Continuing my exploration of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, I was excited to finally break through the stronghold of Victoria. With its Empress Hotel, Butchart Gardens and so many places to eat and shop, most people do not venture far from the city to explore Vancouver Island itself. A national treasure.
I awoke in my tiny Airbnb cabin to the sounds of gentle waves lapping at the shore. Here in Ladysmith, there is plenty of birdwatching to be had, but I didn’t hear any this particular morning. As I rose to begin my adventures for the day, the cloudy skies brought a steady drizzle that lasted through most of the morning.
No bother, I was off to explore the lovely town of Nanaimo, just a few miles north of Ladysmith, on the western side of Vancouver Island. As I rumbled into town on that Monday morning, all was quiet, as most people had already gone to work for the day.
Pipers Lagoon Park
This is a nice little park with a trail leading along the spit out into the Salish Sea. There are picnic tables so you can bring your lunch, and a great place to watch the boats and the seabirds go by.
Things to Do in Nanaimo
Visit the Nanaimo Museum
Wild Play Elements Park – for ziplining!
Have lunch at Canada’s ONLY floating pub. Family friendly!
I drove around for a bit, getting a general feel for the place, then stopped into Regard Coffee Roasters. Amazing coffee! And the barista guys were so friendly. While sitting having my yummy cappuccino, I overhead a couple nearby who were talking about going to see Goats on the Roof.
What?
That’s right. Goats on a freaking roof. Coombs Old Country Market, just up the road from Nanaimo, has a grass roof. And on a nice day, their small herd of goats likes to hang out up there. Awesome! Okay, I know what I’m doing tomorrow!
But nay, or shall I say ‘baaaahhh’. No goats were to be seen at the market the next day. It was cloudy, and still a little bit drizzly. I was told by the shopkeeper that the goats don’t really like those conditions and it was still early in the season (I was there mid-April), so they stayed out of sight most of the time. Oh well.
A few miles west of Coombs is MacMillan Provincial Park. This is a must-stop! The Cathedral Trail is short, easy and with the most spectacular Douglas Fir trees I’ve ever seen. Some are up to 800 years old. Old growth at its very best.
On to the next adventure. Heading west I reach Port Alberni – a welcoming place to rest my head for the night at another Airbnb. This is the gateway to scenic Highway 4 and the Pacific Rim Highway. The two-hour drive from Port Alberni to Tofino is filled with gorgeous hair-pin turns encompassed by old-growth forests. This road is not to be driven quickly. Take your time and make stops along the road when you are so inspired and as time allows. It is arguably one of the best drives in North America.
On the way to Tofino be sure to stop for a while at the tiny town of Ucluelet. A great place to have lunch and walk one of their breathtaking waterfront trails. There is even a small Aquarium at Government Wharf.
Forty kilometers north of Ucluelet is Tofino, the most popular destination on western Vancouver Island. Sadly, I did not have time to visit, but here are a couple of great blogs on the village.
3 Days in Tofino
Where to Eat in Tofino
Tofino with Kids
My next Vancouver Island post will cover the more sparsely populated, northern part of the island. Where waterfalls, black bears, and rugged logging settlements are the norm.
