Vancouver Island

[tigercat]

My dh and I are going to Victoria to see my il's and are renting a car. We were hoping to take them out to see some of the Island because this will probably be the only time we go there as my mil will be moving back to Ontario after my fil passes away. Are there some "must do" thing to do on the Island? We will be staying on the Island as they are not able to go any further than that.
tigercat

 

[Valjean13]

Do you want to do things outside of Victoria? Driving up to Tofino (on the west side of the island) is a popular option for the beach (and surfing). Before you get there you have to drive through Pacific Rim National Park, which is worth stopping in. It's a "west coast" rainforest, lots of huge trees. Very pretty. The city of Duncan has about 75 totem poles in it, there's a marked walk through the town that you can take to see them all. They are not all the big huge ones, but still very neat to look at.
Hope that gives you a start.

 

[tigercat]

Thanks for the input. Yes we do want to do things outside of Victoria. We figure this is one way that my il's can do and see things outside of the city. They live right in the city. Not sure how much walking we can do but we can see. I would like to see a beach but we wouldn't spend a lot of time there. We only have 5 or 6 days there and hopefully an afternoon tea at the Empress has already been booked. We asked my mil to do that as she is right there.
tigercat

 

[sweetascanbee]

a great beach would be Rathtrevor in Parksville. Sand for miles and miles. Miracle beach is great to..but thats many hours from Victoria.

When are you going to be on the island...many towns have local faesticals throughout the summer that might be nice to attend.


Becky

 

[Catrinabeach]

Check out the murals of Chemanius. It's a nice small town with beautiful murals all over the town. It's just past Duncan. There is also a nice beach in Parksville if you don't want to drive too far.

 

[drag n' fly]

I second Rathtrevor beach. We are spending our summer holidays on the island and that is one of our extended stops. A must see is whale watching, Pacific Rim, the goats on the roof in Coombs, lots to see and do in Victoria...the castle, Butchart Gardens, the waterfront tons more!

 

[tigercat]

We are on Vancouver Island for a week and we are renting a car at the airport so will have it available all week.
tigercat