Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lowed to). This is the only botanical garden I've visited where a colorfully painted camper
vanfromthe1970sisincorporated intoadisplay.Anotherbotanical pointofinterest isthe
massive cedar tree on the right-hand side of the road as you enter town. Estimated to be
more than 800 years old, the tree is kept from toppling over by wire stays.
Eagle Aerie Gallery
Eagle Aerie Gallery
(350 Campbell St., 250/725-3235, 10am-5pm daily, free) features
theeye-catchingpaintings,prints,andsculpturesofRoyHenryVickers,awell-knownand
highly respected Tsimshian artist. You can watch a video about the artist and then browse
among the artworks, primarily native Canadian designs and outdoor scenes with clean
lines and brilliant colors. If you fall for one of the most popular paintings but can't afford
it, you can buy it in card or poster form. The gallery is built on the theme of a west coast
native longhouse, with a carved and painted exterior as well as interior totem poles.
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Suring
If you fancy a long walk along a fabulous shell-strewn stretch of white sand, like to sit on
craggy rocks watching the waves disintegrate into white spray, or just want a piece of sun
all your own to lie in and work on your tan, head for
Chesterman Beach,
just south of
Tofino.Fromthatbeach,atlowtideyoucanwalkallthewayoutto
Frank Island
towatch
the surf pound the exposed side while the tide creeps in and cuts you off from civilization
for a few hours. The turnoff (not marked) to Chesterman Beach is Lynn Road, on the right
just past the Dolphin Motel as you leave Tofino. Follow the road and park at one of three
small parking lots; the parking lot at the corner of Lynn and Chesterman Beach Roads is
closest to Frank Island.
Surferswantingtohitthewatershouldheadsouthoftownto
Live to Surf
(1180Pacif-
ic Rim Hwy., 250/725-4464,
www.livetosurf.com
)
. The shop rents surfboards for $35 per
day and wetsuits for $30, and offers lessons for $75 per person (inclusive of rentals). The
staff will also tell you where the best surf can be found, and if there's no surf, they'll tell
you how good it was last week. Check the website for west coast surf reports.
Surf Sister
(625 Campbell St., 250/725-4456 or 877/724-7873,
www.surfsister.com
)
is Canada's only
all-women surf school.
