Chesterman Beach. Photo by James Wheeler.
Vancouver Island’s 124-km Pacific Rim Highway is one of Canada’s great drives. (Get the map.) Along the way, you motor along past beautiful lakes, lush evergreen forests and rainforests, ending up in the beach capital of western Canada—Tofino. The drive can take two hours, or several days if you make leisurely stops along the way.
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- The small former mill town of Port Alberni is a base for whale-watching, fishing, and birding. It's also home to the Coulson Flying Tankers visitor centre, where you can tour a <a title="http://www.martinmars.com/index.htm" href="http://www.martinmars.com/index.htm" target="_self">Martin Mars flying boat</a>. The aircraft were developed as bombers in WWII, but are now used to fight fires.
- Martin Mars "flying boat" aircraft. Photo by Tom Magliery.
- Port Alberni
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- Martin Mars “flying boat” aircraft. Photo by Tom Magliery.
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- Some of Canada's best prehistoric petroglyphs can be found at this lakeside park 15 minutes from Port Alberni. Also keep an eye out for either of two operational 1940s-era Martin Mars aircraft on the lake.
- Sproat Lake petroglyphs. Photo by 9-lives.
- Sproat Lake
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- Sproat Lake petroglyphs. Photo by 9-lives.
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- Numerous waterfalls are hidden in the dense forests at this <a href="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/stamp_rv/" title="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/stamp_rv/">park</a>. You might encounter black bears on the many hiking trails. The annual salmon runs continue from August through December.
- Stamp River salmon. Photo by Adolfo Honorato.
- Stamp River Provincial Park
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- Stamp River salmon. Photo by Adolfo Honorato.
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- This <a title="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/kennedy_lk/" href="http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/kennedy_lk/">park</a> contains Vancouver island's largest lake. It's popular for all manner of water sports, but especially for windsurfing due to the strong winds.
- Kennedy Lake. Photo by Greg Bate.
- Kennedy Lake Provincial Park
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- Kennedy Lake. Photo by Greg Bate.
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- Kayakers frequently take to this river that wends through a rocky canyon. You can rent kayaks in <a title="http://www.albernioutpost.com/" href="http://www.albernioutpost.com/">Port Alberni</a> and <a title="http://tofinoseakayaking.com" href="http://tofinoseakayaking.com">Tofino</a>. But the river is a pretty stop with or without a paddle.
- Waterfalls on the Kennedy River. Photo by Pat Williams.
- Kennedy River
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- Waterfalls on the Kennedy River. Photo by Pat Williams.
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- Detour south off the highway just before entering Pacific Rim National Park and mosey down the peninsula to the tiny town of Ucluelet (yew-kloo-let). In "Ukee" you can fish, kayak and book a whale-watching tour, but it's also the trailhead for the coastal <a title="http://www.wildpacifictrail.com/" href="http://www.wildpacifictrail.com/">Wild Pacific hiking trail</a>. From here you can <a title=http://www.ladyrosemarine.com/" href="http://www.ladyrosemarine.com/">ferry</a> back to Port Alberni.
- Wild Pacific hike trailhead. Photo by <a href='http://www.photo-blog.ca/passing-storm-wild-pacific-trail/'>James Wheeler</a>.
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- Wild Pacific hike trailhead. Photo by James Wheeler.
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- Access to the wooden boardwalk Rainforest Trail, through portions of <a title="http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/index.aspx" href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/index.aspx">Pacific Rim National Park</a>'s cool, temperate rainforest, is just off the highway.
- Temperate rainforest in Pacific Rim National Park. Credit: Tourism BC/JF Bergeron.
- Pacific Rim National Park – Rainforest
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- Temperate rainforest in Pacific Rim National Park. Credit: Tourism BC/JF Bergeron.
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- Long Beach is one of the most accessible beaches to the highway. True to its name it's the longest of Vancouver Island's west-coast beaches. The Florencia Bay crescent is another of the park's big, <a title="http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ/activ4a.aspx" href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ/activ4a.aspx">beautiful beaches</a>.
- Long Beach. Photo by Adam Jones.
- Pacific Rim National Park – Beaches
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- Long Beach. Photo by Adam Jones.
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- On the coast, look for seals, whales, sea lions, hermit crabs and sea stars. Farther offshore you could spot killer, gray, humpback, blue and sperm whales. Inland, keep an eye out for black bears, wolves, black-tailed deer, martens and an abundance of bird life.
- Harbour seals. Photo by Bob Jenson.
- Pacific Rim National Park – Wildlife
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- Harbour seals. Photo by Bob Jenson.
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- Tofino's beaches, some of Canada's best, aren't only summer destinations: go beach combing, spot whales, do a coastal hike, drink in a seaside sunset or participate in a favourite local activity: storm watching.
- Chesterman Beach. Photo by <a href='http://www.photo-blog.ca/swirly-cloud-beach-hdr-sunset/'>James Wheeler</a>.
- Tofino – Beaches
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- Chesterman Beach. Photo by James Wheeler.
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- Surfing and sea kayaking are year-round activities in Tofino. Some of the world's best cold-water diving (and snorkeling) is here as well, as is fabulous salmon, halibut and steelhead fishing and varied hikes, from beachy strolls to rugged rainforest treks.
- Photo by Mark Ziubinski.
- Tofino – Adventure
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- Photo by Mark Ziubinski.
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- Most of Tofino restaurants are fairly casual, but the quality of the food is top-notch, with an emphasis on fresh seafood and locally sourced and organic produce.
- Burger at Wickaninnish Inn's Pointe Restaurant. Photo by HKmPUA.
- Tofino – Eating
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- Burger at Wickaninnish Inn’s Pointe Restaurant. Photo by HKmPUA.
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- From Tofino you can take a <a title="http://www.oceanoutfitters.bc.ca/meares.htm" href="http://www.oceanoutfitters.bc.ca/meares.htm">water taxi</a> over to Meares Island to hike among 800- to 1,300-year-old giant trees or visit one of a number of nearby islands with a <a title="http://www.tourismtofino.com/activities/island-excursions/" href="http://www.tourismtofino.com/activities/island-excursions/">local outfitter</a>.
- Meares Island. Credit: Tourism BC/Tom Ryan.
- Island Excursions
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- Meares Island. Credit: Tourism BC/Tom Ryan.
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