Adventure Travel Photography Blog
I recently visited Vancouver and spent most of my time adventuring on its west coast in Ucluelet and Tofino. While I prefer small towns like these, city goers should not overlook beautiful Victoria!
There ae many things to do in Victoria for all tourists, from families to solo travelers. I saved one day of my weeklong trip to Vancouver Island for a self-made walking tour of the city.
TAKE A TOUR
Up until a few months ago, I had never heard of Ucluelet. I was interested in visiting Tofino, and upon researching places to stay and things to do in Tofino, I found nearby Ucluelet met all my needs for a more affordable price.
Located on Vancouver Island’s rugged west coast, Ucluelet is smaller and the less hipster sister of its famous northern neighbor Tofino. With a population of just over 2,000 and growing, the small downtown features several coffee shops, a few retail stores, and some nice restaurants.
Hiking trails and beaches surround the village whose names comes from the local Nuu-chah-nulth language and translates to people of the safe harbor. Below are a few things to do in Ucluelet.
EXPLORE!
A popular tour in Tofino is to Hot Springs Cove. The six-hour tour includes a boat ride, a hike, and a soak in the hot springs in Maquinna Provincial Park. The only way to get to Hot Springs Cove is by float plane or boat. As a result, the tour time is dependent on the tides and coordinated among the many companies that have a park permit.
SOAK IT IN!
The Wild Pacific Trail travels along the rugged coastline and through the magnificent rainforest of Ucluelet, BC on Vancouver Island.
The trail may be hiked in three sections, the Lighthouse Loop, Big Beach Section, and Browns Beach to Rocky Bluffs including Ancient Cedars Loop. Each section has a parking area and is extremely well marked.
HAPPY HIKING!
I spent several mornings hiking during my week in Ucluelet and Tofino. Despite the mud, I particularly enjoyed the Canso Bomber Trail, which is a 3.2 mile hike to the crash site of a WWII bomber.
HAPPY HIKING!
Spruce Meadows may be one of the most beautiful horse show grounds I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a lot of them! It was another place on my bucket list, so I’ve marked off two places in two days…not bad! The show grounds are spread over 400 acres, include several lush grass show rings, schooling rings, and state of the art facilities. Continue reading “A Day at Spruce Meadows and Walking around Downtown Calgary”
This morning we took a 21 mile bike ride through Fish Creek Provincial Park, one of the largest urban parks in Canada. The day, sunny and slightly breezy, offered a lovely ride up and down small hills and through high grass prairies. Continue reading “Bike Riding Through Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary Canada”
What a beautiful day in Banff National Park, rainy weather and all. Bev, Marion, Anne and I took a two hour drive from Calgary to the Lake Louise Area of the park to explore the Lake Agnes and Little Beehive Trail.
I met Bev and Marion on my trip to Antarctica this past winter and decided on a weekend visit to the Canadian Rockies. They, along with their friend Anne, opted to take me to the Lake Louise Area for a hike, rain or shine. I’m so glad they did. I had always heard Banff was beautiful, and it was on my bucket list. Boy, it did not disappoint!
With the skies clouded over and a light drizzle falling, we started up a moderate 3.4 km trail. Converting from the metric system the trail gains approximately 1,300 feet over 2 miles as it wends beneath the pines trees switching back and forth up the mountain side.
HAPPY HIKING!