 Sunset Surfers, Jeremy Ferguson photo
Tofino Culture TodayFor all this glamour, Tofino remains the rough-and-tumble frontier town it has always been, easygoing, outgoing, enterprising, unpretentious and resolutely friendly. Yet it also boasts swank beachfront resorts, excellent restaurants and a dynamic arts scene rooted in nature and First Nations culture. Welcome to the end of the road.
First Nations CultureThose who dwell on this edge of the continent are intimately and irrevocably tied to the ocean. The Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation has been fishing for salmon, cod, halibut and shellfish for as long as 10,000 years. They hunted sea lions, seals and whales. Their arts, stories, songs and culture have survived and are lately undergoing a powerful resurgence.
Tofino Art Galleries & First Nations Tours Discover the culture in Tofino galleries, at age-old First Nations ceremonies and in authentic Native dugouts on timeless Clayoquot Sound waterways.
AccommodationsThe word "luxe" jumps up whenever someone mentions glam Tofino, but the reality is, the resort offers a full range of accommodations. Out in the Sound, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort brings out wilderness man, woman or child in the most reticent among us. Movie stars Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson honeymooned here in 2009.
Tofino Foodie  As dining destination, Tofino measures up with excellence in cuisine from fish and chips to the best Pacific seafood with global village accents. Expect a variety of restaurants serving the works from pizza to sushi in town, highway cafes for burgers and burritos and luxe resort dining rooms overlooking Pacific rollers straight in from Japan.
Tofino Botanical Gardens The Tofino Botanical Gardens are .48sqkm/12 acres of indigenous beauty, gardens, forest, and shoreline encapsulating Clayoquot ecology and grandeur in a compact space. The Gardens are also home to the Clayoquot Field Station, a hostel-like accommodation with daily discovery programs.
Ken Gibson's Rhododendron HillAt 4th and Gibson in Tofino, look west and waaaaaay up. Perched on a hill overlooking town is one of the largest and finest rhododendron gardens in the world. Blooms start in early spring and peak in early summer. Staring in wonder is absolutely free. Bring a camera.
The Crab DockVisit the government Crab Dock for a whiff of the fishermen's life. When the crab boats come home in late afternoon, this is the place to buy Dungeness crab 'live and kickin'.
Tofino SpasTofino's purity of environment and fame as an internationally renowned resort makes it a natural candidate for health and wellness capital of Vancouver Island. Spas, health retreats and yoga classes are widely available for a range of budgets and preferences. In addition to spas, individual practitioners offer a variety of massage therapies.
FestivalsTofino never says no to a festival. They run straight through the year from March's Pacific Rim Whale Festival to the Clayoquot Oyster Festival in Nov. In between are the Tofino Food and Wine Festival, National Aboriginal Day, the Pacific Rim Summer Festival, Tofino Art in the Gardens, West Coast Maritime Festival and the Tofino Film Festival. The oyster fest takes the cake: They - Tofino officials, not the oysters - have declared November: "Oysterember."
For information, maps and brochures, drop by the Pacific Rim Visitor Centre at 1426 Pacific Rim Hwy or the Tourism Tofino Visitor Centre at 455 Campbell St in Tofino.
|