The Journey is Part of the Getaway
Getting to Tofino is all a part of the getaway... and if you aren't delayed, you're doing it wrong.
Life here is all about being on Island time: taking things slow, stopping to see the sights, and grabbing treats along the way.
It starts the moment that you board the ferry - you step onto the outer deck and get to breathe in that fresh ocean air, with no place to go but to start to settle into the pace of the Vancouver Island lifestyle.
Here are 5 stops to make on your drive to the West Coast:
Here are 5 stops that you can make on your drive to the West Coast:
Coombs Country Market
This famously fun market, complete with a sod roof where goats graze, is a must-see. With international wares, an Italian trattoria, a doughnut shop and an ice cream parlour, you can grab lunch, groceries for your beach picnic charcuterie, ice cream - and a photo with the goats on the roof.
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park
About a 10-minute drive West from the Coombs Junction (where Hwy 19 and Hwy 4 merge), you will see a sign for the Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park, and will turn right onto Little Qualicum Fall Rd.
This Park is a beautiful stop to stretch your legs and see cascading waterfalls and pools, with bridges that pass over the canyons. Choose between a larger and a smaller loop through the forest and over the river which is about 3.5km to 6km.
J & L Drive-In
Come for the nostalgia, stay for the milkshakes and burgers. This iconic stop-off, a local favourite since 1969, is just off the highway in Port Alberni. Place your order and roll down your window to receive your meal with the classic drive-in diner window tray. Pop by, and stay fueled for the rest of the journey.
Wally Creek Rest Stop
You are almost exactly an hour away from Tofino when you get to Wally Creek. It will come up suddenly as you weave between the mountains in the Sutton Pass and it's a beautiful spot to enjoy the afternoon sun or watch the rushing river tumble over the smoothed rock of the riverbed. Once you've pulled over safely, take a look at the Thunderbird totem, carved by Nuu-chah-nulth artist Hjalmer Wenstob. Enjoy snacks and a break before continuing en route.
Kennedy Lake Lookout
The lookout over Kennedy Lake makes for a memorable, photo-worthy stop. The lake stretches out before you and is often mistaken for the ocean by first-time visitors. It is the largest lake on Vancouver Island and part of the haʔuukmin Tribal Park (Kennedy Lake watershed, which extends up into the Kennedy River along Hwy 4), which was established in 2007.
And of course, the anticipation builds when you drive into Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Once you pass the Rainforest Loops, get your first glimpse of the sandy coastline at yaaqsis | Long Beach as you drive down the hill. Naturally, any of the beaches in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve are the scenic stop to really start your getaway on the West Coast. You can purchase a Park permit at the Pacific Rim Visitor Centre at the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction, at the parking kiosks throughout the Park Reserve, or at the Tofino Visitor Centre (across from č̓aḥayiis | Cox Bay).
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