Tofino, Vancouver Island
Road Trip! Time to get off the boat for several days. Bus trip from Mill Bay to Tofino on Vancouver Island. We caught the bus close to Mill Bay, BC. 5 hours and 180 miles later we de-boarded for a short walk to our hotel. Despite two stretch/potty breaks while underway, we were delighted to stretch our legs. We deposited luggage in our room and commenced a walking reconnaissance of Tofino.
- Bakeries - Check
- Restaurants - Check
- Pubs- Check
- Stunning Scenery - Check
- Coffee Shops - Check
- Music - Check
- Boats - Check
- Float Planes - Check
- Hiking Trails - Check
- Lodging - Check
- Hot showers - Check
- Pie Shop/Bakery - Check
On the bus to Tofino
Tofino reminds us of Norway, the land of Beth's ancestors
Tofino is located on the rugged remote west coast of Vancouver Island. We considered taking Amy Marie there, but she is on the small size for venturing out into the cold, treacherous and forbidding water of the Pacific Ocean. Storms blow in quickly from the Gulf of Alaska. The bus was a safer travel option.
Watch out for Grandma!
Our walking reconnaissance produced some interesting discoveries. For instance, the above sign was an indication of a good sense of humor pervading the town. I like a light hearted tone. We always assign important work to our "noses" while assessing a new town. We got as far as the Wolf in the Fog restaurant and our noses recommended an immediate stop for further investigation.
Driftwood Sculpture at Wolf in the Fog Restaurant
Halibut for dinner
Reservations are recommended at Wolf in the Fog. They were able to sneak us in as we arrived prior to the peak dining time. We dined on a scallop appetizer and a main course of halibut. Superb! Tofino scored high on first impression.
Tofino Harbor at sunset
Hiking to some remote beaches
The next day we hiked the Tonquin Trail Network around the point and south to Mackenzie Beach. Round trip it was a 7 mile hike with wonderful coastal views. The hike meandered through a dense green mixed forest of deciduous and fir trees. You could tell winter storms had taken a toll as downed trees were common. Ominously, the message shown below was posted at the trailhead. Fortunately there were plenty of other hikers making noise, so tangible threats were unlikely. The trail provided access to multiple remote beaches and vista points. Each was worth exploring and showcased the rugged beauty of Vancouver's west coast.
This notice was posted at the start of the trail. Yikes!
There! Can you see it! A WOLF is sneaking up behind Beth!
or
That is me sneaking up on a COUGAR!
You be the judge...
Hiking the Tonquin Trail
Many islands surround Tofino
One of the beaches accessible from the Tonquin Trail
Some of the beaches were quite large.
The sand was perfect for walking and sloped gently into the sea.
Some beaches had creeks flowing from the hills to the sea.
We came out of the woods near this Resort.
A Tofino Sunset
Breakfast at Savory Pie Bakery
Crystal Cove Resort
Chesterman Beach - Rated Sixth Best Beach in the World by Lonely Planet
Exploring Beaches around Tofino
Chesterman Beach
It's Spring in Tofino!
Resources
Track Logs
- ~180 Miles & 5 hours by bus
- Two Stretch breaks along the way.
- It is also possible to travel to Tofino by Seaplane
While the road to Tofino is curvy and must be traveled at moderate speeds, it is sure to please with it's constantly changing dramatic vistas of snow covered peaks, lakes, streams, and rivers. You will pass Sproat Lake, home to some of the largest flying boats ever built, relics of World War 2, Martin Mars 4 engine aircraft that have been converted to dropping water to fight fires. It is possible to stop and tour the aircraft. Unfortunately, we were unable to to so.
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