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Doreen
Pendgracs |
Travel Samples: LOST
IN THE BEAUTY OF VANCOUVER ISLAND©
Located just off the coast of southern British Columbia, Vancouver Island is a short ferry ride from the mainland. The routes are serviced by BC Ferries, who offer two major passenger ferry routes and accept RV’s of all sizes. Full meal service is available on board in addition to a couple of small shops featuring local books, souvenirs, and t-shirts. If you are coming up the west coast from Washington, your best bet is to take the ferry from Tsawwassen to Duke Point, for a nice short two-hour ferry ride. From here, you have a very short drive to Nanaimo, a smaller city of 73,000 located across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver. About two hours from Nanaimo on the west coast of the island, you’ll find the scenic communities of Tofino and Ucluelet which both offer excellent whale watching tours, a proximity to the breath-taking Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and its star attraction, Long Beach – roughly 14 miles in length. Be aware that this part of the island gets some pretty wild weather! If you’re a storm-watcher, you’re likely to catch the best ocean storms here during the winter months. The west coast of Vancouver Island offers an assortment of fantastic camping opportunities. There is rustic government-run camping available within the park and there is full-service privately-run camping in the surrounding communities. Tofino is much busier with tourists, but offers a wider variety of services. Ucluelet is quieter and more peaceful. The choice is yours. It is about a five-hour drive from the wilds of the west coast to the civilized culture of Victoria on the southern tip of the island. If you prefer to head directly to Victoria from the US-Canada border, you will board the Tsawwassen ferry destined for Swartz Bay, a short drive from the city. If you are starting your tour of Vancouver Island from BC’s lower mainland, hopefully, you’ll make time to see the sights of Vancouver, voted one of the most beautiful cities in the world. From here, you can board the ferry at Horseshoe Bay in North Vancouver. In the course of an hour and a half, the ferry will take you to the Departure Bay terminal on the island, within minutes of Nanaimo and only 45-minutes from Parksville. Parksville is a full-service community of about 9,000 people. Although it doesn’t have a hospital, Parksville does have a walk-in clinic and many other facilities and services for your everyday needs – including some great campgrounds.
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I
love Canada – each and every part of it. But without a doubt,
Vancouver Island is my favorite place in this vast country. Why? Because
Vancouver Island wows you with a little bit of everything wonderful.
Whether your enthusiasm for a destination is fueled by majestic
snow-capped mountains, towering Douglas fir trees, endless uncrowded
beaches, an abundance of uninhibited wildlife, or assorted cultural
endeavors that will satisfy even the most refined palette, you’ll find
it on Vancouver Island.
As
well, Parksville is home to Milner Gardens & Woodland, an inspiring
place with magnificent Douglas firs towering along its walking paths.
During the summer months, the wonderful gardens and tea room await you.
The season for tours at Milner Gardens runs from April 1st
through to Canadian Thanksgiving (the second weekend of October.) They
also have a special Christmas Lights Festival that runs from the last
week of November through the first week of December. I can only imagine
how beautiful this idyllic setting must be all decked with holiday
lights. ...