Parksville & Qualicum Beach

Keeping with the theme of small towns, let’s talk about Parksville! While Parksville is a small town of around 12,000 (13000) people, in tourist season it feels like a very busy place.

A great time to go is during the annual sand-castle sculpting competition as part of the Beach Festival. When I was growing up, I’d go to Parksville every year with my family. To me, Parksville is all about two things: mini-golf and the beach.

When you drive through Parksville, you can’t help but notice the Paradise Fun Park. The bright blue waters and fountains of the mini-golf course really stand out. This mini-golf course was much more elaborate and interesting than anything around Victoria when I was growing up. They have two exciting courses to try out, so you can play two completely different games and show your friends your skills. I also recommend that you enjoy an ice-cream cone after the game.

 Tofino

Tofino is one of the most popular destinations for tourists on Vancouver Island because of the white sands and waves at Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park. It’s a destination for bird-watchers, nature lovers, and – most importantly – surfers!

Tofino is a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Victoria. Be warned: the road out to Tofino (the Pacific Rim Highway) isn’t easy to drive. It’s paved, but it’s a very windy road. People who drive the road a lot go pretty fast, and they may be impatient with slow drivers. But don’t be rushed. Take it slow. It’s a really beautiful drive, with nice places to stop along the way. It’s also possible to take a bus to Tofino, but I think going by car is better. A car allows you to really explore the park.

Most people don’t think of Canada as a place to go surfing, but long beach and the other beaches around Tofino are world-class! It might be a great story to tell your friends back home: you went surfing in Canada!

The park itself is great, but Tofino is also a really cool, relaxed little town. There are many nice restaurants and fine-dining opportunities. It’s a great place to shop and just wander around. There’s also the nearby town of Ucluelet, where you can also find a nice, relaxed atmosphere. Ucluelet also has great hiking opportunities on the Wild Pacific Trail!

Sidney Spit

Okay, technically this isn’t on Vancouver Island, but it’s a really easy daytrip from Victoria.

Sidney Spit is part of the Gulf Islands National Park. You can easily get there from Sidney. There’s a passenger ferry that takes you from the Beacon Pier at the end of Beacon Street in Sidney to the dock on Sidney Island. You can’t take your car, so don’t bring it!

Don’t be put off by the name Sidney Spit. A spit is just a part of the land that runs into the ocean. It’s basically a sandy strip that sticks out into the ocean. So Sidney Spit is a great place to camp, hang out on the beach, and just wander around and relax.

You might be thinking, “But there’s nothing to do there!” Exactly. Go there and do nothing! Enjoy.

Saltspring Island

Saltspring Island is another of the Gulf Islands, but it’s not just a park! Salt Spring Island is a really interesting community of people. The population of the whole island is only about 11,000 people, but it’s home to a lot of notable Canadians like Randy Bachman, a famous Canadian musician and radio broadcaster.

Saltspring Island is an easy place to get to. Just take bus 70 or 72 from Victoria to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. Without a car, it only costs $10 per person to take the ferry, which leaves throughout the day. When you arrive on Saltspring, you can take the bus from Fulford Harbour to the main town on Saltspring – Ganges. If you want to feel the wind on your face, there are also companies that rent scooters!

Ganges is the site of the famous Saturday Market. The market runs from April to October from 9am to 4pm. What makes this market special is that everything must be produced and sold by the vendors. So everything you see there is truly homemade by over 140 vendors. It’s a great place to find a souvenir, clothes, crafts or just some delicious food!

East Sooke Park

Vancouver Island has a lot of beautiful nature to see, and East Sooke Park is one of the best places to see it. Located only an hour’s drive from Victoria, it’s an amazing place to get away from the city and your studies!

The park has over 50 kilometres of hiking trails. My favourite is the Coast Trail. It has really amazing views of the rough west coast. Be careful though, it’s not an easy trail.

East Sooke Park has easier trails to get started with too. The hike from Pike Road to Iron Mine Bay and the hike from Aylard Farm to Becher Bay are both really easy. There is a map of all 50 kilometers of trails in the park available here. There’s so much to explore!

Mount Washington Alpine Resort

This is where I learned to ski and snowboard. Mount Washington is no Whistler, but it’s a great mountain and a great place to make sure you see some snow on your trip to Victoria!

Mount Washington is a three-hour drive from downtown Victoria. If three hours behind the wheel doesn’t sound appealing, you can also take the ski bus. It leaves from different locations around Victoria at around 5am and brings you back at around 7pm. It costs around $30 each way.

Explore!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the different places you can let your curiosity go wild. Of course, there are many other places to explore on Vancouver Island. Do you have some ideas or tips? Post them in the comments!

The Global Village offers a Summer Teen Activity Program and and Fifty Plus (50+) Activity Package for mature adults. Both programs offer with exciting activities, paired with a General English courses and accommodation.

Explore beautiful Vancouver Island while learning English with GV English Programs!

Video: Tourism Vancouver Island