Vancouver Island

[Bownesian]

Originally Posted by dammage79

You'd also be fools to miss out on Botanical Beach and Sombrio beach along with Port Renfrew loop, which also has multiple wonderful campsites along the way.

I've sailed up and down the coasts of Vancouver Island for years, and Botanical Beach/Botany Bay near Port Renfrew absolutely blew my mind. They are next to each other and accessed from a trail loop from a decent parking lot.

One is the beaches has super deep clear tide pool cauldrons and the other is rough jagged slate sticking out of the water, plus all the normal shoreface things.

Google "Port Renfrew Tide Chart" and aim to get there an hour or so before low tide if you can. Both beaches would be trouble if there are big winds/waves as they are exposed to the strait.

[dammage79]

I got trapped by a mama black bear and her two cubs at the end of low tide and dusk at Botanical Beach once. A lovely couple stood by the trail head to make sure I was able to get buly once the slow ambling bears got the eff out of the way.

Thankfully they dipped off the beach and away from me into the trees.

The tide pools are magical. I still need to go back and do a night shoot of astrophotography at Botanical.

[puffnstuff]

Someone mentioned it, Cape Scott, all the way up the island was a great trek.
I never go all the way into Tofino anymore but do go and walk/hang out on Long Beach
Theres a hiking trail past Campbell River called Ripple Rock, easy hike but one we always do when we are close.

[RichieRich]

Depends how much driving you wish to do... stuff local to Victoria:
- Tidal pools / walks along the ocean near the rich peoples homes
- Bug museum
- Legislative Building walk (both inside and that whole area outside including the harbour area)
- Sushi

[FlamingHomer]

Chemainus for the murals. Fairly close to Mill Bay.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by FlamingHomer

Chemainus for the murals. Fairly close to Mill Bay.

And then head to Old Town Bakery in Ladysmith for cinnamon buns.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I got trapped by a mama black bear and her two cubs at the end of low tide and dusk at Botanical Beach once. A lovely couple stood by the trail head to make sure I was able to get buly once the slow ambling bears got the eff out of the way.

Thankfully they dipped off the beach and away from me into the trees.

The tide pools are magical. I still need to go back and do a night shoot of astrophotography at Botanical.

Good thing you weren't trapped by a man though amirite?

[undercoverbrother]

Some great suggestions from all y'all.

We have kicked around Greater Victoria, but I like the suggestions up Island and out on the west coast.

[Hydrotherapy]

Mystic Beach

[Titan2]

I see there is a Panago Pizza in Mill Bay. I like the NY Deli on thin crust.

[blankall]

If you've never been to the island before, you may want to look into just driving up the highway. Stop at Parksville, Fanny Bay (for the oysters), Coombs, and some of the other "tourist trap" little towns.

I know tourist traps are largely to be avoided. These places, however, haven't changed in 40 years. It's like going back to the 80s. You'll have to get past Nanaimo before things start to slow down though.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by blankall

If you've never been to the island before, you may want to look into just driving up the highway. Stop at Parksville, Fanny Bay (for the oysters), Coombs, and some of the other "tourist trap" little towns.

I know tourist traps are largely to be avoided. These places, however, haven't changed in 40 years. It's like going back to the 80s. You'll have to get past Nanaimo before things start to slow down though.

We have been out a few times in the past 12 months, but short trips that focuses on the south end of the island (Greater Vic).

This time we want to go up island and see what there is to see

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Some great suggestions from all y'all.

We have kicked around Greater Victoria, but I like the suggestions up Island and out on the west coast.

Other than going around and just looking at scenery, are you going to do some random stuff like grab a license and dig up shell fish, geoduck and whatnot for ####s and giggles? IDK if you'd be able to soak them long enough for them to spit out the sand to be edible, but it's a kinda fun way to kill a few hours. Fishing might be too slow of a pace, but there's always much more immediate fun in digging for shell fish.

The license I don't recall being very expensive. It was a fun way to have a competition when I was a kid. I hope to one day bring my kids out and have an afternoon of fun seeing who digs out the most clams or geoduck etc.

[puffnstuff]

If youre in Coombs stop at the Old Country Market aka Goats On the Roof (goats only there May to October though)

[woob]

Highly recommend the South West coast of the island. Sooke is a nice little town to check out with some great coffee spots and places to buy fresh seafood off the boats. Port Renfrew is amazing with so many great walks and hikes around the area, depending on how involved you want to get. Mystic Beach is one of my favourite hikes in the area. And if you’re looking for a great place to spend a couple nights, Point No Point is my top recommendation.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Other than going around and just looking at scenery, are you going to do some random stuff like grab a license and dig up shell fish, geoduck and whatnot for ####s and giggles? IDK if you'd be able to soak them long enough for them to spit out the sand to be edible, but it's a kinda fun way to kill a few hours. Fishing might be too slow of a pace, but there's always much more immediate fun in digging for shell fish.

The license I don't recall being very expensive. It was a fun way to have a competition when I was a kid. I hope to one day bring my kids out and have an afternoon of fun seeing who digs out the most clams or geoduck etc.

Dig for clams

What am I am immigrant?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

If youre in Coombs stop at the Old Country Market aka Goats On the Roof (goats only there May to October though)

It's gotten way over commercialized there. Also everything is ludicrously expensive in the store.

Bleh. Might as well go anyhow if you've never been there.

[Shazam]

I would take the Mill Bay ferry if you can btw if you're flying into YYJ. The drive sucks.

Also be mindful when crossing the street. I #### you not every single time I have been in Victoria I have had a car blow through stone cold solid red lights right in front of me.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I would take the Mill Bay ferry if you can btw if you're flying into YYJ. The drive sucks.

Also be mindful when crossing the street. I #### you not every single time I have been in Victoria I have had a car blow through stone cold solid red lights right in front of me.

We've taken that ferry a couple of times, its a nice little ride

[woob]

Also, if you're going to be driving around Victoria/Saanich, be aware of their totally nutty speed limits.

https://www.victoria.ca/getting-arou...r-speed-limits
https://hello.saanich.ca/en/projects...-limit-updates