Vancouver Island by Yvette Pini
Yvette Pini says
If you only have a short time to go away, and want to see wildlife, enjoy the outdoors and get pampered, why not head to Vancouver Island in Canada. I recently spent 10 days exploring Vancouver Island and absolutely loved it! Contact me if you're planning a trip to Canada as I'd be delighted to help you put together your dream holiday.
My 10 day trip included seeing Brown bears, Orca Whales, Bald Eagles, and an array of seals and bird life, cycling, kayaking, walking, and sitting in mineral pools, and to finish it all off, a helicopter ride from Sonora Island to Vancouver Airport.
With a day stop-over in San Francisco on the way out to Vancouver Island, there was just enough time to go on the cable cars to Fishermans Wharf, for the famous sour dough clam chowder, another cable car to Lombard street, the windiest road in San Fran, and still time to shop in Union Square, before heading back to the Airport for a direct flight to Vancouver Island.
Vancouver Island has so much to offer - Victoria is the capital, and the Garden city, with plenty of amazing gardens to visit. Spring is a great time to see the blossoms come out, along with the early tulips. If you’re lucky you can see Orca’s when you go whale watching.
A great way to get around the city is by bike. Cycle past beautiful gardens and old colonial style architecture, they even have a castle.
Head up the Island to the Ucuelet, a rugged coast line, with some great walks for all fitness levels. Between Ucluelet and Tofino are some amazing surf beaches. However if you go early in the season, I’d also recommend taking a wetsuit with you, as the water is still pretty chilli.
Tofino is a pretty fishing village, and a great place to get on a cruise to go bear watching. I was lucky enough to see three separate groups of mums and cubs – it’s unbelievable how they move huge rocks and boulders to look for food as if they were made of paper.
I also went on a fantastic cultural tour - the knowledge of our First Nations guide was unbelievable. After we’d kayaked to a nearby Island, Gazelle explained all about the medicinal properties of the plants around us.
For pure luxury you have to go to Sonora Island, an all exclusive resort, you have the opportunity to go whale watching and salmon fishing. There are walking trails for all levels, a gym, tennis courts, a swimming pool and fabulous mineral pools. You can even have your own cooking lesson from their head chief. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff to help you organise. This is a place of pure relaxation and I can’t wait to go back!