated trails along the river that lead to the falls, and the scenic beauty is so spectacular that pictures of it are in many tourist brochures in the area.

Huge amounts of water rush over the edge of the falls, and a walking bridge is strategically placed for the best views. Behind the falls on the other side of the bridge are deep, glass-clear pools that lead down to a gurgling river. In the middle of the river on small stone islands many visitors have left a legacy, building little river-stone towers which look beautiful and almost eerie in the gleaming sunlight.

TOFINO (1.286 Einwohner)

Tofino

The lodging options range from large luxury hotels to more economical options like the local hostel (which even has its own sauna) and many family-run bed and breakfasts. There are off-season bargains to be found at mid-range hotels, such as a full suite including kitchen and hot tub access for under Can$100 (winter rate). Tofino is also home to many fine restaurants

Many activities are offered by the numerous tour operators in town. The most popular are boat tours to see the whales and the island, which are available many times a day.

Also worth checking out in Tofino are the Botanical Gardens, the Whale Center Museum and the Rainforest Interpretive Centre. Tofino has everything you need for a well-rounded, all-year, fabulous and fun family destination, and at least three days are recommended.

HOT SPRING COVE

The Hot Spring Cove Tour is not to be missed. The trip takes about an hour and a half, and along the way you can see more spectacular, unspoilt natural beauty, often including black bears, whales and orcas pointed out by the knowledgeable captain. At the landing dock for the cove a boardwalk leads about 2km through the rainforest to the hot springs. Enjoy a soak in the hot water with your new friends -- the pools are on the small side, and very popular, allowing you to enjoy the warmth of the hot springs in the rocks right above the cold splashing ocean.

The trip back is in the open ocean and makes for a fun roller coaster ride along the bigger waves, but the closed-in boat makes for a comfortable ride.

SPROAT LAKE

Sproat Lake

PORT ALBERNI

Port Alberni

In Port Alberni you can also find a passenger ferry that goes every other day and takes about four hours to Ucluelet. The times and details may change so make sure to find out in advance. Port Alberni is also right next to Mount Arrowsmith, the tallest mountain on Vancouver Island, 1819m high and a sight to behold in the sunset with its snow covered top. The mountain used to have a skiing area but due to low snow levels and increased running costs it has closed down and now boasts a network of hiking trails instead.

Also nearby are many other popular hiking areas, like China Creek Regional Park and Limestone Mountain. Also, the only road to Bamfield at the bottom east side of the Alberni Inlet leads through Port Alberni. It is a long, windy ride on unpaved logging roads but well worth it for the wilderness and the amazing sights including many black bears and First Nations villages.

Mount Arrowsmith

In July 2005, Port Alberni hosted the world-famous Tall Ships and celebrated these maritime marvels with a very successful festival. The Tall Ships return every three years. The next Port Alberni Tall Ships Festival is scheduled for 2008.

PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK

West Coast Vargas Island

The official park charges an entrance fee of about Can$6 that includes many of the beaches. The resort town of Tofino sits right at the end of the land spit surrounded by islands, sounds and inlets.

NANAIMO

Taking Highway 1 north from Victoria, Nanaimo is a good 90 minute drive. In the past, Nanaimo has been a place to to pass through, perhaps to head west to Port Alberni and reach Ucluelet or Tofino. However, this trend has been changing for the last several years and many have come to recognize the charm and attraction of this town. Downtown and the small port area are especially worth stopping to take a look at. If you like rummaging around small independent shops to get away from the large shopping centers, Nanaimo is just for you. There are a large number of these small independent businesses in the downtown area. The Old Town quarter has many, in addition to those in the China Steps area, another smaller part of town. If you have time for a two-minute walk from the Old Town to China Steps, you can take in Commercial Street, so that you'll have seen all the best shopping areas downtown.

Looking for Martinis and Sushi? You are in the right place for that as well! Just as you can find a chip or a doner kebab shop everywhere in Germany, you can find Martinis and Sushi places all over Nanaimo!

Especially in the summer, but also in the spring or fall, there are many outdoor activities available. Besides the well-known island activities such as whale or bear watching, sailing, and hiking across the mud flats, there are also a few exceptional possibilities, some of them worldwide one-of-a-kinds. For instance, Nanaimo offers one of the world's best cold water diving spots.

The most beautiful park that you can find in Nanaimo is certainly Westwood Lake. With the nearby mountain, it is also an attraction for advanced hikers. Anyone who still has some energy left after the hike might want to have a look at the Nanaimo River. Attention: make sure that you ask for good spots to swim, because it is not safe everywhere. And please do the same for cliff jumping too!

Finally there is the marina where you catch the water plane from Nanaimo to Vancouver. It offers you an awesome view over the Gulf Islands, which are located off the coast of the island.