The juxtaposition of the view is remarkable. First, you may feel the melancholy, fires destroyed approximately 30,000 hectares of land in 2017, but now there is an influx of fresh greenery popping throughout; hope sprouts post-tragedy.
The small town is charming with souvenir shops and restaurants that only span two blocks of the street and a beautiful lake on the other to enjoy pre or post-meal stroll. For me, walkable destinations on vacation are favorable. One, I’m lazy, and two, I want to drink a beer and not worry about the stress of driving, traffic, parking, etc. From the center of Waterton, you can walk to beaches, restaurants, hikes, or rent bicycles to cruise around with.
Bear’s Hump Hike
Crypt Lake Hike
Our first hike was to the famous Crypt lake. This trail is only accessible by boat, and can often be fully booked, so plan ahead. It’s a long hike that requires a lot of water and sunscreen as we attempted it in the middle of summer. Crypt is the Greek word for “secret” as the hike reaches its end, the secret is revealed beyond a tunnel and steep hill. This last part terrified my mother, so this “secret” lake remains as such for me. Oh well, perhaps just an incentive to return and do it again? Book the shuttle here:
Bertha Lake is an excellent medium-intensity 8 km hike; you walk from town to the base near the campground.
Bertha Lake
Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon
Paddleboard or kayak: I brought an inflatable paddle board that was the perfect break from sweaty days of hiking. A lot of people out on kayaks too. (You can easily rent these in town if you don’t have your own). The water was on the cooler side but still suitable for a quick swim.
Bike- rent or BYOB 😊
Eats
Pearls is my favorite breakfast food; this café had terrific coffee and delicious food. Pearls
After two canceled trips to Mexico, I racked my brain for places to recharge that would be adventurous and relaxing for a family vacation with my parents. However, horror stories of stranded travelers and increased costs prompted me to consider a local trip instead. Having driven to Vancouver Island from Edmonton, I knew the distance and rise in gas prices couldn’t compete with Flair’s $100 flight to the island.
While Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city, is most often sought out with direct flights or ferries and shuttles. However, I decided to take advantage of the lesser-known Comox, which offered a cheaper & less busy flight and a rental car; book one in advance; the checkout counter had a sign that said they were sold out! I spent a few days exploring Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Nanoose Bay, Coombs, Ucluelet, and Tofino. It sounds like many destinations, but these are quieter, smaller towns with most people found content on a beach with a picnic.
Qualicum Beach
Qualicum Beach
We chose the longer ocean route to get to our hotel and stopped to have lunch on the beach. My mother packed us an entire lunch of sandwiches and fruit, which I swore we would have to throw away at security, but we were able to keep to our luck! This town has a Saturday market to check out if you fly on this day, but we were eager to check in to our resort and enjoy a drink in the sun.
Qualicum Beach
Parksville
Rathtrevor Provincial Park
We stopped at a grocery store to pick up more snacks, smoked salmon, cheeses, and fruit. We then headed to Rathtrevor Provincial Park, a lovely park with a nice beach full of kites and picnic tables. We came here once for a walk and then the following day for a 5km run through the park before heading for lunch.
Rathtrevor Beach
Nanoose Bay
View from the Pacific Shores Resort
We stayed at the Pacific Shores Resort, which was great. It has an indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna, which we enjoyed each night. My dad and I also borrowed ping pong paddles and played a few games to give my mother a break from us for an hour! There were the most beautiful sunsets in the evenings, and with outdoor propane firepits, it was a charming way to end the evening. Several families brought smore kits and roasted marshmallows with their kids. We snacked on the meat, cheese, and beer we bought in Parksville.
Sunset at the Pacific Shore ResortNotch Hill Loop
Activities:
Rathover Park- 5km loop to run or walk
Nanoose Loop – 2.9Km loop that we choose to run, nice gravel trail.
Notch Hill Loop Trail- 5 km loop with a view of the bay and a swing!
Coombs
Coombs
A quick stop, most people come to see the goats that walk on the roof of the building; however, there is much more to discover at this stop. This pit stop was the liveliest place we found on our trip. We enjoyed a fabulous lunch at an Italian restaurant, Cuckoo. I bought some fresh doughnuts from Billy G’s doughnut shop and more snacks from the market, which was quite ample. There, were picked up heart-shaped truffle cheese, the tastiest sausages, and an apple galette. I would also recommend the cheese bread and pies if we had time and more real estate in our stomachs!
Cuckoo Restaurant Coombs
Ucluelet
Wild Pacific Trail
We stayed at the Blackrock Resort. It is a picturesque place on the ocean, with an outdoor hot tub, and is steps away from the West Pacific trail. There is also a beach where some people had made fires and cozily eaten near- something to plan for the next time we go! We opted for a room with a kitchenette to cook breakfast in (eating out every day isn’t ideal for us); the room had high ceilings, a nice balcony to sit out and listen to the ocean on, and a large soaker tub. It is also dog friendly if you planning to bring a furry family member.
Wild Pacific Trail
Tofino
Long Beach
We went to Tofino to do a bear tour via boat. Unfortunately, the covered boat was not available, so we ended up with these bright red spacesuit-looking overalls in an open boat. We have several bears in Alberta, so the sightings weren’t too eventful. But my mother wearing the red get-up was priceless. If I went again, I would do a seaplane tour, as it would be cool to see the beaches from that unique vantage point. We stopped at Shelter for lunch, which had a lovely, heated patio with a fireplace and a great view.
Tofino Eats
The catch of the day, cooked over an open fire at the Zedd hotel was our best meal of the trip!
At the Zedd Hotel & Shelter
Activities:
Atelo– recommended by our guide for seaplane tours
Chesterman Beach-Nice beach for walking and watching surfers
Wild Pacific Trail
Chasing Waterfalls
Qualicum Falls
Road Trip Pit Stops
To break up our drive, we visited Cathedral Grove and Qualicum Falls, and they were the perfect easy hiking spots! Hope you enjoyed this post and are inspired to take your own trip to the majestic Vancouver Island!
UNANCHORED EVE 