Vancouver Island Attractions
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Only a ferry ride or short flight from Vancouver is the majestic Vancouver Island, adorned with temperate rainforests, towering mountains and long, sandy beaches. Visitors to Vancouver Island will have no problem finding something to do with the island's endless selection of attractions ranging from castles to natural hot springs.
GREATER VICTORIA
The southern portion of Vancouver Island is home to Victoria, the island's largest centre and British Columbia's capital city. Victoria offers both the charm of island living and the benefits of being a large cosmopolitan centre. A good place to start exploring Victoria is the British Columbia Parliament Buildings. Daily guided tours are offered of the ornate, domed parliament buildings that overlook the marina. Another captivating piece of architecture in Victoria is the Craigdarroch Castle, which was built in the late 1800s as a stately mansion. The city also features a diverse selection of museums with the Royal British Columbia Museum and Maritime Museum of British Columbia among the highlights. Known for its vibrant art scene, Victoria is home to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and the Emily Carr House, which is furnished with artwork by the beloved Canadian artist. Beautiful gardens and parks, beaches, zoos, aquariums, squares and plazas can also be found in Victoria.
Although there's a lot to do in Victoria, there are also several nearby communities worth the drive. Southwest of the city, Sooke boasts fabulous beaches, and north of the capital, Sidney (nicknamed Booktown due to the high number of bookstores per capita) offers interesting museums and parks.
DUNCAN & LADYSMITH
Between Victoria and Nanaimo are the communities of Duncan and Ladysmith. Duncan features an array of colourful totems, which explains the town's nickname as the City of Totems. In Duncan, visitors can tour bird sanctuaries, museums and art galleries and see the 61-metre-long (200 ft) World's Largest Hockey Stick. North of Duncan is Ladysmith, a town that has a lot of Christmas cheer to share. During the holidays, Ladysmith's historical downtown area is illuminated with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights as part of the town's Festival of Lights. Although Ladysmith is a wonderful holiday destination, the town has a lot to see year round with its lively waterfront area, parks and art galleries.
NANAIMO
Centrally located, Nanaimo is the second largest city on Vancouver Island. Picturesque mountain scenery, views of the Strait of Georgia and a short ferry ride from Vancouver are a few of the perks to living in and visiting Nanaimo. As visitors tour Nanaimo they will encounter intriguing neighbourhoods such as the Waterfront District, Arts District and the shop- and restaurant-filled Old City Quarter. History enthusiasts can spend the day learning about the city in the Nanaimo District Museum, while art lovers can view various masterpieces by talented local artists in the Nanaimo Art Gallery.
PARKSVILLE & QUALICUM BEACH
As visitors continue north from Nanaimo they will be greeted by the vibrant city of Parksville. The city features an assortment of recreational opportunities with a plenitude of lakes, parks and beaches. A popular event during summer is the Parksville Beach Festival, which includes a sand sculpting competition. Farther north is the community Qualicum Beach. It features a diverse mix of attractions, from museums to beautiful parks like the Milner Gardens and Woodland. During spring, Qualicum Beach hosts the Qualicum Beach Fire and Ice Festival where visitors can view spectacular ice sculptures and sample mouth-watering chilli from the chilli cook-off.
CAMPBELL RIVER, COMOX & COURTENAY
Situated approximately 270 km (168 mi) north of Victoria is the community of Campbell River, known for its captivating scenery and whale watching and very deserving of its nickname, Salmon Capital of the World. A multitude of lakes, beaches and several provincial parks—like Rock Bay Marine Provincial Park and Elk Falls Provincial Park—are scattered around Campbell River. South of Campbell River, the seaside town of Comox offers miles of sandy beaches and interesting natural attractions like the island's largest glacier, Comox Glacier. Across the harbour from Comox is the city of Courtenay, which features a beautiful coastline, mountain terrain and pristine lakes. Courtney hosts a line-up of fun annual events such as the Vancouver Island MusicFest.
TOFINO
Every summer Tofino undergoes a major population boom as visitors flock to the community to enjoy the outdoors. Nature lovers can choose from an extensive selection of parks in the Tofino area that combine lush rainforests with the area's dramatic coastline. Tofino offers an array of stunning beaches—like the popular Long Beach located in Pacific Rim National Park—and colourful gardens such as the Tofino Botanical Gardens. A short drive from Tofino is Maquinna Provincial Marine Park, a tourist favourite due to its natural, cascading hot mineral springs.
GREATER VICTORIA
The southern portion of Vancouver Island is home to Victoria, the island's largest centre and British Columbia's capital city. Victoria offers both the charm of island living and the benefits of being a large cosmopolitan centre. A good place to start exploring Victoria is the British Columbia Parliament Buildings. Daily guided tours are offered of the ornate, domed parliament buildings that overlook the marina. Another captivating piece of architecture in Victoria is the Craigdarroch Castle, which was built in the late 1800s as a stately mansion. The city also features a diverse selection of museums with the Royal British Columbia Museum and Maritime Museum of British Columbia among the highlights. Known for its vibrant art scene, Victoria is home to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and the Emily Carr House, which is furnished with artwork by the beloved Canadian artist. Beautiful gardens and parks, beaches, zoos, aquariums, squares and plazas can also be found in Victoria.
Although there's a lot to do in Victoria, there are also several nearby communities worth the drive. Southwest of the city, Sooke boasts fabulous beaches, and north of the capital, Sidney (nicknamed Booktown due to the high number of bookstores per capita) offers interesting museums and parks.
DUNCAN & LADYSMITH
Between Victoria and Nanaimo are the communities of Duncan and Ladysmith. Duncan features an array of colourful totems, which explains the town's nickname as the City of Totems. In Duncan, visitors can tour bird sanctuaries, museums and art galleries and see the 61-metre-long (200 ft) World's Largest Hockey Stick. North of Duncan is Ladysmith, a town that has a lot of Christmas cheer to share. During the holidays, Ladysmith's historical downtown area is illuminated with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights as part of the town's Festival of Lights. Although Ladysmith is a wonderful holiday destination, the town has a lot to see year round with its lively waterfront area, parks and art galleries.
NANAIMO
Centrally located, Nanaimo is the second largest city on Vancouver Island. Picturesque mountain scenery, views of the Strait of Georgia and a short ferry ride from Vancouver are a few of the perks to living in and visiting Nanaimo. As visitors tour Nanaimo they will encounter intriguing neighbourhoods such as the Waterfront District, Arts District and the shop- and restaurant-filled Old City Quarter. History enthusiasts can spend the day learning about the city in the Nanaimo District Museum, while art lovers can view various masterpieces by talented local artists in the Nanaimo Art Gallery.
PARKSVILLE & QUALICUM BEACH
As visitors continue north from Nanaimo they will be greeted by the vibrant city of Parksville. The city features an assortment of recreational opportunities with a plenitude of lakes, parks and beaches. A popular event during summer is the Parksville Beach Festival, which includes a sand sculpting competition. Farther north is the community Qualicum Beach. It features a diverse mix of attractions, from museums to beautiful parks like the Milner Gardens and Woodland. During spring, Qualicum Beach hosts the Qualicum Beach Fire and Ice Festival where visitors can view spectacular ice sculptures and sample mouth-watering chilli from the chilli cook-off.
CAMPBELL RIVER, COMOX & COURTENAY
Situated approximately 270 km (168 mi) north of Victoria is the community of Campbell River, known for its captivating scenery and whale watching and very deserving of its nickname, Salmon Capital of the World. A multitude of lakes, beaches and several provincial parks—like Rock Bay Marine Provincial Park and Elk Falls Provincial Park—are scattered around Campbell River. South of Campbell River, the seaside town of Comox offers miles of sandy beaches and interesting natural attractions like the island's largest glacier, Comox Glacier. Across the harbour from Comox is the city of Courtenay, which features a beautiful coastline, mountain terrain and pristine lakes. Courtney hosts a line-up of fun annual events such as the Vancouver Island MusicFest.
TOFINO
Every summer Tofino undergoes a major population boom as visitors flock to the community to enjoy the outdoors. Nature lovers can choose from an extensive selection of parks in the Tofino area that combine lush rainforests with the area's dramatic coastline. Tofino offers an array of stunning beaches—like the popular Long Beach located in Pacific Rim National Park—and colourful gardens such as the Tofino Botanical Gardens. A short drive from Tofino is Maquinna Provincial Marine Park, a tourist favourite due to its natural, cascading hot mineral springs.
Eco Tours
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Blue Ridge Inn Victoria
An inn and vacation cottage ideally located across from Mayfair Shopping Mall!
Waterfront Hotel
Adventure Tours
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