VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 246

$100-150
Of Tofino's regular motels, least expensive is the Dolphin Motel (1190 Pacific Rim Hwy.,
250/725-3377, www.dolphinmotel.ca , $115-159 s or d), on the road into town. The 14
rooms each have a fridge and wireless Internet, while out front is a barbeque area.
As you continue into town beyond the Dolphin Motel, the seven-room Tofino Swell
Lodge (341 Olsen Rd., 250/725-3274, www.tofinoswell.com , $150 s or d; no credit cards)
is above a busy marina, but guests have use of a communal kitchen, living room, and pleas-
ant gardens with incredible views of Tofino Inlet.
$150-200
Out of town to the south are several oceanfront resorts. Of these, M Middle Beach Lodge
(on Mackenzie Beach Road, 250/725-2900 or 866/725-2900, www.middlebeach.com ,
$150-410 s or d) does the best job of combining a unique West Coast experience with reas-
onable prices. It comprises two distinct complexes: At the Beach, which is more intimate,
with its own private beach; and the other, At the Headlands, with luxurious self-contained
chalets built along the top of a rugged headland. A short trail links the two, and guests are
welcome to wander between them.
Overlooking the water right downtown is the Inn at Tough City (350 Main St., 250/
725-2021 or 877/250-2021, www.toughcity.com , $169-229 s or d), a newer lodging con-
structed with materials sourced from throughout the region. The bricks, all 30,000 of
them, were salvaged from a 100-year-old building in Vancouver's historical Gastown, while
stained-glass windows, hardwood used in the flooring, and many of the furnishings are of
historical value. The rooms are decorated in a stylish heritage color scheme, and beds are
covered in plush down duvets.
Over $200
Cable Cove Inn (201 Main St., 250/725-4236 or 800/663-6449, www.cablecoveinn.com ,
$235-340 s or d) has a Main Street address, but you'd never know it sitting on the private
deck of your ocean-facing room. It's tucked away in a quiet location overlooking a small
cove, yet it's only a two-minute walk from the center of town. Well-furnished in a casual
yet elegant style, each of the seven rooms features a private deck and fireplace. A contin-
ental breakfast is included in the rates; spa services are extra.
You'll find cheaper places to stay in Tofino, but you won't find a lodge like M Pacific
Sands Beach Resort (Cox Bay, 250/725-3322 or 800/565-2322, www.pacificsands.com ,
from $285-610 s or d), which is perfect for families and outdoorsy types who want to kick
back for a few days. Set right on a popular surfing beach eight kilometers (five miles)