August 30, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Port McNeill, Kayaking & Canoeing
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Kayaking in Nuchatlitz Inlet on Vancouver Island is an amazing, incredible experience.
I took a 5-day guided kayak trip in late August with Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures, a company specializing in multi-day kayak tours to Johnstone Strait, the Broughton Archipelago, Haida Gwaii and the west coast of Vancouver Island. I wanted to get "off the beaten path" so I chose Nuchatlitz Inlet/Nootka Island, a remote area on the north-west coast of Vancouver Island renowned for exceptional wildlife viewing (including sea otters) and spectacular scenery.
The wildlife viewing did not disappoint! We saw colonies of sea otters - sometimes up to 50 or 60 rafted together in kelp beds - and humpback whales lunge-feeding every day. We also saw black bears foraging along the beach, Orcas, porpoises and seabirds.
We paddled for four days and never saw another soul. We camped on remote beaches, ate fresh, gourmet meals (the fresh fruit/chocolate fondue on our last night was a nice touch!) and watched postcard-perfect sunsets.
This trip exceeded all my expectations.
September 15, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
100 Mile House, Kayaking & Canoeing
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One of my favourite British Columbia experiences is a canoe, a tranquil lake, and the soulful cry of loons for company.
Canoeing on Spring Lake brought back memories of all the camping trips I had done as a child. The natural beauty of the lake and the absolute stillness made the noise and bustle of city life seem a million miles away. Gliding through a marsh in the pre-dawn mist through a maze of connecting waterways, surrounded by tall reeds and floating grass islands, was almost spiritual.
I paddled past a beaver house - nobody home - and kept my eyes out for moose, which I was told could be spotted foraging in the shallow waters of the marsh. I startled two herons, which leapt from the water and took flight, their odd squawking cries echoing among the hills. Looking across the lake as sunlight crests the treetops and the mist begins to burn off, I think to myself: this is truly a magical place.
I spent four gloriously relaxing days at Spring Lake Ranch doing nothing but canoeing, horseback riding and walking the trails. Next year, I'm coming back for a week!
September 01, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Victoria, Fishing
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Port Renfrew is one of Vancouver Island's best fishing hot spots. The starting point for the famous West Coast Trail hiking route, it also offers saltwater anglers excellent salmon and halibut fishing opportunities.
Our charter, from Victoria's Island Outfitters, was scheduled to depart the Port Renfrew dock at 6 am, so we left Victoria just after 4 am - yikes! A quick stop at a 24hr Tim Hortons gave us a much needed boost: sugar and caffeine, the classic fisherman's breakfast.
From Port Renfrew it was a 20-minute run to the fishing grounds. Within minutes our guide, Dan, had the lines down and was working hard to get us "on the fish". As we trolled the shoreline the fog burnt off, revealing colourful tents and campfire smoke from hikers on the West Coast Trail. We could see boats around us landing fish, and our excitement grew as we figured we were due for one soon...
Bam...fish on!! The rod tip was wrenched down and line started peeling off the reel as I fumbled to get the rod out of the holder. Once in my hands, the fight was on...and it was a good one. Ten minutes later we had the fish aboard - a beautiful 20lb chinook salmon. After the morning "bite" died down we decided to head offshore to try for halibut. Along the way we dropped the lines for pink salmon and picked up 6 in only 10 minutes - sweet!
We anchored on one of Dan's halibut hot spots on Swiftsure Bank - this is definitely offshore water! Even on calm days there is an ever-present ocean swell. This is where the big ones are, though, and we weren't disappointed - after landing two "chickens" (the name given to 15-20 lb halibut) we hooked a beauty. After 15 minutes of hard cranking we could see it just below the surface - and when I heard Dan call for the harpoon, I knew it was a big one. When the 65 lb halibut hit the deck I was officially the happiest guy on the water.
We headed back to Port Renfrew tired, worn out and content. We stopped to check a crab pot on the way in and ended up with 15 Dungeness "keepers", a nice bonus to end the day.
This was my third fishing trip to Vancouver Island; two from Ucluelet and one from Port Renfrew. I can't wait for my next BC fishing adventure!
June 09, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Tofino, Beaches & Swimming
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TripAdvisor awards Tofino "Best Beach in Canada" in their 2011 Readers' Choice Awards! In fact, BC beaches swept the awards: Tofino, Okanagan Valley and Parksville took the top three spots.
I visited Tofino in April and took this photo at Cox Bay, a beach noted for surfing, sunsets and oceanfront resorts. Other favourite beaches in the Tofino area include Long, Chesterman, and MacKenzie.
If you're travelling on Vancouver Island this summer, a trip to the west coast is must!
May 12, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Tofino, Accommodation
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Tofino just might be one of the most beautiful places on earth.
This photo was taken at Cox Bay Resort, one of the many oceanfront resorts that Tofino is famous for.
Cox Bay Resort is a clean, modern facility with tastefully-appointed rooms and great ammenities - hot tub, excercise room, covered barbeques and a reservable family room/games room and private look-out area that are perfect for large indoor get-togethers.
Surfers take note: this resort is just steps to the beach and offers secure outdoor storage lockers and wash-down areas (I was here in March and surf season is in full swing!).
I would recommend this resort for families, couples, or anyone looking for a west coast getaway.
Did I mention it has nice sunsets?
July 08, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Victoria, Whale Watching
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Take a walk around Victoria, you never know what you'll see...
Whale watching and wildlife tours departing from Victoria's Inner Harbour can be great fun, but here's a cool tip: head out on the trails and paths around Victoria and you might be surprised by what you find!
The Coast Trail in East Sooke Regional Park is an absolute beauty of a hike - a true "west coast" experience. Well, on a recent hike there, the west coast experience just got a little wilder!
Right below the trail, a killer whale (Orca) had herded a seal into a tiny cove. The seal had thrown itself onto the rocky shoreline, and the killer whale was trying its best to dislodge it - and almost beaching itself in the process. The whale would reach its tail onto the rocks and try to "flip" the seal into the water. Of course, it couldn't see exactly where the seal was, so this cat-and-mouse (or whale-and-seal) game went on for about half and hour...
In the end, the whale gave up and and the seal lived to swim another day. It was a crazy, unbelievable thing to watch - nature at its awe-inspiring, glorious best.
So when you're in Victoria or Sooke, take a walk or go for a hike; head off the beaten path and you never know what you might see!
June 14, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Ucluelet, Fishing
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"Fish on! Fish on!"
Music to any fisherman's ears, this shout was heard early and often aboard Nootka Princess, part of the Canadian Princess Resort in Ucluelet. I did a weekend fishing trip here in mid-June and had a fabulous time.
Day one: Sunny skies and calm seas find us five miles offshore. We drop our lines and minutes later we have the first fish of the day - a 45lb halibut! There were 12 of us onboard and we call caught at least one halibut. The salmon were a bit more elusive, we ended up with 6 nice Chinooks. One of the other boats from the resort hit the hot spot: 30 nice springs (Chinooks)!
Day two: A gale warning sends us into the sheltered waters of Barkley Sound. The fishing was pretty slow but we did land a few nice salmon, and lost a few good ones, too. A great meal on the deck of their floating resort when we got back in was a perfect end to the day.
The charter boats at this resort are either 43 or 52 feet long and are fast, wide, comfortable and easy to walk around if you want to check out the action. Our skipper, Don, and deckhand Coco were great - easy going, friendly, and patient, especially when the inevitable "birds nest" got into our reels....sorry about that, Coco!
When we checked out all our fish were cleaned, packaged and ready to go. Two glorious days on the water and fresh halibut for dinner when I got home...does it get any better than that?
This was my first time at a fishing resort and I had a great experience. I will definitely be back!
May 13, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Delta, Bird Watching
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One of the best bird watching areas in the Vancouver area is the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, located in the community of Delta, a short drive south of Vancouver.
Serious birders will know that there have been over 280 species of birds recorded here, but for the casual observer (like me) all you need to know is - this place is FUN!
You can easily spend a few hours meandering along the trails and raised dykes that criss-cross the estuary. If you're feeling lonely you can buy a bag of feed from the onsite Visitor Centre and you will instantly have more "friends" than you know what to do with!
The Reifel bird sanctuary is a great place to take the family, or for anyone just wanting to spend some time outdoors. The scenery is fantastic, and you'll see tons of cool stuff - the Sandhill Cranes are huge!
Cool tip: watch for the funky community of houseboats along River Road when you drive in.
February 04, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Hiking
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I found myself in Victoria recently, and with a bit of time to explore I headed out with a friend to East Sooke Regional Park.
Our hike started from Aylard Farm, a 40-minute drive from downtown Victoria. After a short walk through open fields, we merged onto the Interior Trail and had an uphill slog for about 30 minutes. The uphill section was a bit of work, but the absolute silence, dense forest and moss-draped trees provided a very calming, Zen-like vibe. After a short downhill section we merged into the Coast Trail, which is where the real beauty of the hike lies.
The trail meanders along the shore; the scenery is classic west coast: wind, waves, ocean, mossy rainforest and gnarled arbutus trees growing out of the rocky shoreline. There is even an old trapper’s cabin at the aptly-named Cabin Point. The cabin is just walls, floor and a roof, but is in good shape and provides an excellent spot for a picnic lunch – or to just relax and admire the view.
From Cabin Point the Coast Trail follows the shoreline north-west (towards Sooke) and south-east (back towards Aylard Farm and the parking lot). If you travel west, you would need to have transportation at the other end – hiking the entire Coast Trail from end to end (10km) typically requires a car at each end of the trailhead.
There are some interesting petroglyphs in the rocks at Alldridge Point, a reminder of the Coast Salish people who inhabited the area. Sea life abounds – seals are commonly spotted bobbing among the kelp beds and eagles and seabirds are everywhere. Our round trip hike took about four hours at a fairly easy pace.
Practical Points: The Coast Trail may be a “walk in the park”, but it is not a hike for beginners. There are some rocky scrambles and moderately-challenging sections, so a decent pair of hiking shoes is recommended. The trail is generally well-marked, but it can be easy to lose at certain points. If your path runs out just backtrack, look around and chances are you’ll spot the yellow trail markers.
East Sooke Regional Park is a must-visit area for any outdoor enthusiast. There are trails for every skill level, including wheelchair-accessible picnic areas and easy walking (but very scenic) trails.
January 21, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Burnaby, Bird Watching
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Burnaby Lake is a jewel, a quiet oasis in the heart of the city of Burnaby. The area is popular for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a quick “back to nature” moment, without the hassle of a long drive.
The paths along the lake are well marked and easily accessible. Strolling along the lake you can see a wide variety of birds. Herons, ducks, eagles and kingfishers are spotted regularly, and keep an eye out for the beaver dam and its occupants!
A bird viewing tower and several wooden promenades provide excellent photo opportunities, especially in the early morning when the sun is coming up over the lake. A seasonal nature house and interpretive display is open during summer weekends.
A loop around the entire lake is approximately 10km (6mi), or you can take a quick out-and-back stroll on one of the many trails. Don’t forget your camera!