Kicking Off Cozy Season in Tofino
Jordyn Giesbrecht - Hideaway Creative
Fall and winter on the West Coast tend to blend seamlessly, one into the other:
From golden glowing days to sleet grey rainy ones - the kind that draw you to the warmth of a woodstove - both seasons can deliver storms and glorious bluebird days. Here are some favourite fall and winter things to do here:
Get Outside for Shops, Galleries & Coffee Stops
Step into the charm and the cool of small storefronts.
Open the door to surf shops started decades ago by young surfers, beachy lifestyle boutiques with goods to suit West Coast weather or handmade keepsakes, and specialty food makers that elevate the culinary experience in Tofino. Stop in for a warm latte or mocha along the way at classic Tofino spots like Common Loaf Bake Shop, Rhino Coffee House, Savary Island Pie Company on the harbourfront or Tofino Coffee Roasting Co.
Get On the Water
Fulfill that wish list with a day trip to Hot Springs Cove in Ahousaht territory, 27 miles northwest of Tofino. Spot wildlife on the 1.5-hour boat ride – or the 25-minute seaplane flight to this remote, memory-making place.
After walking 30 minutes on a scenic forest boardwalk, soak in the natural rock pools and get the most out of a beautiful fall day.
Bear watching and whale watching tours run through October, and some specialty tours, like Tofino Otters and Inlets, can be enjoyed all winter. Remember to bundle up when getting on the water – a good fleece, toque and windbreaker can be your best friends in Tofino.
Credit: Kyler Vos
Credit: Kyler Vos
Credit: Kyler Vos
Get Into Spa Experiences
Spa and wellness experiences are nestled indoors – or right outside in Tofino! Book your time in a cedar barrel sauna on the beach for some hot-cold therapy, or reserve a massage in the comfort of a beachside spa, or right in Tofino’s town core.
Get out there, into Clayoquot Sound, for the magic of boat-access-only floating experiences. Choose from a remote sauna surrounded by ocean and forest, or take in the therapeutic effects of saltwater and seaweed hot tubs as you spend the day with friends, away from everything.
Get Cozy
Warm up by a fireplace at the Great Room at Long Beach Lodge, harbourfront Shelter Restaurant, or in the sunken living room at Hotel Zed, among other comfy spots.
Then again, retreat to your accommodation and curl up with a blanket as you sit outside and feel the crisp air, or feel the embrace of a fireplace in your room, cabin, or vacation home.
