Vancouver Island
Starting to look at possible routes July to early November next year Starting & finishing in MD. Only a couple 'anchor' stops so far. Oskosh Airshow late July & Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta early Octobe...
Forum Discussion
Notes from my sister, who spent 3 weeks on the Island this year, for my month there next May:
First thing is that the island was MUCH more crowded in September than the Oregon coast was. Not booking ahead really put us at a disadvantage on this trip.
Highlights were
1. North island. Too much to see and not enough time. Alert Bay and Suquash were our fav. Also saw San Josef Bay, Ronin’s garden and Telegraph Cove. Sorry we missed Port Alice and Winter Harbour. Really needed another day or two. Liked the Cedar Park Resort in Port McNeill - owner is 28 yr old Lisa who is terrific.
2. Port Alberni - great location to see lots. Favourite was Stamp River Falls with all the salmon and a bear looking for them. Hole in the Wall was cool, no Martin Mars at Sproat Lake, skipped Cathedral Grove (I think Warren was getting sick of big trees). China Creek RV park had an amazing location but unless you’re in an unserviced campsite or right on the beach, it wasn’t very pretty or clean. They rely on seasonal bookings so don’t get too excited about 2-3 night stays. Never saw them after we booked in.
3. Campbell River - loved this town. Salmon Point RV was very nice but next time we would stay in the lighthouse area right on the ocean.
4. Pacific Rim Park. Beaches, beaches and more beaches.
5. Ucluelet had a nice vibe.
Disappointments
1. Tofino, accommodations and food were ridiculously expensive and not that great. Best meal we had was a BBQ chicken from the Co-Op grocery store.
Probably won’t be back but, if we did, would book ahead into Green Point campground in the park. Crystal Cove was fine with a terrific beach that we let the dogs run loose on but $70 a night and extremely tight campsites made it something we wouldn’t go back to.
2. Lack of decent seafood everywhere. Weird. Campbell River had the best halibut and chips we could find. Tofino was the worst.
First thing is that the island was MUCH more crowded in September than the Oregon coast was. Not booking ahead really put us at a disadvantage on this trip.
Highlights were
1. North island. Too much to see and not enough time. Alert Bay and Suquash were our fav. Also saw San Josef Bay, Ronin’s garden and Telegraph Cove. Sorry we missed Port Alice and Winter Harbour. Really needed another day or two. Liked the Cedar Park Resort in Port McNeill - owner is 28 yr old Lisa who is terrific.
2. Port Alberni - great location to see lots. Favourite was Stamp River Falls with all the salmon and a bear looking for them. Hole in the Wall was cool, no Martin Mars at Sproat Lake, skipped Cathedral Grove (I think Warren was getting sick of big trees). China Creek RV park had an amazing location but unless you’re in an unserviced campsite or right on the beach, it wasn’t very pretty or clean. They rely on seasonal bookings so don’t get too excited about 2-3 night stays. Never saw them after we booked in.
3. Campbell River - loved this town. Salmon Point RV was very nice but next time we would stay in the lighthouse area right on the ocean.
4. Pacific Rim Park. Beaches, beaches and more beaches.
5. Ucluelet had a nice vibe.
Disappointments
1. Tofino, accommodations and food were ridiculously expensive and not that great. Best meal we had was a BBQ chicken from the Co-Op grocery store.
Probably won’t be back but, if we did, would book ahead into Green Point campground in the park. Crystal Cove was fine with a terrific beach that we let the dogs run loose on but $70 a night and extremely tight campsites made it something we wouldn’t go back to.
2. Lack of decent seafood everywhere. Weird. Campbell River had the best halibut and chips we could find. Tofino was the worst.
