Fun, Outdoors and In, on Vancouver Island

Tofino sits on the tip of the splendidly overgrown Esowista Peninsula on the western edge of Vancouver Island. A longtime haven for surfers and hippies, this seaside village of about 1,850 people is surrounded by water; its quaint streets offer mesmerizing glimpses of Clayoqout Sound, a serene watery wonderland bursting with marine life and dotted with conifer-carpeted islands. The 2011 Hollywood movie “The Big Year” (starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson) about three competing bird watchers took advantage of the area’s photogenic setting. Recent years have seen an upswell in land-based fun, so after several hours of kayaking, surfing or whale watching, a stroll (or bike ride) along the enclave’s half-dozen or so streets offers many more hours of good times. If you go, download the town’s Tofino travel app for a complete list of galleries, bars, cafes, restaurants and shops.