Vancouver Island

I'm heading there for a week in late August.  Anyone ever been? I'm psyched.

Never been to Vancouver Island , but have been to Vancouver...One of my favorite places in the world...Head over to Squamish or Whistler to ride some bikes

Saratogahalfday wrote

I'm heading there for a week in late August.  Anyone ever been? I'm psyched.

It is a very cool place, and big. My wife and I have been there a couple of times, though for relatively short visits. My sister lives on Gabriola Island, near Nanaimo, and two of her adult children live on "the mainland" in Sechelt and Powell River.

Here are a couple of quick thoughts, I'm going to assume you are renting a car:

- if you have the time, take the ferry from Vangroovy. It is a really scenic ride. Be aware of a phenomenon called "ferry stress" caused by rushing to make the sailing time.

- Victoria is a very beautiful city, and full of British charm. Plan on spending some time there.

- If you are into plants, go to the Butchart Gardens.

- go to Tofino. Very groovy, perhaps a bit touristy, but a hippie/surfer/whale-watching/beach-walking kind of place. Very scenic drive to get there, right across the hump of mountains. We stayed in nearby Uclulet, accommodation there was a bit cheaper.

- on the way to Tofino, check out the big trees in Cathedral Grove.

- if you are into mountain biking there is a very active scene on the island.

SBR, do you know anything about surfing in/around Tofino?  Like what time of year is good, does anyone rent boards?

D.B. Cooper wrote

SBR, do you know anything about surfing in/around Tofino?  Like what time of year is good, does anyone rent boards?

Well, I know that there is surfing there. Florencia Beach seems to be a hotspot, the day we were there it was packed with surfers. My sister and her daughters took a course there, so someone must rent stuff. Sorry, I can't be of more help. Just did a quick search on "tofino surboard rental" and there seem to be several shops.

JasonWx wrote

Head over to Squamish or Whistler to ride some bikes

Don't drive hours away to go mountain biking. Vancouver Island has some of the best mountain biking in the world (I have also never been there, but I have read a lot about it).