Vancouver Island Travel Forum

I shall be coming to VI for 2 weeks at the end of May. I have looked at several web sites explaining places to visit. However, is there anyone who could give me some tips on places/things to do that we may not find on the 'official' tourist brochures i.e. where do the locals go?. We are in a car, so flexible in getting around.
Thanks for the input, Caroline

Briefly TOFINO / CAMPBELL RIVER / MOUNT WASHINGTON / VICTORIA of course.
Tofino is a long way from Victoria but well worth the visit for the raw splendour of the beaches / forests / whale watching etc.
Campbell River is a great place to stop for a few days so that you can visit Quadra Island etc; you can see the cruise ships squeeze through the narrow channel at night. Try "Seaside Cottage" for a good rental.
Mount Washington has a great cable car and snow at the top and great views.
Victoria is old England so have "tea" at the Empress Hotel and stay around at nightime for the illuminated Parliament Building. Take a seaplane trip even for 15 minutes.
Take a walk to the China Beach area not far from Victoria and find yourself on an almost deserted beach.

The Sooke Potholes are a great beach/lake daytrip from Victoria. Follow the twenty-somethings as they tend to know the best spots.

www.vancouverisland.com will give you a good look at every city and town on Vancouver Island.

One idea is to go over to Hornby Island for a night or two. You can only access it by taking a ferry to Denman Island first, and then by taking a ferry from Denman to Hornby. I believe the ferry terminal to Denman Island is located around the Courtenay/Comox area... I forget the exact location.

I definitely agree with the Victoria, Tofino and Hornby Island ideas. To me Victoria is the greatest city and there is so much to do. The Gulf Islands, including Hornby Island, are fantastic. To me they are the highlight of living on Vancouver Island. We love all of them for different reasons. Hornby and Saltspring are two great choices. If you are strapped for time then I would say do Saltspring because it is only a 20 min. ferry ride from the Island. Other great places that as locals we are Coombs Market (near Qualicum), tea at Milner Gardens (Qualicum), Yellow Point (20 mins. south of Nanaimo - lots of artisans, farms including cranberry farm and hazelwood herb farm, beaches with hardly anyone on them, country roads).

I have lots of more details on my VT pages. Happy travels!

http://www.tlaook.com

http://www.aboriginaljourneys.com