Take a Peek at Vancouver Island

I live on a long thin island, over 500 kilometres (~350 miles) long and about 200 kilo meters wide at the widest places. It sits along the southern coast of British Columbia, Canada. This large land mass creates a long sheltered area, safe from the Pacific storms and ideal for sailing, kayaking, motor cruising, diving and all kinds of water based recreation.

Vancouver Island itself is the top of an offshore mountain range, so it and the smaller islands which lie between Vancouver Island and the mainland are rough rocky places, with mostly rocky beaches. We do, however, have a few amazing sandy beaches.

We have all the usual problems of islands, where does the water come from, and where does the garbage go to. And then there are those beautiful but expensive ferry rides. However, most island dwellers seem to think its all worth it.

Our climate is moderated by the proximity to the ocean, including the influence of the Japanese current. So we have mild winters near sea level, but snow capped peaks all around us. I suspect we are one of the few places where you can ski in the morning, drive down the mountain to do a round of golf in the afternoon, and then go out sailing in the evening.

This picture shows a typical summer sunset looking north up the Straight of Georgia toward some of the Gulf Islands. The classic combination of mountain sides coming down to the ocean makes for some of the best scenery anywhere.

There are many wonderful places to visit and interesting things to see on Vancouver Island. I will leave it to all the tourist sites to fill you in on those details. However, there are a few things on my don't miss list.

The Federal Park on the west coast of the Island near Tofino and Uclelet, a three to four hour drive from Nanaimo, via Port Alberni, is the experience of a lifetime. Eighteen miles of sandy beach infused with the raw energy of the Pacific Ocean. You can picnic, walk on the beach, or dine family style at a cafe or in high style at the Tin Wis Restaurant. You will want to reserve space at campground, Motel or B&B so that you can spend a day a day or two checking out the character of Tofino and Uclelet, originally little fishing villages, now more heavily tourism driven.

A provincial park named Cathedral Grove on the road to Port Alberni is also worth a stop. Here a small stand of first growth is preserved for visitors, who can then imagine what it was like when every river valley on the Island was covered with these huge trees. Now logging has taken most of the best specimens and we are still fighting to retain a few of the remaining stands of these giants. The trees in Cathedral Grove are important because they are so accessible, but word is that they are not in particularly good health, and that we should treasure them while they are here.

The small islands in the Georgia Strait have a wonderful character all their own. Many residents are escapees from the city, often artists or artisans who were looking for more peaceful way of life. Choosing to live on an island which requires two ferry's to get to certainly gives you some of that distance from the hustle and bustle.

Here you will find wonderful farmers markets, galleries, and artisans shops. You will find houses built with fanciful shapes and materials. You will find people who value their privacy and expect it to be respected, but who have a strong commitment to community. People who live on islands sometimes have to lean on each other.