Planning Tips for a Vancouver Island Vacation!
One of the biggest draws to the island is the access to wildlife, both in the water and throughout the many parks and wilderness areas. There are also fantastic opportunities to kayak, hike, ski, cycle and more.
We've been to Vancouver Island many times and we'll tell you all about some of the best activity packed adventures that we enjoyed. There are endless opportunities for everyone including families to turn an ordinary vacation into an adventure getaway that you'll never forget! Let's look at some Vancouver Island vacation destinations: Vancouver Island Vacation - Adventure Destinations
Victoria - No trip to the Island would be complete without a visit to the BC Capital. It's a great place to base yourself, and to organize sightseeing tours and outdoor activities like whale watching.
And while in Victoria, don't miss the beautiful inner harbour as well as the parliament buildings and the museum! Nanaimo - The central part of Vancouver Island is a mecca for adventure travelers looking for outdoor activities. Here you'll find great trails for mountain biking and hiking. Diving is also extremely popular here with one of the world's largest upright artificial reefs in development. You can also snorkel or kayak along scenic bays and sheltered inlets. Pacific Rim (West Coast) - This is the place everyone talks about if you’re looking for adventure. Here you can hike in some of the most surreal coastal rainforests as well as cycle and surf around 'world renowned' Tofino! And it's here where you'll find some of the best whale watching on Vancouver Island. See grey whales and other marine life from March through September. In the winter you can enjoy storm watching from a number of different viewing points, or plan a weekend getaway and take it all in from the comfort of a coastal cabin or luxury resort! Port Hardy (North Island) - This part of Vancouver Island is the place to go for great kayaking. Here you paddle out on single and multi-day tours to the smaller offshore islands and coves. You can also hike around in Cape Scott Provincial Park on a variety of trails, or mountain bike around Port McNeill on the areas many logging roads.
Vancouver Island Adventure Activities
There are so many things to do on Vancouver Island no matter what time of year you visit!
Here's our top 5 choices of things to do on Vancouver Island and where to go:
Hiking - Some of the best hiking and backpacking can be found on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail where you can choose from single or multi-day walks. The West Coast Trail offers hardcore adventurers spectacular views and challenging, unforgettable walking paths! Kayaking - Vancouver Island is the perfect place to kayak in the ocean. There's lots of inlets and bays where you can paddle around and view spectacular scenery and wildlife. Both Barkley Sound and Clayoquot Sound offer easy to intermediate paddling choices. Wildlife Viewing - Whale watching tours can be organized from almost every part of the Island. Tofino, Ucluelet, and Bamfield are excellent places to view grey whales, sea lions, and other marine life. And Goldstream Provincial Park close to Victoria is a good place to see black bears and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
Cycling - Try biking along old railway lines or backcountry trails through small communities that are fun for cyclists of all levels. Mount Washington Alpine Resort has all sorts of mountain bike trails and vertical challenges that riders can access by two high speed chairlifts! Storm Watching - A great soft adventure idea is to experience the raw power of the west coast ocean in the middle of winter! The communities of Tofino and Ucluelet both offer some awesome storm watching packages that include hiking and wildlife viewing!
Return from Vancouver Island Vacation to British Columbia Adventure Travel Page
|
