VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 241

SIGHTS
Tofino is best known for whale watching, kayaking, and the long sandy beaches south of
town, but a couple of interesting diversions are well worth a stop.
Tofino Botanical Gardens
Tofino Botanical Gardens (1084 Pacific Rim Hwy., 250/725-1220, 9am-dusk daily, adult
$10, child under 13 free) showcases local flora with the emphasis on a fun, educational ex-
perience. One garden is devoted to native species you would find in the adjacent national
park and another to plants you can eat (but aren't actually allowed to). This is the only
botanical garden I've visited where a colorfully painted camper van from the 1970s is in-
corporated into a display. Another botanical point of interest is the 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
The Eagle Aerie Gallery (350 Campbell St., 250/725-3235, 10am-5pm daily, free) features
the eye-catching paintings, prints, and sculptures of Roy Henry Vickers, a well-known and
highly respected Tsimshian artist. You can watch a video about the artist and then browse
among the artworks, primarily First Nations 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 First
Nations longhouse, with a carved and painted exterior and interior totem poles.