Vancouver Island
Everything we cover
29 topic guides and 16 towns, each one built from the places we actually hold a page for. Start with a subject, a town, or just ask.
On the water
Shorelines, boats and everything the tide governs.
- BeachesSand, shingle and tide pools — and when to go so the tide is on your side.
- Whale watchingOrca, humpbacks and grey whales — the season, the operators and what you see from shore.
- SurfingCold-water surf on the open coast — seasons, schools and what to rent.
- KayakingProtected inlets, island hops and a sea that changes its mind — launches and outfitters.
- FishingSalmon, halibut and river runs — licences, seasons and where to start.
- Hot springsNatural hot springs, and how to reach them.
In the wild
Forest, trail, park and the animals in them.
- HikingRainforest boardwalks to alpine ridgelines, and how to judge which is which.
- CampingOceanfront sites, forest loops and the booking window that decides your summer.
- GlampingCabins, domes, yurts and spheres — camping with a bed in it.
- WaterfallsRoadside cascades to backcountry drops — and the month they actually run.
- WildlifeBears, elk, sea lions and eagles — where to look and how to behave.
- BirdwatchingEstuaries, marshes and migration — the best edges on the coast.
- Hidden gemsQuiet places most visitors drive past.
- PhotographyLookouts, lighthouses and shorelines — with the light and tide that make them.
Food and drink
A short supply chain and the people at the end of it.
- Food & drinkSeafood, small kitchens and a supply chain that fits in a van.
- WineriesA small, cool-climate wine scene — what grows here and where to taste it.
- Craft cideriesOrchard cider made from actual apples — and how to tell it from the other kind.
- MarketsSaturday farmers markets, night markets and the makers behind the tables.
Culture and town life
Galleries, communities, festivals and the everyday.
- Art & galleriesPublic galleries, artist-run spaces and the studios behind them.
- Indigenous cultureNation-run centres, carving, and how to visit respectfully.
- GolfA long season, soft greens and courses with the sea in play.
- Family activitiesPlaygrounds, tide pools, museums with buttons — and a rainy-day plan.
- Dog friendlyConfirmed off-leash parks, plus the long walks — and the bylaws that govern them.
- FestivalsMusic, food, film and small-town fairs — what is actually coming up.
By season and by route
When to come, and how far you can get once you are here.
- SummerTen weeks of settled weather, and how to spend them without queueing.
- WinterStorm watching, alpine snow an hour from the sea, and empty everything.
- Day tripsHow far you can get from the city and still be back for dinner.
- When to visitMonth by month: weather, crowds, prices and what is actually open.
- Road tripsRoutes, lookouts and the driving times between them.
By town
Places, events and what is on this week, town by town.
- Victoria453
- Tofino249
- Nanaimo230
- Comox Valley218
- Campbell River214
- Duncan178
- Parksville163
- Salt Spring Island148
- Sidney146
- Sooke122
- Port Alberni120
- Qualicum Beach114
- Chemainus98
- Port Hardy59
- Port McNeill38
- Alert Bay18