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Victoria Island Trip



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 5th, 2004, 01:31 AM
Jeepers
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Default Victoria Island Trip

We are looking at visiting Victoria Island BC Canada in July. We'll have
five days. Flying in and out of Seattle.We'll be renting a Jeep Liberty.
Any suggestions for a Mom, Dad and 10 year old boy? Thanks!


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  #2  
Old March 5th, 2004, 01:53 AM
Mike Romain
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Default Victoria Island Trip

It is called Vancouver Island for starters. Victoria in the main city
at the very south tip and is the capital of BC.

It is a wicked place to have a 4x4 and wheel around!

About half way up on the west coast you have Tofino and long beach.
Long beach is wicked!

Go across, best via logging roads, but you need a good map and a local
likely to get you on the trail, to Courtney and Campbell River and stay
on the beaches there, they are on the inside east coast channel and the
tides are wicked.

At the north of Campbell river head west out to Tahsis on the west
coast. Beautiful drive to a port that was discovered by Fraser way back
before roads.

Then hit the north and hit logging trails out to a park at the very far
west point of Canada west of Port Hardy.

If you just want to go and plant yourselves vs a driving vacation, long
beach is my recommendation.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Jeepers wrote:

We are looking at visiting Victoria Island BC Canada in July. We'll have
five days. Flying in and out of Seattle.We'll be renting a Jeep Liberty.
Any suggestions for a Mom, Dad and 10 year old boy? Thanks!

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  #3  
Old March 5th, 2004, 02:48 AM
Jeepers
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Default Victoria Island Trip

In article ,
Mike Romain wrote:

It is called Vancouver Island for starters. Victoria in the main city
at the very south tip and is the capital of BC.


Crap. I knew that. I got type-twisted.

THANKS!


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  #4  
Old March 5th, 2004, 03:15 AM
William Hung
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Default Victoria Island Trip

Reply
"Jeepers" ¼¶¼g©ó¶l¥ó·s»D
...
In article ,
Mike Romain wrote:

It is called Vancouver Island for starters. Victoria in the main city
at the very south tip and is the capital of BC.


Crap. I knew that. I got type-twisted.

THANKS!


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  #5  
Old March 5th, 2004, 03:32 AM
Dan Vitous
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Default Victoria Island Trip

I agree w/ what Mike said. I've been out that way 2x... once on bicycle for
3 weeks, and once in a rented Hyundai Sonata.

Nothing takes a logging road quite like a rented car!

We went out to the most NW road possible - out to the Cape Scott trailhead
and the beaches out there. That was about 30 miles off the pavement.

Took a different logging road too, but I can't recall from where to where,
but there were a few provincial parks off 'em on lakes. Very inviting.

I was DYING for either my jeep, or my motorcycle, and had neither.

Lots of side-roads off the main logging roads that looked inviting, but a
bit beyond the Hyundai's capability.

Been to Tofino on both trips. On the bicycle, it was a nut-buster getting
to Port Alberni, then we took a boat down the channel and biked to Tofino
from Uclulet.
Much nicer in a car. The road to Tofino is awesome. Beaches as far as the
eye can see. Camping can get tight out there in the summer though.

Good luck and have a great trip!


"Mike Romain" wrote in message
...
It is called Vancouver Island for starters. Victoria in the main city
at the very south tip and is the capital of BC.

It is a wicked place to have a 4x4 and wheel around!

About half way up on the west coast you have Tofino and long beach.
Long beach is wicked!

Go across, best via logging roads, but you need a good map and a local
likely to get you on the trail, to Courtney and Campbell River and stay
on the beaches there, they are on the inside east coast channel and the
tides are wicked.

At the north of Campbell river head west out to Tahsis on the west
coast. Beautiful drive to a port that was discovered by Fraser way back
before roads.

Then hit the north and hit logging trails out to a park at the very far
west point of Canada west of Port Hardy.

If you just want to go and plant yourselves vs a driving vacation, long
beach is my recommendation.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Jeepers wrote:

We are looking at visiting Victoria Island BC Canada in July. We'll have
five days. Flying in and out of Seattle.We'll be renting a Jeep Liberty.
Any suggestions for a Mom, Dad and 10 year old boy? Thanks!

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-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----



  #6  
Old March 5th, 2004, 12:46 PM
Jeepers
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Default Victoria Island Trip

In article ,
"Dan Vitous" wrote:

I agree w/ what Mike said.


Thanks! Uclulet is our destination. Family there. I saved your post!


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  #7  
Old March 6th, 2004, 02:02 AM
David Gee
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Default Victoria Island Trip

"Jeepers" wrote in message
...
We are looking at visiting Victoria Island BC Canada in July. We'll

have
five days. Flying in and out of Seattle.We'll be renting a Jeep

Liberty.
Any suggestions for a Mom, Dad and 10 year old boy? Thanks!


Note that a Jeep may cost more per day than a sedan.

Also note that driving on beaches in probably illegal anywhere on
Vancouver Island -- it certainly is at Pacific Rim National Park, which
encompasses most -- or all -- of Long Beach (near Tofino).

You can take a logging road from the head of the Cowichan Valley out to
Bamfield, a very interesting village that was once the North American
terminus for the Trans-Pacific undersea cable. You can visit the Marine
Research Station there (better make an appointment), and the history is
interesting.

WARNING: accommodation is VERY limited there, so reserve ahead.

Also interesting is Botannical Beach, with 2 cautions:
a) watch out for rogue waves
b) do not remove ANYTHING from the beach or lagoon -- heavy fines
result

The Telegraph Cove - Port Hardy area is good for whale-watching and
other nature tours.


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  #8  
Old March 6th, 2004, 02:13 AM
Jeepers
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Posts: n/a
Default Victoria Island Trip

In article kja2c.74961$A12.46986@edtnps84,
"David Gee" wrote:

Note that a Jeep may cost more per day than a sedan.


Yup.

Also note that driving on beaches in probably illegal anywhere on
Vancouver Island -- it certainly is at Pacific Rim National Park, which
encompasses most -- or all -- of Long Beach (near Tofino).


I get all the driving on the beaches I can stand here, near South Padre
Island National Seashore. I just like the idea of having four driving
wheels and the ability to drive over curbs. :^)

You can take a logging road from the head of the Cowichan Valley out to
Bamfield, a very interesting village that was once the North American
terminus for the Trans-Pacific undersea cable. You can visit the Marine
Research Station there (better make an appointment), and the history is
interesting.

WARNING: accommodation is VERY limited there, so reserve ahead.


Not an issue. Family in Ucluelet.

Also interesting is Botannical Beach,


Cool! Thanks

with 2 cautions:
a) watch out for rogue waves
b) do not remove ANYTHING from the beach or lagoon -- heavy fines
result

The Telegraph Cove - Port Hardy area is good for whale-watching and
other nature tours.


Excellent! Thank you.


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  #9  
Old March 6th, 2004, 02:49 AM
David Gee
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Posts: n/a
Default Victoria Island Trip


"Jeepers" wrote in message
...
In article kja2c.74961$A12.46986@edtnps84,
"David Gee" wrote:

Note that a Jeep may cost more per day than a sedan.


Yup.

Also note that driving on beaches in probably illegal anywhere on
Vancouver Island -- it certainly is at Pacific Rim National Park,

which
encompasses most -- or all -- of Long Beach (near Tofino).


I get all the driving on the beaches I can stand here, near South

Padre
Island National Seashore. I just like the idea of having four driving
wheels and the ability to drive over curbs. :^)

You can take a logging road from the head of the Cowichan Valley out

to
Bamfield, a very interesting village that was once the North

American
terminus for the Trans-Pacific undersea cable. You can visit the

Marine
Research Station there (better make an appointment), and the history

is
interesting.

WARNING: accommodation is VERY limited there, so reserve ahead.


Not an issue. Family in Ucluelet.


Don't try walking -- or driving -- from Bamfield to Ucluelet. You'll
get your feet more than wet!

Also interesting is Botannical Beach,


Cool! Thanks

with 2 cautions:
a) watch out for rogue waves
b) do not remove ANYTHING from the beach or lagoon -- heavy fines
result

The Telegraph Cove - Port Hardy area is good for whale-watching and
other nature tours.


Excellent! Thank you.


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  #10  
Old March 8th, 2004, 03:53 PM
Bob Macdonald
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Default Victoria Island Trip


"Jeepers" wrote in message
...
We are looking at visiting Victoria Island BC Canada in July. We'll have
five days. Flying in and out of Seattle.We'll be renting a Jeep Liberty.
Any suggestions for a Mom, Dad and 10 year old boy? Thanks!


Saw from your replies to other posts that you have family in Ucluelet so
accommodation is not a big issue. Just as well as you will be out in peak
tourist season. Although the parking lots may be full there will be lots of
room on either Long Beach itself or Wickaninnish Beach.

The latter has a nice interpretative centre run by Parks Canada. It also
has a restaurant run by [at least it used to be, we usually go out in the
fall and the restaurant and centre are closed by then] the same folks who
operate the Canadian Princess, the permanently moored ship in Ucluelet
Harbour. Great views of the ocean. One year we watched an eagle dive into
the ocean and then literally swimming using its broad wings to pull its
catch up onto some rocks to eat. I am surprised the restaurant did not tilt
there were so many people at the windows.

Just outside of Ucluelet there is Amphricite Point. The coast guard station
there affords great views especially on a stormy day.

In the past few years a trail has been created from outside the point. I
think it is called the Wild Coast Trail, not to be confused with the famous
and significantly more arduous West Coast Trail that runs between Bamfield
and Port Renfrew. The former is a nicely cut gravel and boardwalk with some
stairs trail. Lots of benches. Nice places to see the ocean crash into the
beaches.

If you are into nature watches your family should know the names of the
people who can take you onto the beaches and explain the flora and fauna or
into their zodiac to get you close to the bears feeding in the morning.

Lots of whale watching operators in both Ucluelet and Tofino. Although the
grey whales will have finished their migration there are usually some
residents who are around almost all year. You might get lucky and see a pod
of transient orcas. Sea lions and seals abound as do seabirds.

If you wander down to the beach at the Greenpoint Campground you can get a
closer view with binoculars of the sea lions on the rocks offshore. The
past couple of years we have been woken up to the "yips and barks" of
"rafts" of cavorting sea lions floating with the tides. As someone else has
already said, enjoy yourself but be careful as rogue waves have taken the
lives of some unfortunates who ventured too close to surge channels.

The Tea-Lauca resort [sp?] that you access via Seaplane Depot Road looks
interesting if you are looking for something good to eat in Ucluelet. Your
family of course will know the lay of the land better than I.

Tofino has more touristy things for you to do or enjoy. If you want fine
dining I can recommend Shelter, Cafe Pamplona and I think its name is the
Rainforest Cafe...I always get the latter's name mixed up...it is "rain
something". If you want a view while you dine, the aforementioned
restaurant at the Wickininnish Beach Interpretative Centre, the Long Beach
Lodge Resort on Cox Bay and the Wickanninish Inn on Chesterman Beach would
fit the bill. The latter is worth it just for the view. It is expensive.
I would not recommend dinner myself but lunch would be nice especially if
you get a rough day.

In Ucluelet you have Oyster Jim's store where he sells those "honking great
big" roasting oysters. An acquired taste I think.

There are a number of shops in both Ucluelet and Tofino. Roy Vickers is a
famous west coast artist and his studio is well worth a look even if you
cannot afford his prices. It is a nice cool sanctuary from the heat and
people who might be crowding the small Tofino townsite. We get a kick out
of the little store in Ucluelet which is right beside the Post Office. Has
all sorts of gift ideas and novelties.

Take your time driving out. Stop at Cathedral Grove en route to Port
Alberni and walk amongst the towering Douglas Firs. On Sproat Lake you can
see some of those monstrous water bombers that are usually kept there.
Hopefully the forest fires will not be as bad as they were last year.

Enjoy your visit. We have been going out to Pacific Rim National Park and
its surrounding area for almost twenty years now and really love it. It is
a special place.

Bob Macdonald
Edmonton, AB


 




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