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The Vancouver Island Destination consists of Vancouver Island and many of the small islands surrounding it. The area is covered in mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, and peaks. It is located off the shoreline of British Columbia, Canada. Some of the smaller islands, such as Galiano Island, Thetis Island, Salt Spring Island, Valdes Island, and North Pender Island, are located near the United States. Some attractions within the region include Craigdarroch Castle, the Royal BC Museum, Cathedral Grove, the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, and the Mount Washington Alpine Resort.[2] Other things to do involve the Victoria Panorama Seaplane Tour, the Butchart Gardens, the Victoria Castles and Neighborhoods Bike Tour, the Half-day Whale Watching Adventure from Victoria, and the Private Saanich Peninsula Wine Tour.[3] Notable cities in the destination include Nanaimo, Victoria, Courtenay, Port McNeill, Campbell River, and Port Hardy. The average low temperature of the region is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit while the average high tempurature is about 58 degrees. It rains consistently throughout the year. The highest chance of rain is in November and the highest chance of snow is in December, though it snows from December to March.[4]
The Vancouver Island Destination consists of the Vancouver Island, which is located off southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It has an area of 12,079 square miles, making it one of the largest islands on the Pacific Coast of North America. The island is separated from Canada by the straits of Johnstone, Georgia, and Queen Charlotte. It is separated from America by Juan de Fuca Strait. The island averages 50 miles in width. Vancouver Island extends 285 miles along a northwest-southeast axis that parallels the mainland. The island is the top of a partially submerged mountain system. Several of the peaks on the island reach more than 7,000 feet. There are multiple parks on the island, including the Strathcona Provincial Park, Pacific Rim National Park, and Cape Scott Provincial Park.[1]
Vancouver Island gets around 11 million visitors a year from around the area, along with other parts of the world. The island receives more than 280 cruise ship calls annually. Each cruise ship contributes nearly $3 million in economic activity. Tourism on the island contributes around $14 billion in total revenues. The money supports 104,000 full-time jobs. Municipal taxes contributions add up to around $308 million. On Vancouver Island, 161,500 people are employed in jobs that help with tourism. The total number of tourism businesses is about 19,329 in operation.[7]
On Vancouver Island, there is an assortment of things to do. Activities on the island include the Royal BC Museum, the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Cathedral Grove, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, Cowichan Valley, Craigdarroch Castle, and Mount Washington Alpine Resort. The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is known for its rugged coast and rainforests. Visitors can go on the 75km West Coast Trail and see the temperate rainforests and rugged coasts. The Broken Group Islands that are in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve consist of over 100 small islands. The Long Beach section is the most visited part of the reserve, and includes the coast between Tofino and Ucluelet, along with Long Beach itself. Cathedral Grove can be wandered and toured, consisting of multiple walking and biking trails. The trees in the grove are over 800 years old, 75m in height, and 9m in circumference. Many people visit Cathedral Grove every year.[2]
The Craigdarroch Castle, which is located in the Vancouver Island Destination, was built between 1887 and 1890 on a hill that overlooks the City of Victorica. The man who built the house, Robert Dunsmuir, died in 1889, leaving the entire estate to his wife, who was named Joan. Joan lived in the castle until she died in 1908. After Joan passed in 1908, the house was renovated by the federal Department of Soldiers Civil Re-establishment. The castle was later opened as a military hospital in September of 1919.
For a few years, the Craigdarroch Castle also served as a music conservatory and college. The castle is decorated with artifacts from when the castle was initially built, along with stained-glass windows. The Craigdarroch Castle is decorated to look as if it were still the 1880s when the house was originally built. All the furniture and other features are meant to be from the late 1880s when the house was originally built. The stained-glass windows, along with the structure of the building, have been preserved over the years.[8] The Craigdarroch Castle is one of the most popular places to visit in the Vancouver Island Destination.
In Victoria, a city in Vancouver Island Destination, there are multiple experiences for guests to participate in. Some of these features include the Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure from Victoria, the Victoria Panorama Seaplane Tour, Cowichan Valley, the Butchart Gardens, the Victoria Castles, and Neighborhoods Bike Tour, and the Private Saanich Peninsula Wine Tour. Cowichan Valley has multiple experiences that people can choose from, including wine tasting, food discoveries, and private tours. The activities take up to 6 hours and include things like eating, wine tasting, and walking.
The Butchart Gardens take around five and a half hours to fully tour, depending on which tour is taken. There are multiple options for tours that go over different areas of the gardens. There are various flowers, grasses, trees, and other plants within the Butchart Gardens, along with a building that can be toured. The building is also lit up with lights during December, along with a few bushes and other plants. The Victoria Castles and Neighborhoods Bike Tour takes around two hours. During the tour, guests go through historical districts in Victoria and learn about the history of the area. There are also multiple parks during the tour, along with the Craigdarroch Castle.[3]
The Vancouver Island Destination is made up of Vancouver Island, which is located just off of British Columbia, Canada. The destination has an oval shape around the island and includes a small part of multiple other islands, including West Cracroft Island and Harbledown Island. Also located within the area is a series of islands near the United States border. Some of these islands involve Galiano Island, Valdes Island, Thetis Island, Salt Spring Island, and North Pender Island. The landscape of the region consists of mountains, peaks, lakes, rivers, and forests. Cities within the zone count Victoria, Nanaimo, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Campbell River, and Courtenay.
The weather in the destination fluctuates throughout the year, with the coldest month being in January and the warmest month in August. The average high temperature of the region is around 58 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low temperature is about 40 degrees. It rains throughout the year on Vancouver Island, with the highest chance of rain in November. The rainy season can last from October through January. It snows in the area from December to March. The most snow falls in December, getting up to approximately half an inch of snow. The sector is very humid, with humidity up in the 90% range. The most humid time of the year is during the month of January. The most popular time to visit Vancouver Island is from the middle of June to the middle of September.[4]
Animals on Vancouver Island consist of black bears, black-tailed deer, California sea lions, cougars, pacific gray whales, grizzly bears, humpback whales, orca whales, pacific white-sided dolphins, river otters, sea otters, steller sea lions, and grey wolves. The animals live throughout the island and in the water surrounding the island.[5] Plants on the island like bedstraws, camas, cattails, common chickweed, chocolate lilies, clasping twisted stalk, fiddlehead ferns, pacific water parsleys, pink fawn lilies, skunk cabbages, spiny wood ferns, stinging nettles, and wild ginger grow in the forests of the island.[6]
The Vancouver Island Destination consists of Vancouver Island, an island that was first discovered by Captain James Cook in 1778. The island was later surveyed by George Vancouver In 1792. The island was held by Hudson's Bay Company until 1849, when it was made a British Crown Colony. Vancouver Island was united with British Columbia, a mainland colony, in 1866. The island's main industries consist of lumbering, fishing, mining, agriculture, and tourism. The island mines coal, iron ore, and copper.
The agriculture industry includes dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. A significant portion of the population is located along the east coast. Cities that were built on the east coast include Victoria, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Courtenay, Campbell River, North Cowichan, Port Hardy, and Duncan. The island is served by airplane and ferry services to the mainland of Canada and the United States.[1]
Sir James Douglas, who moved the Hudson's Bay Company headquarters to Vancouver Island, was born in 1803 and died in August of 1877. Sir James Douglas, also known as "The father of British Columbia," became the first governor when British Columbia was newly formed. He joined the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821 and later became a senior member of the board. He was in charge of operations west of the Rocky Mountains.
After a border was established between the island and the United States, Douglas moved the headquarters from Oregon to Vancouver Island. The movement of the headquarters happened in 1849. Douglas became the governor of Vancouver Island from 1851-1864. He was the governor when gold was discovered on the Fraser River in 1858. As a result, he extended his authority to the mainland. His actions were approved by the British government, which created the colony of British Columbia. Douglas became governor of British Columbia in 1858 after ceasing to work for Hudson's Bay Company. He was knighted in 1863 and retired one year later in 1864.[1] Sir James Douglas helped Vancouver Island by developing and leading it, thus helping the Vancouver Island Destination to become what it is today.
The cities in the Vancouver Island Destination are highly populated. In Victoria, there is a population of 367,770 people. In Nanaimo, there are 104,936 people. Courtenay has 54,157 people, while Duncan has 44,451 residents. Other towns and cities include Campbell River with 37,861 residents, Parksville with 28,922, and Port Alberni with 25,112 individuals.[9]
Bostrom's Bed and Breakfast is located in Ucluelet, British Columbia. The establishment has been in operation since 2004, under the management of Judy Bostrom. There are three units on-site, including the Wild Room, the Trail Suite, and the Pacific Room. Ucluelet is a district municipality that means "people of the safe harbor" in the Nootka language. It sits at around 1,700 residents as of 2016.
...Read MoreThe bed and breakfast, known as 4 Beaches Bed & Breakfast, is located outside of the town of Sooke, British Columbia, which is found on the southern end of Vancouver Island in Canada. The two guestrooms, Sandcut Beach Suite and China Beach Suite, are available for reservation from March to December. An informational sheet and a list of restaurants can be found in the rooms when occupants arrive. Breakfast is provided to patrons every morning. The business is located near several beaches, and there are various companies that offer tours of the area and can rent out equipment to visitors, such as kayaks, paddle boards, and bicycles. Walking trails, including Whiffin Spit, can also be found in the vicinity. One of the suites at the bed and breakfast is pet-friendly, though there is an extra fee for patrons that bring their dogs. The owners, Alison and Pat, have been running the bed and breakfast since 2014.
...Read MoreNosy Point
Nosy Point is located on Pender Island in British Columbia, Canada. Three rooms can be used by those who would like to stay at the property, all of which are on the home's second floor and accessible by a separate guest entrance. The bed and breakfast encompasses three acres in total, and the grounds are characteristic of gardens, a small pond, and an abundance of trees that surround the building. A lawn is available for guests to utilize, and one of the owners, Stephen, says that the trees open up there, which provide a view of the bay for those lounging on the grass. The owners hope their patrons feel relaxed and valued while staying with them, and they strive to help them by providing recommendations for things to do in the area. The owners also hope to anticipate the needs of their guests and they strive to keep the property up-to-date and accommodating for visitors.
...Read MoreMoney Pennies Bed and Breakfast
Money Pennies Bed and Breakfast, located in Campbell River, British Columbia, has two guestrooms available throughout the year. Each of the rooms has an en-suite bathroom, one with a walk-in shower and the other with a bathtub and shower. The owner, Lorrie, describes the interior of the home as "modern," with each of the rooms having a different theme. The exterior of the bed and breakfast features a covered patio area where guests can watch the sunset over the mountains. Breakfast is occasionally served on the patio, but more often in the dining room inside the home. Breakfast varies each day and includes fresh fruit, yogurt, juice, and guests' choice of coffee or tea. According to Lorrie, her blueberry pancakes have proven to be quite popular among visitors.
...Read MoreCobble Wood & Bird Sanctuary Guesthouses & Suites
Cobble Wood & Bird Sanctuary Guesthouses & Suites, located in Tofino, British Columbia, offers accommodations across multiple buildings. Each unit has a different layout, some with kitchenettes and others with full kitchens. The owner of the property reports that the most popular unit is a two-bedroom suite, providing around 1,200 square feet of living space. Communal amenities include barbecues, garden areas, and a fire pit. The property's gardens attract a variety of birds. Ken, the owner, says they try to prioritize a "home away from home" experience. Positioned away from the highway, the property is generally close to local attractions. Its history dates back to a community-driven effort in the late 1990s and early 2000s to transform an old sawmill site into a residential community. Ken has played a role in the guesthouse's development since 2000, as he was previously a contractor. Future plans focus on maintaining the property's integrity and preserving its peaceful ambiance.
...Read MoreMisty Meadows Bed and Breakfast is a rural property located about a 20-minute drive from Victoria, British Columbia. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, namely kayaking, hiking, and whale watching. According to Cathy, one of the owners, the bed and breakfast is "family-friendly," with policies in place that intend to "ensure a quiet and respectful atmosphere." Guests have mentioned that breakfast is a highlight of the stay, with a menu of organic produce and a variety of dishes that cater to different dietary restrictions. The property is relatively close to attractions such as Butchart Gardens and the West Coast Trail.
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