great places to visit on vancouver island

A million metaphoric miles from the slick skyscrapers of nearby Vancouver, this is a place to lower your stress levels, commune with nature and get back to the land with home-brewed beverages, Indigenous legends and superb biking and hiking trails. The island was also a top pick for Best in Travel 2022.

However, you will find a donation box if you want to leave a contribution. 2. Victoria. The history and architecture are rich in Victoria! Whale-watching is one of the top things to do in Victoria! Obviously, the beautiful coastal city of Victoria made our list of the best places to visit on Vancouver Island.

6. Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park. 799. State Parks. Explore the Hidden Gem of Vancouver Island, now open with limited daily tour departures, smaller group sizes and new health and safety protocols. Winner of BC's Remarkable Experience Award and ranked #1 of 22 Things To Do IN Vancouver Island.

The sanctuary is open 7 days a week, however, their opening times and flying demo times do vary by season. Make sure to check in advance on their website to make sure your visit goes smoothly! 7. Take a trip over to Salt Spring Island. Daniel in an art gallery in Ganges, Salt Spring Island.

6. See Goats on the Roof at the Old Country Market, Coombs. One of the more unique and long-standing attractions on Vancouver Island is the Old Country Market, complete with resident goats on the roof. For over 30 years, goats have been happily posing for pictures as they munch contentedly away on the sod roof.

6. Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park. 798. State Parks. Explore the Hidden Gem of Vancouver Island, now open with limited daily tour departures, smaller group sizes and new health and safety protocols. Winner of BC's Remarkable Experience Award and ranked #1 of 22 Things To Do IN Vancouver Island.

From outdoor activities to wildlife viewing and cultural exploration to festivals - the Vancouver Island region boasts so much to see and do! Eat & Drink. Outdoor Recreation. Attractions. Spa & Wellness. Wildlife Viewing. Indigenous Experiences. ... Best Ways to Get Outside on Vancouver Island This Winter Driving | July 18, 2023 ...

See ways to experience (42) 2023. 3. Wild Pacific Trail. 2,762. Hiking Trails. The Wild Pacific Trail is located in Ucluelet and is a seven phase trail system skirting the rugged cliffs and shoreline of the west coast of Vancouver Island.

4. Beechy Head Loop and Petroglyphs. The Beechy Head Loop is an amazing 5km loop hiking trail (with 170m elevation gain) which not only shows off some of Vancouver Island's most picturesque coastline but also gives you the chance to wildlife watch and visit some ancient petroglyphs.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: +1 250 248 6272 | Website | Hours: 9 am - 7 pm daily, closes 6 pm on Wednesdays. Located in the small town of Coombs, the Old Country Market is one of the best places to visit on Vancouver Island. Located an hour south of Campbell River, the market is known for having a ton of imported gifts from all over the world, all kinds of delicious food from Italianiza to ...

Click here to book a whale-watching tour in Victoria. 5. Butchart Gardens (20 km from Victoria) One of the best things to see on Vancouver Island is the famous Butchart Gardens. These beautiful gardens are a National Historic Site of Canada and the result of the vision, passion, and dedication of Jenny Butchart.

Check out our video of the best things to do on Vancouver Island and British Columbia as a whole! Fairmont's Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC. Visit Victoria. Go Whale Watching. British Columbia Legislature. Explore the Old-Growth Forests of Vancouver Island. Explore Nanaimo. Go Scuba Diving.

Nanaimo to Gabriola Island is 10.15 CAD for a return ticket. Bus - The bus goes just about everywhere on Vancouver Island, although it isn't cheap. A seven-hour journey from Victoria to Tofino is 105 CAD, while a one-hour trip from Victoria to Cowichan Bay is 20 CAD. A 3.5-hour trip from Nanaimo to Ucluelet is 50 CAD.

Nanaimo to Campbell River. Gaze up in wonder at Cathedral Grove's old-growth giants in MacMillan Provincial Park. Descend deep underground while spelunking at Horne Lake Caves. Play multiple rounds of mini-golf on Parksville's delightful storybook courses. Or check out the ancient amphibian bones at the Qualicum Beach Museum.

Kyle McCarthy|Sharael Kolberg December 4, 2023. Ranking of the top 17 things to do in Victoria & Vancouver Island. Travelers favorites include #1 Inner Harbour, #2 The Butchart Gardens and more.

Cathedral Grove is a rare and endangered remnant of an ancient Douglas fir ecosystem in MacMillan Provincial Park on central Vancouver Island. The grove's biggest trees are 800 years old, 75m (250ft) in height and 9m (29ft) in circumference. People from around the world visit Cathedral Grove every year, which was shortlisted for Canadian ...

See full details. See ways to experience (42) 2023. 3. Wild Pacific Trail. 2,762. Hiking Trails. The Wild Pacific Trail is located in Ucluelet and is a seven phase trail system skirting the rugged cliffs and shoreline of the west coast of Vancouver Island.

10 Most Charming Small Towns on Vancouver Island. 1. Sidney. Enjoy sea air, small-town charm, and public art in Sidney. The seaside resort town is located at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula minutes from the Victoria International Airport and from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.

Vancouver Island is one of the best places in Canada to find seasonal fliers and seabirds that are totally unique to our coastal environment. ... 5 Must-See Nature & Wildlife Tours On Vancouver Island Wildlife | September 6, 2018 Spot The Critter: A guide to lesser known facts about Vancouver Island's wildlife ...

The best way to travel around Vancouver Island is by car. However, in order to bring a car to the island, you'll need to travel by ferry (more on that below). ... No matter what you choose, there are tons of beautiful places to visit on Vancouver Island and you won't be disappointed! Day 1: Victoria, BC to Port Renfrew, BC; Day 2: Port ...

What is the most northern point of Vancouver Island? Port Hardy marks the end of Highway 19 and is the northernmost town on Vancouver Island. It is a gateway to many outdoor activities, including fishing, world-class scuba diving, caving, kayaking, boating, hiking, and nature viewing. Things to See and Do in Port Hardy. Top things to do in Port ...

Northern lights map for Friday night. A map from the center showed the aurora would be visible for much of the northern half of the U.S. Friday night. A red line on the map shows how far south the ...

Aurora borealis may be visible over Washington on Sunday. According to KING 5's Rich Marriott, unlike an eclipse, the exact time an aurora will occur isn't predictable. Friday and Saturday night ...

Gaze at distant snowcapped mountains while splashing barefoot along softly curving beaches. Relax, restore and recharge yourself in the region's cosmopolitan centres, small towns and snug harbours. That's Vancouver Island. This land is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Coast ...

Posted May 10, 2024 1:15 pm. Last Updated May 11, 2024 2:44 pm. You may have had the opportunity to watch Northern Lights shining across the night sky around Metro Vancouver Friday, and there is a chance some more may be visible Saturday evening, but they will likely not be as bright. Northern Lights over Vancouver, May 10, 2024. (Cole Schisler)

Finally, the Summer Movie Nights in the Square is a whole event that takes place in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Their screenings are on Thursday nights, with food trucks, street vendors, and before-the-show activities. 12. Check out the Vancouver Lookout. Vancouver Lookout at sunset.

In places with a lot of bright lights, like a city, it is more difficult to see. Cloudy weather can also block the view. This could pose a challenge for those hoping to see the northern lights in ...

H ere are three things you'll want to know about this special event that's expected to peak over the weekend: 1 . An unusually strong geomagnetic storm is ongoing: This is the first time that an ...

Peak visibility time Saturday night will be between 9 p.m. and midnight, with some chance until 2 a.m., Kines said. The best views will be in dark areas away from the light pollution of cities, he ...