VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 198

west carving and a New Zealand Maori carving donated by Duncan's sister city in New
Zealand, Kaikohe.
Apart from the totem poles, Duncan's main attraction is the excellent Quw'utsun' Cul-
tural Centre (200 Cowichan Way, 250/746-8119, 10am-4pm Mon.-Sat. June-mid-Sept.,
adult $13, senior $10, child $6), on the south side of downtown. Representing the arts,
crafts, legends, and traditions of a 3,500-strong Quw'utsun' population spread throughout
the Cowichan Valley, this facility features a longhouse, a carving shed, dance perform-
ances, a café with First Nations cuisine (and summertime salmon barbecues), and a gift
shop selling Cowichan sweaters.
Another local attraction is the 40-hectare (98-acre) BC Forest Discovery Centre (2892
Drinkwater Rd., 1 kilometer/0.6 mile north of town, 250/715-1113, 10am-4:30pm daily
June-Aug., 10am-4pm Thurs.-Mon. Apr.-May and Sept., adult $16, senior $14, child $11).
You can catch a ride on an old steam train and puff back in time, through the forest and
past a farmstead, a logging camp, and Somenos Lake. Then check out the working sawmill,
restored planer mill, blacksmith's shop, and forestry and lumber displays.
Practicalities
Thunderbird Motor Inn (5849 York Rd., 250/748-8192, www.thunderbirdmotorinn.ca ,
$75-120 s or d) is a basic roadside motel on the north side of town. Rooms are older,
but clean, and each has a microwave, fridge, and free wireless Internet. M Sahtlam
Lodge and Cabins (5720 Riverbottom Rd. W., 250/748-7738 or 877/748-7738,
www.sahtlamlodge.com , from $180 s or d, three-night minimum stay required) is beside
the Cowichan River west of town. Three cabins are spread across the property, and each is
equipped with an old-style fireplace, woodstove, and full kitchen. A breakfast basket de-
livered daily to your cabin is included. On the south side of the river is the turnoff to Dun-
can RV Park and Campground (2950 Boys Rd., 250/748-8511, $24-29), which is one
block west of the highway, right beside the river.
Always crowded with locals, Duncan Garage Café & Bakery (330 Duncan St., 250/
748-6223, 7:30am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm Sun., lunches $6-9) is well worth searching
out across from the museum in the historic heart of downtown. Within the same complex is
a store specializing in local organic produce and a used bookstore.
Stop at Duncan Visitor Centre (381 Trans-Canada Hwy., 250/746-4636 or 888/
303-3337, www.duncancc.bc.ca , 9am-8pm daily in summer, closed Sun. and Mon. the rest
of the year), at Coronation Avenue, for the complete rundown on the area.