Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around Long Beach
Wickaninnish
Interpretive Centre
The cedar-built center makes
a great first stop for Long
Beach visitors. Indoor dis-
plays introduce natural history
as well as historic cultural
objects of the local Nuu-
Chah-Nulth people. Step out
on the viewing platform to
spot whales passing along
the coast. Not to be missed
are the center's beach tours.
The wild west coast of Vancouver Island's
Long Beach area offers pristine wilderness,
old-growth rainforest, endless beaches, and
mystical vistas. Bald eagles appear in large
numbers in Clayoquot Sound, a UNESCO
Biosphere reserve, while the Pacific Ocean
teems with Dall's porpoises, sea lions, and
seals. Surfing, fishing, kayaking, and storm
watching are superb.
Top 10 Sights
1 Wickaninnish Interpretive
Centre
2 Tofino
3 Long Beach
4 Clayoquot Sound
5 Vargas Island
6 Eagle Aerie Gallery
7 Pacific Rim National Park
Reserve of Canada
8 Ucluelet
9 Wild Pacific Trail
0 West Coast Trail
Boogie boarders, Long Beach
Try local oysters, Dun-
geness crab, halibut,
and wild salmon when
in the Long Beach
area. Cozy Schooner
Restaurant in Tofino
(331 Campbell St, 250
725 4644) is decorat-
ed with photos of
schooners in their
glory. In Ucluelet, the
Boat Basin Restau-
rant (1971 Harbour Dr,
250 726 4644), over-
looks a scenic marina.
Tofino
Tofino was named by
Spanish explorer Juan
Francisco de la Bodega y
Quadra after one of his
teachers, a hydrographer.
Located at the entrance to
Clayoquot Sound, this
pretty coastal town, with
1,600 residents, provides
easy access to white-sand
beaches and is a magnet
for outdoor adventurers
and winter storm watch-
ers. At the government
docks
(center)
, seafood is
sold right off the boats.
Long Beach
Rolling waves wash the
white sand shores of this
seemingly endless wind-swept
beach, 15.5 mi (25 km) in length
(below)
. The crashing Pacific
Ocean rollers offer unbeat-
able year-round surfing. Giant
Sitka spruce and cedars grow-
ing in moss-draped temperate
rainforests border the beach.
Book early for the
weeklong Pacific Rim
Whale Festival (250
726 7798) in late
March.
• Map A4
• Tourist information:
www.my-tofino.com and
www.uclueletbc.com
26
Allow about six hours for the slow but scenic 200-mile (320-km)
drive from Victoria to Tofino along Highways 1 and 4
