Tag Archives: Vancouver Island

Mystical and Enchanting Cathedral Grove

13 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Cathedral Grove, Vancouver Island

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Located in MacMillan Provincial Park, Cathedral Grove is one of the most easily accessible stands of old growth forest on Vancouver Island. The park is home to a famous, 157-hectare stand of ancient Douglas fir, known as Cathedral Grove

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Our friends from Parksville told us it was a “must” to visit and experience the tall trees at Cathedral Grove, and they were absolutely right. What a wonderful visit. Cathedral Grove is located on Highway No.4 in Vancouver Island, very near to the town of Port Alberni. It was about 25 mins drive from Parksville and would take less than an hour from Nanaimo. It straddles both sides of the highway with limited parking space outside the Park area. It is also known as MacMillan Provincial Park.

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The wonders of this park are the giant Douglas Fir trees which inhabit this forest like silent sentinels from the past. The leader among them is an 800-year-old tree, 76 meters tall and 9 meters in circumference. It was over 300 years old when Christopher Columbus first came to North America. Other species of trees in this forest include the Western Hemlock, the Western Red Cedar, and the Big leaf Maples.

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The walk around the park can take between half an hour to over two hours, depending on how much time and interest you have. It was raining on the day that we went, we were not in a hurry so we spent time really enjoying and breathing in this natural magical forest with its well maintained trails and lots of information signs which helped to make the experience even richer.

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It was an easy walk on a wide path. The trees were so impressive. We loved the way the light came through the branches and were astounded at how tall, how straight and how large these trees are. The mosses on the branches were so picturesque.

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Walking through Cathedral Grove was a Magical experience.

Put Goats on the Roof and They Will Come

11 Friday Oct 2019

Posted by in Country Markets, Coombs, Vancouver Island

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But wait, there is more.

 

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Only about an hour from Nanaimo is the small community of Coombs where you will find the Old Country Markets. Coombs is synonymously known as “Goats on the Roof”.

On my recent trip to Nanaimo, we stopped in to the country markets and I couldn’t believe how cool it was. Not only are the goats pretty neat, this quirky shopping and eating experience, is nothing like anything I had ever seen before. It sure made me smile. But, it is not just quirky; it is seriously good quality with very unusual merchandise, displayed with a buzzing imagination.

The Old Country Market started as a roadside fruit stand in 1973, providing fresh produce to travellers heading to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Over the years it has evolved into a landmark of Coombs, with a mixture of shops and eateries for locals and visitors alike.

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The original market was created by a family who emigrated to Vancouver Island from Norway in the 1950’s. Inspired by the many Norwegian homes and farm structures that are built directly into the hillside, they decided to design the market with a sod roof. When the grass grew too tall they put goats on the roof to “mow” the grass which then became an attraction.  And so, this market with goats on the roof is now a popular draw card for the area.

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As if having goats on the roof isn’t enough, this incredible market has lots to offer inside.  A butcher, deli, fruit and vegetables, pastries and a coffee shop;  we saw fancy chopsticks and beautiful rice bowls, masks, garden statues, a wide assortment of twinkly lights, home wares, toys, a wonderful offering of gifts, fancy condiments from almost every continent and, of course, souvenir t-shirts, magnets and mugs.  “Off the Wall” neat stuff to browse through all the way to the check out which could take hours if you have the time to spend looking at the incredible range of products available.

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The deli has a huge offering as well as the varieties in the meat and fish sections.  There are cheeses galore with a vast variety and lots of different food items from around the world.

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It has a general store feel to it that is welcoming and cozy with a very hippy vibe about the entire complex and of course….goats on the roof .

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Afterwards, we made our way over to the ice cream shop for a delicious gelato.

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This place is a must stop if you are in the area. There is something for everyone.

 

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Life on the Edge – Ucluelet

05 Saturday Oct 2019

Posted by in Ucluelet, Vancouver Island

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Just 10 minutes up the road from Tofino is the town of Ucluelet.  If you are having trouble pronouncing it, you are not alone. This may help.  Slowly say, You Clue Let, but if it is easier, just say Ukee like the locals.  Ucluelet means “people of the safe harbour”.

Ucluelet is situated on the edge of the Wild Pacific Ocean. The town  offers beaches, restaurants, unique shops and galleries, a mini aquarium and a range of accommodation choices. The motto of Ucluelet is “Living on the Edge” due in part to its location on a peninsula surrounded by water.

Our accommodation was in Ucluelet where we stayed for 4 days overlooking the marina. It was so convenient to everywhere in the area.

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Not far from our accommodation was the Lighthouse Loop, which is one of the top Ucluelet hikes. This loop is part of the nine-kilometre Wild Pacific Trail. The Lighthouse Loop (2.5km) offers dramatic views of Barkley Sound and the Amphitrite Lighthouse.

On a very foggy morning (known as marine fog) we visited the photogenic Amphitrite Point Lighthouse  which is an active lighthouse perched high on the rocks. From here we walked the Lighthouse Loop portion of the Wild Pacific Trail and were enraptured by all the many gorgeous viewpoints, most of which have sturdy benches for resting and studying the ocean, watching for birds and mammals.

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The trail is incredibly well-made, well-maintained, and well-signposted. The whole area is filled with information about the sights and sounds of this magnificent rain forest route. The ocean vistas are second-to-none, providing a perfect glimpse of the awesome power of the Pacific, while demonstrating the stoic survival of coastal tree lines

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We made a point of taking in all the viewpoints which were only a few seconds off the main trail.  These viewpoints provided a rustic theme as they used driftwood / natural materials and there were benches to sit on and reflect.  Although the loop can be completed in 45-60 minutes we allowed plenty of time, giving us the opportunity to take lots of photos and generally enjoy the entire experience.

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The combination of rain forest and rugged coastline kept it really interesting, the stunning scenery and the graveled trail to walk along and follow made it an easy walk. The trail was accessible to all ages and abilities.

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We experienced Mother Nature at her most magnificent on this Wild Pacific Trail.

 

 

 

Life on The Edge – Tofino

28 Saturday Sep 2019

Posted by in Tofino - Life on the Edge

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They call it the End of the Road, a final destination for west-bound nature lovers, ocean worshipers and adventure seekers.

The drive from Nanaimo to Tofino took us about 4 hours with multiple stops along the way to explore the rugged beauty, snap photos and simply reflect on this vast  place in this part of the world. This glorious road trip was not going to be rushed.

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Along the Way

We departed with a car packed to the gunnels with everything we could possibly need on our 4 day trip. Linda catered for every kind of weather, food for picnics, bbqs, and snacks to keep us sustained along the way.

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Our first stop on the west coast was Tofino the surf town. Tofino is one of the island’s most popular spots with its dramatic and mystical beaches.  It is a natural paradise in itself, with its ancient rainforests, rivers and a striking mountain.

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Just outside of Tofino is one of Canada’s most incredible beaches – Long Beach. It is breathtaking, unspoiled & unlike anywhere else. Few places can you go where the rain-forest meets the sea and sit on a giant log and be silent except for the sounds of the waves. I live in a country that is known for it’s beaches but Tofino beach is so very dramatic and unique and nothing like any other beach that I have experienced anywhere else in the world.

We walked forever along Long Beach and although it was summer we had plenty of beach to ourselves. This beach stretches for miles and is on the open Pacific Ocean between Tofino and Ucluelet. This very impressive beach lends itself to exotic wildlife walks and bird watching.

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We sat on the logs (driftwood washed up by the ocean)  people-watching and with the marine fog it was quite a mystical setting. There were also several very friendly dogs which were not bothering anyone and just having fun.

We took a break and we ate our picnic lunch which included Nanaimo Bars, at one of the many table and chairs that are situated close to the sand.

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This wild and remarkable beach is accessible through a number of entrances off the highway between Ucluelet and Tofino.

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 Yes it is the End of the Road, but when we arrived and stepped onto the beach, we realize it was just the beginning of a new journey into another ethereal world.

Long Beach is amazing with its beautiful clean sands and perfect surf.

 

 

 

Ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Vancouver Island

12 Thursday Sep 2019

Posted by in Horseshoe Bay to Vancouver Island

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Horseshoe Bay looks like a picture on a postcard with its park, the bay, the beautiful mountains, and the ferry boat waiting to leave. It is a small community at the western end of the North shore of Vancouver, a favourite place to spend time for both locals and visitors and is home to the BC ferries terminal.

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My friend Cristina drove me to Horseshoe Bay, in West Vancouver where we enjoyed a great lunch and a glass of the local wine at one of the restaurants overlooking this picturesque port before I left on the afternoon ferry to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island.

Cristina is a fellow blogger who lives in Vancouver. I have been following Cristina’s blog Un po’ di pepe for a few years and finally we met when she was in Brisbane a couple of years ago.

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When I told her that I would be visiting Vancouver she invited me to visit with her. After a terrific time with Cristina in her city, I was then meeting up with my 5W friend Linda on Vancouver Island.

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What a way to travel. I loved my ferry trip across to Vancouver Island. There were some truly spectacular scenes along the way.

The speed they loaded and unloaded two levels at a time made the ease of getting on and off so fast, the comforts of the ferry and amount of seating was amazing and the service was fabulous.

There is so much on offer to do on the ferry. I started off with a short explore to get my bearings and then I stopped for afternoon tea. They have great food with affordable snacks. There was a kid’s play area and there was a gift shop with pretty good value and I thought a great selection of gifts and clothing.  I purchased a really nice hand bag.

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Less than 2 hours after departing Horseshoe Bay I arrived in Nanaimo where my friend Linda was waiting at the pier for me.

The city of Nanaimo is a classic West Coast community, offering natural beauty at every turn. Nanaimo has one of the longest shorelines in Canada, and a forested mountain backdrop just outside downtown. I was soon to learn that Nanaimo is the place to find natural wonders, festivals, culinary joys, and so much more.