Victoria 
The most magical part of any town or city on Vancouver Island is usually the surrounding scenery. The Island’s communities are spread out from north to south and east to west to cover coastal regions, the northern inlet shores, or the mountainous inland areas.
Credit: Indigenous Tourism BC/Kimberley Kufaas
While almost anywhere on Vancouver Island will guarantee gorgeous backdrops for a vacation, each town or city has something different to offer. There is no doubt that most locations below are a good basecamp or gateway to outdoor and wilderness adventures. But these locations all have different attractions, tours, arts and cultural scenes, or events and festivals that help set each apart from the next.
Among the top places to see on Vancouver Island (Victoria and Nanaimo are excluded from the following list) are large municipalities, small villages, cities, and towns, offering a different vibe for all sorts of vacations.
Gabriola Island
While a Strait of Georgia Island, Gabriola is relatively convenient to access with daily and year-round ferry service from Nanaimo. This larger of the area’s islands has many different types of reasons to make a visit, too! Whether your interests are more about nature, the outdoors, and recreation, or art, history, or the local food, there is much to discover on Gabriola this summer and fall.
- There is an especially large number of things to do here if you like being outside, as Gabriola Island is home to three Provincial Parks and two Regional Parks, with each offering differing activities. The three provincial parks, Drumbeg Provincial Park, Gabriola Sands Provincial Park, and Sandwell Provincial Park, are all seaside or coastal day-use parks that offer incredible scenery for a picnic or nature walk.
- Gabriola Island’s two regional parks, Descanso Bay Regional Park and Coats Marsh Regional Park, offer one place to camp and one place to hike. Descanso is the larger of the two with a campground, beach, boat launch, and trails, while Coats Marsh is day use only and open for hiking.
- Explore the local arts and cultures of Gabriola Island a couple of different ways: tour The Island’s Yellow Flag artists and studios, visit with the Gabriola Arts Council at the Arts & Heritage Centre, or attend a summer festival put on by the Arts Council!
- Take in art, culture, history, and more with a visit to the Gabriola Museum, open year-round. The museum has outdoor and indoor spaces to explore.
- There are many public farm stores around the Island where you can get a ton of different snacks and goods to take home or on a picnic; similar to the art galleries, the farm stores fly a green flag during open hours. Gabriola Island is home to many other local eateries to include pubs, restaurants, cafes, and the Ravenskill Apple Orchard, open for u-pick.
Port McNeill
Port McNeill is a northern Vancouver Island town which sits on the shores of the Queen Charlotte Strait. With its coastal waterfront areas and many other beautiful natural parts, Port McNeill is a place surrounded by natural and scenic beauty. There are many different ways to spend your time around Port McNeill, from markets and live music in town to all the recreation offered inland or on the water.
- August in Port McNeill is the month of local events. First up is the annual OrcaFest with a parade, activities at the waterfront, live music and a dance party, a kids’ fishing derby, a ball tournament, and a vendor market! Also in August, the North Island Music Fest returns to Port McNeill for family fun, music and performances at the Centennial Ball Field.
- Find all the best eats in Port McNeill by the waterfront, or with the Port McNeill Farmers and Artisans Market at IGA Plaza.
- There are many tour operators who offer guided boat trips from Port McNeill. Get the best scenery and wildlife views with tours from Mackay Whale Watching or Sea Wolf Adventures, and memorable kayak trips with Telegraph Cove Sea Kayaking Company.
- In addition to exploring the Strait while right on the water, the local ferries help to make the surrounding islands more accessible. Ferries in Port McNeill travel to Cormorant Island and Malcolm Island, where there are trails, shops and galleries, or accommodations.
- Keep the adventures within Port McNeill and along the local trails! Many of these, like the Haddington Beach Trail, Cluxewe Beach Trail, or the Lady Ellen Point Trail, are all along Port McNeill’s waterfront.
- The accommodation options in town include several different locally owned inns, motels, or bed and breakfasts. And surrounding the city are a handful of options for beautiful campsites for tents, RVs, or trailers.
Port Hardy
If you’re looking for a place on Vancouver Island with some of the most incredible accommodation options, look no further than Port Hardy. As the final terminus on the Island Highway, it will seem like you really can’t go any further north than Port Hardy.
Credit: Northern Vancouver Island Tourism/Steven Fines
With three separate ferries departing from Port Hardy and heading north, Port Hardy is a great gateway to northern BC. Those ferries bring passengers to Namu on the Mainland, Bella Bella on Campbell Island, and to Prince Rupert on the far northwest coast of mainland BC. But while a gateway to northwestern BC, Port Hardy offers tons of reasons to make this town your only destination.
- As mentioned above, a big reason that makes this a wonderful vacation destination are the several places to stay, and the variety of accommodation types among them.
- Port Hardy’s Market Street is a main thoroughfare in town with the Port Hardy Museum, Visitor Information Centre, local cafes and eateries, shops, and art galleries.
- There will also be a brand-new shopping experience this summer in Port Hard with the first Evening Street Market on August 22.
- Get your taste for adventure satisfied with the local Port Hardy tour operators who offer a wide range of tour types. Book a fishing trip with Cod Father Charters, Starfish Charters, or K’awat’si Tours, a wildlife viewing boat tour with Coastal Rainforest Safaris, or scuba diving courses with UB Diving.
- Tour the Port Hardy area via the many scenic hiking trails that follow waterfront areas and areas inland. View Hardy Bay from the Estuary Trail, or the waters to the other side of the Daedalus Peninsula with the Tex Lyon Trail.
Comox & the Comox Valley
Credit: Experience Comox Valley
The town of Comox takes up a rather small area on central Vancouver Island’s east shore. But the great Comox Valley is an expansive area that covers Comox, as well as Denman and Hornby Islands, Roswell Creek to the south, Miracle Beach to the north, plus all the land around Comox Lake to the west. The Comox Valley is also home to many other towns like Courtenay, Cumberland, and Royston. The communities and towns of Comox Valley line the central Vancouver Island shores, and the more inland you travel into the valley, the more remote it becomes, making these areas awesome for summer and fall recreation.
- Those coastal communities and towns will have all the accommodations, dining, shops, and services you could need on a getaway. Comox and Courtenay both surround the Comox Harbour with a division created by the Courtenay River. For those many hotel options, head to Courtenay’s Highway 19A; and for the smaller, or locally owned accommodations, head to Comox! And for those who prefer to stay outside of the busier towns, the Comox Valley has a great deal of campground options from Miracle Beach Provincial Park
- There are several great hiking areas around the Comox Valley that offer relatively simple nature trails, while there are still more challenging trails around these mountains. For the calmer nature walks, hit the trails of Seal Bay Nature Park, MacDonald Wood Nature Park, Nymph Falls Nature Park, or the Northeast Lazo Marsh .
- As a seaside region on Vancouver Island, it is no surprise that these shores have some incredible beaches! Take a dip or plan a picnic for Miracle Beach Park, Puntledge Park (beach and park on the Courtenay River), Kye Bay, or Kin Beach Park.
- The wineries around the Comox Valley are, of course, a great source of somewhere to find local drink, but also for live music in the summer! Both the Beaufort Winery and 40 Knotts have live music scheduled this summer. Some of the bigger events to take over the Comox Valley are the Filberg Festival and the Comox Valley Exhibition.
- The Comox Valley Farmers’ Market is another great annual summer event to look forward to, with dates scheduled for every Wednesday until August end. Fill up on more local dining with several options available in the town of Comox. Most of these local eateries, pubs, or cafes are near Comox and Beaufort Avenues.
Sooke
Credit: Tourism Vancouver Island/Ben Giesbrecht
Start any visit, day or overnight, to Sooke with a trip to the Visitor Centre and Museum, a hub of local activity. Some of those local activities include the upcoming CrabFest in late September, as well as the Sooke Night Market (Thursdays). The museum offers both indoor and outdoor exhibits to explore and is right on the east side of Sooke. And once in town, there will be shopping and dining to explore, including waterfront patios, a great deal of shoreline to walk or bike, and gorgeous west-coast views.
- Some of the best views and natural areas to explore in and around Sooke include the Broom Hill trails, the Whiffin Spit and trail, Sunriver Nature Trail & Park, Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, or the shores of Ella Beach.
- Fuel up before or after the outdoor fun with the bustling local food and drink scene in Sooke. Among those restaurants and pubs are three local breweries, great options for fresh seafood, or local cafes and casual takeout spots.
- With a stay in Sooke, there will be a great deal of waterfront options, or “rooms with a view.” These include hotels, cabins, cottages, and options like Prestige Oceanfront Resort, the Sooke Harbour House, or the Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina, all right in town.
- If it feels like you’re as far west as you can be on Vancouver Island, there is still more coastal highway to explore beyond Sooke. And this highway creates a memorable drive filled with forest and ocean scenery. The stretch of road between Sooke and Port Renfrew also has many noteworthy stops along the way, like French Beach Provincial Park, Jordan River Regional Park, Sombrio Beach, and the community of Port Renfrew.
Gold River
The pristine wilderness of central Vancouver Island offers many backcountry or wilderness adventures. And at the heart of almost the entire island is the town of Gold River, which creates an excellent stopping ground for those who want to explore the natural areas around town. Gold River is also a thriving community with any service you’d need for a cozy overnight trip, from camping and lodging to cafes and eateries, to guided wilderness trips. The area also serves as a gateway to adventures on the Pacific coast, located about 100km west of Gold River by car.
- And within a short drive or distance south of Gold River is boat access to the ocean with Get West Adventure Cruises, which offer day cruises and overnight adventure cruises through Nootka Sound and to the Pacific coast.
- Upana Caves Interpretive Forest site is a km drive east of Gold River and next to Upana Lake. The short 0.6km trail follows the Upana River and its scenic cave system. These caves are part of the public trail and open to exploration! The trail will reveal five caves and views of a waterfall on the river. The Gold River area has several more scenic and simple hiking trails, like the Scout Lake or Antler Lake loops, and the Heber River trail.
- There are a handful of smaller motels and inns around Gold River, as well as two lodges which offer fishing packages with the accommodations: The Lodge at Gold River, and Critter Cove. Gold River is also home to a municipal campground set outside of the town.
- While the dining and restaurant scene in Gold River is relatively small, the local eateries offer a wide variety of cuisine options.
- The Gold River Highway between the West Coast Marine Terminal in the south and Upper Campbell Lake in the north is a beautiful drive with many scenic places to stop for a walk or picnic. From north to south, a few of these stops include the Lady Falls picnic area, the Elk River viewpoint, Kings Peak, anywhere along the Gold and Heber Rivers in town, the Big Bend day use area, Gold River Golf & Country Club, and the Tsuxwin viewpoint.
Port Alice
Credit: Vancouver Island North Tourism/ Jordan Dyck
The Village of Port Alice sits on Neroutsos Inlet as one of the smallest places on the list of towns to visit on the Island. The picturesque community is a place for a quieter escape where there is gorgeous scenery around almost every corner. Among that scenery, there may also be wildlife or marine life to watch for or photograph! Port Alice’s 3km Seawalk is one of the best places for simple nature or wildlife watching, as well as for catching sunsets in the inlet.
- A handful of Port Alice’s accommodation options are also great spots for outdoor recreation around the village. The Link River Campground offer newly upgraded group sites, and over 40 regular campsites, access to the Link River for boating, and to Alice Lake for swimming. Similarly, the Pinch Creek Recreation Site has a campground as well as places for fishing, hiking, or canoeing and kayaking. And with the Oceanfront RV Park right in Port Alice, campers choose between tent or trailer/RV sites with access to a beach and kayak rentals.
- There is more than camping in Port Alice! Consider staying at local inns, bed and breakfasts, or private rentals on Airbnb and VRBO.
- Along with the Port Alice Seawalk, there are many other places around the village which provide incredible views from scenic nature trails. Among some of the closer options are the Devil’s Bath Viewpoint and day use area, the Eternal Fountain Recreation Site, or the Marble River Recreation Site.
- When all the outdoor adventures build hunger, or the need to cater for a picnic arises, Port Alice has something for everything to offer: a pizza place, cafés, a bakery, the local supermarket, and local takeout.
- On top of those self-guided adventures around Port Alice are a handful of guided adventure opportunities. Book a fishing charter with Murrmaid Adventures, a wildlife tour with Sea Otter Eco Tours, or the option for either type of trip with Rumble Beach Charters.
Port Alberni
Credit: Tourism Vancouver -Island /Alberni Valley/Tourism Peter OHara
The Island city of Port Alberni sits closer to the east side of Vancouver Island than the west. However, with Port Alberni situated on the Alberni Inlet, the longest on the Island, this city still has Pacific Ocean access! That access and the Alberni Inlet make the entire region a popular fishing destination, especially for anyone after salmon. Port Alberni attracts all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts, but has something for all sorts of interests, including local history, arts and culture, nature, and marine life.
- Take time to explore all the natural beauty of Port Alberni with hikes around or visits to the coolest nearby sights like Hole in the Wall Falls, the Maplehurst Trails, the Roger Creek Trails, and the Victoria Quay; from the Quay, it is often possible to spot black bears across the river.
- Many of the great local eateries, patios, or cafes of Port Alberni are within a short distance from Victoria Quay. Plus, find several more options around Argyle Street. These locations include pubs, cafes, sit-down restaurants, takeout spots, brewers and distillers, bakeries, and more.
- The city of Port Alberni has several accommodations to offer for an overnight or weekend getaway with hotel chains, local inns, motels, and bed and breakfasts. But one of the best ways to stay in or near Port Alberni is to camp! There are campgrounds on the edge of town with a variety of sites and rental options, and the nearby Sproat Lake Provincial Park.
- There are many other activities to enjoy at Sproat Lake Park beyond camping, like hiking, swimming, fishing, or paddle sports. And while the nearby Taylor Arm Provincial Park offers the same activities, this park’s campground is for group camping.
- Those staying overnight or for multiple days have many ways to fill that time within the heart of Port Alberni. Explore the arts and history of the Island city through a public art and mural tour, a browse through the Alberni Valley Museum, and a stop by the Gallery of the Community Arts Council.
Tofino
Credit: Destination BC/Ben Giesbrecht
The relaxed coastal atmosphere is one reason many make a summer visit to Tofino, as the town sits on BC’s west coast and next to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Between Tofino and the National Park are many places where you can catch epic sunset views to the west, a relaxing place to sip coffee, and excellent accommodations, whether they be in town or part of the National Park Reserve.
- A stop at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve could include multi-day adventures, backcountry excursions, or paddle trips around the coast. The park is also home to front country opportunities like hiking, camping, and the Parks Canada oTENTik accommodations.
- Explore more ocean and marine life, plus other Tofino-area wildlife, on one of the tours that depart from town! These include tours from The Marine Adventure Centre, West Coast Aquatic Safaris, Ahous Adventures, or Tofino Whale Centre. The local Paddle West Kayaking offer a slightly different boat tour with guided kayak trips around the Pacific waters.
- Dive deeper into marine education with the Ucluelet Aquarium, also a great rainy-day activity.
- Summers in Tofino are a great time to immerse yourself in the local arts and culture with events like the Tofino Market (Saturdays until Thanksgiving), or activities like self-guided arts and culture tours.
- Take your pick from several different ways to stay in Tofino: the town and surrounding areas are home to resorts and lodges, waterfront cottages or cabins, marina accommodations, plus camping and glamping at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
- Between Tofino and Ucluelet are several local cafes for morning brews, patio spaces for drinks with friends, and candy, chocolate, or ice cream shops for sweet summer treats.
Salt Spring Island
Garry Oaks Vineyard & Winery, Salt Spring Island, Gulf Islands, view, valley, trees, mist, fog
There are three ways to access this gorgeous island on the Strait of Georgia. Grab a ferry to Salt Spring Island from the east in Tsawwassen (mainland), from the west in Crofton (Vancouver Island), or from the south in Sidney (Vancouver Island). The ferry you choose to take to Salt Spring Island may depend on which parts of the island you want to explore, or where you’ve booked a place to stay.
While Salt Spring appears large when compared to surrounding islands in the Strait, it only takes about an hour to drive the length of Salt Spring Island. Once here, you may not want to leave, as Salt Spring Island is filled with places to shop and dine, natural beauty to explore, small lakes and beaches, a thriving arts scene, and many adorable places to stay.
- Any one of BC’s Southern Gulf Islands, Salt Spring included, is a great hiking destination. Get outside of Ganges to uncover great trails around Ruckle Provincial Park, Mount Maxwell Provincial Park, or Bryant Hill Park.
- That bustling Salt Spring arts and culture scene is best explored with a visit to the Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, or with one of the many summer events from the Salt Spring Community Arts Council.
- Get more of the local arts, as well as food, drink, and more, with the Salt Spring Saturday Market, or the Salt Spring Tuesday Farmers’ Market. And to top off all the celebrations of local art on the Island is the Mosaic Arts & Culture Festival.
- Ganges is the largest community on the Island and is near where both the westbound and eastbound ferries arrive. Head to Ganges, no matter where you are on Salt Spring Island, to get the best of Salt Spring Island’s dining. These eateries are clustered around the Marina and Lower Ganges Road, with a few more outliers on the edges of town, like a local cider house!
- Garry Oaks Estate Winery offers stunning views of Mount Maxwell and Burgoyne Valley, with terraced vineyards and eco-friendly practices. Visitors enjoy tastings of island-grown wines like Zweigelt and Pinot Gris, making it a scenic, sustainable, and tasteful Salt Spring Island tour stop.
- Salt Spring is home to a wide array of ways to stay overnight, with campgrounds located on the small lakes, several places with cabin or cottage rentals, or cozy inns or motels.
- Finding a peaceful beach for a picnic or swim is easy on Salt Spring Island as there are dozens around these shores! The Salt Spring beaches all have different features, amenities, and scenery.
