Summer Road Tripping to Vancouver Island

GOOGLE Driving MAP - https://bit.ly/2KlmP2n

The STOPS

Drive Calgary to Victoria

Day 1 - Calgary to Kamloops

Day 2-4 - Sooke

Day 5-6 - Parksville

Day 6-9- Tofino

Day 10-12 Victoria

Things to do

Sooke Potholes Provincial Park – 15 min
East Sooke Regional Park – 20 min
French Beach Provincial Park – 20 min
Juan De Fuca Mystic Beach – 40 min
Juan De Fuca Sombrio Beach – 1 hr
Port Renfrew – 1 hr 15 min
Botanical Beach Provincial Park – 1 hr 20 min

Planning a trip during a pandemic always takes extra care and consideration. Originally we planned to fly to Victoria, but, with the current world situation, we decided to drive to the west coast. Driving also support Max and being able to help him stay regulated.

We left Calgary and planned to stop and rest in Kamloops at the Holiday Inn, which had two beds and a pull-out couch perfect for our family of 5 and space for those who need it. Sadly BC had a significant Forest Fire during our drive, and we did drive the first 5 hours in complete smoke and had minimal visibility. Due to the air quality, we did not stop during the first portion of our drive.

We work up the following day and headed to the BC Ferry. We recommend that you pre-book your ferry trip to avoid long waits, also pre-booking helps with time management and predictability. Once we arrived in Vancouver, the smoke was behind us, and we had glorious blue skies for days!

The following 3 days will include places like Sooke (with amazing cliffside views and trails), Jordan River (lush rainforest hikes), and delicious small-town treats! First three nights on Vancouver Island, we stayed at this stunning Sooke Point Resort, which is a perched cliffside resort above the Pacific Ocean and hugged by the forested lands of the point. Endless ocean views.

Sooke is an adventurous town, just 30 minutes west of Victoria, BC. Many come here to enjoy the surrounding nature, which includes the popular Whiffin Spit Park (famous for bird watching) and the Sooke Potholes (arrive early to find parking at this popular spot).

Here, you have quick access to famous beaches like China Beach and Mystic Beach, and the town also serves as the beginning of the Juan de Fuca Trail.

For surfing opportunities, rainforest trails, and even a secret waterfall, consider hiking to Sombrio Beach. This trail will bring you to a slot canyon covered in bright green moss, perfect for those Indiana Jones discovery moments on Vancouver Island!

Shirley is a small community nestled between Sooke and Jordan River, along Highway 14 (The Pacific Marine Circle Route).

Here you can stop in to grab a bite to eat at the exceptional Shirley Delicious restaurant and maybe even time your visit for the annual craft fairs around Christmas and springtime. Outdoor attractions nearby Shirley include the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Park, and French Beach, where we saw plenty of winter surfers catching waves!

Sandcut Beach

For years I had seen amazing photos of the waterfall at Sandcut Beach on Instagram, so I was stoked to finally see it. The water pours over the lip of the sandstone cliff onto the beach. In drier weather, you can walk behind the falls.

To get to Sandcut Beach look for a small signed parking lot on your left about 10 minutes past Shirley Delicious. From the parking lot, it’s a 10-minute hike through the forest to the beach. The trail can be muddy. Once at the beach, turn left and walk along the gravelly beach for another 5 minutes to the falls

Packed up the family suitcase to travel to Parksville

We booked two nights at the Tigh-Na-Mara Resort in a two-bedroom cabin. This resort has 22-acre forested oceanfront resort featuring 3kms of sandy beach and the warmest ocean swimming waters, the largest seasonal recreation program on the Island, the award-winning Grotto Spa and its restaurant the Treetop Tapas & Grill, Parksville's favourite Cedars Restaurant & Lounge, an indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and exercise gym, a sports court and rooftop outdoor relaxation area with giant chess and a place for self-guided yoga and relaxation, a playground and bbq areas.

Parksville’s Qualicum Beach, Nanoose Bay, Coombs and other surrounding vacation destinations, everything from pristine beaches (more than 12 miles!), to cascading waterfalls and adorable boutiques is at your fingertips.

(Inside tip: Be sure to stop by the Old Country Market to catch sight of their famous rooftop-dwelling goats). Have a soft spot for friends of the feathered kind? Be sure to stop by the Qualicum National Wildlife Area, one of the most important migratory bird habitats in Canada.

Hole In The Wall Port Alberni

Just as you enter the harbour town of Port Alberni is the hidden unique stop of Hole In The Wall. To find this spot, you must park at a small dirt pullout on the north side of the highway just before the Coombs County Candy store. From there, you will cross over to the south side of the highway and, just to the right of the concrete barrier, follow the gravel trail down. Minor wood signs have been mounted to help you navigate the 15-minute walk to the Hole in the Wall.

As history goes, the town needed to blast a hole through the rock wall to run its water supply pipe. Times changed, and the pipeline was no longer needed, and all that remains is a unique hole in that water cascades like a waterfall for a unique photo stop.

This is the quick way to experience the Hole in the Wall. Although, if you have a bit more time in Port Alberni I suggest checking it out via the Rogers Creek Nature Trail route.

Drivng to Tofino with a stop at the Giant Cedar Trail and Cathedral Trail

A short 6km further down the highway, a small sign and pullout signal the trailhead for the Giant Cedar trail. Still, in a very natural state, the dirt trail allows a more intimate experience in the forest than in Cathedral Grove. This particular forest trail lets you see the uniqueness of the Giant Cedar trees compared to the Douglas Fir that dominates the forest of Cathedral Grove. Make sure to explore along the river bank and view the Kennedy River.

BOTANICAL BEACH

Botanical Beach is an essential stop on your Vancouver Island Road Trip if you love the sea! This beach in British Columbia has some of the richest and most diverse tide pools in the area. Most of them are so clear and deep that it looks like you are peeking into a mini aquarium at your feet!

ROAD TRIP STOPS FROM PORT RENFREW TO TOFINO

Bonsai Fir Tree - A little fir tree is determined to grow in the middle of Fairy Lake atop a log sticking out of the water. It's a cool sight!
Lizard Lake - Take a late breakfast or lunch break on Lizard Lake's huge dock.
Cathedral Grove - Similar to Avatar Grove, this protected area of Macmillan Provincial Park has short boardwalk trails on either side of Highway 4 to walk among the giants and stretch your legs.

We arrived in Tofino where we are staying at Cox Bay Beach Resort in a beachside two-bedroom resort. Tofino is a small district on Vancouver Island, off Canada's west coast. It sprawls on a peninsula within Clayoquot Sound, characterized by wild natural scenery including lakes, inlets and ancient rainforest. Sandy beaches with year-round surfing facilities include Cox Bay, Chesterman Beach and popular Long Beach, part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The relaxed town of Tofino sits on the peninsula's tip.

VISIT HOT SPRINGS COVE

Hot Springs Cove is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to a geothermal pool tucked away on the rocky shores of Vancouver Island! To reach these PNW hot springs, you'll need to book a boat tour or float plane departing from Tofino. From the dock, the geothermal pools are located at the end of a 2 km (30 minutes) walk along a well-maintained wooden boardwalk with many stairs and surrounded by ancient cedar trees. Once at the hot springs, there is an area to charge before heading down to the pools.

After a few days of surfing, hiking and exploring we are off to our final destination, Victoria.

Victoria, BC is on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, just north of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula and west of Vancouver, BC. It’s a relatively large city situated on a harbour, the Inner Harbour, and then stretches out to its suburbs of Saanich, Sidney, and Sooke. Getting there is pretty easy and doable on nearly any budget.

We booked our stay at the fun and funky Hotel Zed. On the Trans-Canada Highway in north Victoria's Burnside, this hip hotel is set opposite Mayfair Shopping Centre and 2.2 km from Downtown. This was a bit further from downtown than we hoped, but for the price it was worth the stay! We loved the yo-yos they gave to the kids and playing hours of ping pong in the games rooms and cooling off at the pool.

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What to do in Victoria?

CRAIGDARROCH CASTLE

Can you explain the incredible buildings and Victorian-era lifestyle to kids without including a little history? Or a castle? You could, but why would you want to? Craigdarroch Castle is a pleasant walk or short ride outside the downtown area. Victoria with kids is very doable on foot, including walking to the Castle, so plan to visit on a nicer day and enjoy the neighbourhood along the way.

Fan Tan Alley

Visit Canada’s oldest Chinatown and stroll down its narrowest street (It’s only 1.2m wide at one point !). While once full of gambling and opium dens, it is now home to some cute little shops and restaurants.

Possibly the most compelling reason to visit Fan Tan Alley when visiting Victoria with kids, however, is to sample the delicious scoops and popsicles, all made from scratch, at Kid Sister Ice Cream. Just look for the place with the line out the door – but it’s worth it!

When doing Victoria with kids, you HAVE TO VISIT CHINATOWN. It’s such an easy walk from the downtown area that you don’t even realize you’re nearly there almost all the time. The red Chinese lanterns are always hung and the vibe is always buzzing. Must see: Fan Tan Alley is the narrowest street in North America. There are many businesses off the alley, and if you’re there early or late enough, it feels like you’ve moved back to 1800s Chinatown.

BUTCHART GARDENS AND CAROUSEL

We have been to the Butchart Gardens prior and still love it. An ideal representation of Victorian gardens, it’s much more kid-friendly than you might expect. You can’t let the kids run free and pick flowers, but they’ll enjoy the Butchart Gardens. There are fountains, sculptures, a Japanese garden, and totem poles, and in the winter, there’s even an ice rink. Tip: be sure to pick up a scavenger hunt sheet from the visitor’s desk to give the kids something extra to keep them interested.

And for those who love getting dizzy, the carousel at the Butchart Gardens is one of the most beautiful ones we’ve seen. Riding costs $2 per person (parents ride free for safety).

BEACON HILL PARK

Beacon Hill Park in Victoria has long been our favourite city park in North America. Spending an afternoon at Beacon Hill Park is a must for doing Victoria with kids. Between the peacocks running around, the Children’s Farm, the playgrounds, walking trails, views from the bluff, the tallest free-standing totem pole in the world, and ornate Victorian gardens, it’s an incredible place.

The Beacon Hill Children’s Farm

A short walk from Victoria harbour is the wonderful Beacon Hill Park and Children’s Farm. Try to visit at the opening so as not to miss the running of the goats at 10:10 am (which also happens at 5:10pm). Everyone stands along the pathways and cheers the goats on as they run, kick, and jump from the barn to the petting zoo area.

This is a perfect stop if you are looking for toddler activities in Victoria. The farm also has many other animals that children will enjoy, including dozens of peacocks showing off their beautiful feathers.

Visit Fisherman’s Wharf

This lively community of floating homes, fish and chip shops and eco-tourism companies makes for a fun little stop during a day of family activities in Victoria. In need of a quick bite but overwhelmed by the food choices? Go with The Fish Store for fresh seafood and Jackson’s Ice Cream Float for sweet treats.

Visit Munro’s BookStore

Munro’s Books occupies a landmark location in the heart of Victoria’s Old Town. Opened in 1963 by Jim Munro and his first wife, famed Canadian author Alice, the store has a lovely children’s book section in the back. In a time when local owner-run bookstores are a rarity, this place is a real treat.

After an amazing trip, we had to pack up our suitcases to start driving home to Calgary!

We had plans to stop and stay in Revelstoke and check out the Mountain Coaster, at the Sutton Hotel, but the forest fires were too extreme making the air quality very poor, so it was a long straight drive home!

From our Suitcase to yours, Happy Travels