If you’ve time to venture further afield, other parts of Vancouver Island will reward you with unique adventures and cultural experiences. From the coastal towns of Tofino and Ucluelet on the Island’s rugged west coast, to year round golf resorts on the temperate east coast, or whale watching and First Nations history in the Island’s northern communities, Vancouver Island is varied and exciting.

These locations on Vancouver Island are an easy day trip from Salt Spring Island. Our staff will be happy to assist you with ferry schedules and to provide you with more detailed information and directions.

CHEMAINUS

One of the oldest European settlements on Vancouver Island, the Chemainus Valley has been home to farmers since 1850. Today, the town has 32 colorful murals depicting the early settlement and industry of the area. A different mural can be seen around every corner, vividly illustrating - in larger than life characters - those who pioneered the valley.

COWICHAN RIVER

North of Duncan along Highway 1, turn west onto Highway 18 and travel through the Cowichan Valley to Cowichan Lake. The Cowichan River is one of the most consistently producing fishing rivers on the Island. This river has been called the fly fishing capital of Canada. Experienced fishermen rise to the challenge of catching Brown Trout year round, Cutthroat in the spring and fall, Rainbow in March, April and October and Steelhead from December through April.

The Cowichan Valley is a gentle stretch of farmland and forest between Shawnigan Lake and Chemainus, with several wineries to visit, a cider maker and an exciting trip for youngsters on the Cowichan Valley Railway Steam train.

DUNCAN

When you visit Duncan, you can’t help but notice the outstanding collection of totem poles that line city streets. Begun in 1985, the Totem Pole Project features works by native carvers and celebrates this ancient art form. Follow the yellow footprints painted on the sidewalk for a complete self-guided tour of the 41 poles in this outdoor gallery.

Further Afield:

If you have time for a longer stay on Vancouver Island, here are some places of interest that you’ll want to consider.

West Coast: Take a drive across the Island to the west coast and you’ll pass through Coombs, a little village dotted with several heritage buildings and antique stores, also known for the family of goats nimbly grazing on the grass rooftop of the Coombs Old Country Market. Further on, Cathedral Grove, with its 800-year-old trees, offers drivers the chance to stretch their legs on trails winding through some of the biggest trees in Canada. The remote coastal towns of Tofino and Ucluelet, once fishing and logging communities, attract visitors to their spectacular Pacific Coast scenery and rugged beaches. Long Beach lures visitors for its wide expanse of sand speckled with driftwood sculptures and its complete isolation. The Pacific Rim National Park is famous for its old-growth forest and boardwalk trails, while the sheltered waters of Clayoquot Sound make the perfect backdrop for kayaking and whale watching.

North Coast: Heading north along the coast you’ll come across picturesque Telegraph Cove, originally a one-room station, the northern terminus of a telegraph line that began in Campbell River and stretched from tree to tree along Vancouver Island's east coast. Here Stubbs Island Whale Watching was the first whale watching company established in British Columbia, and today their boats cruise the calm protected waters of the Johnstone Strait and Blackfish Archipelago.
Further north, Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, the oldest community in British Columbia, was an important trading centre for early residents in the area and has been the traditional home of the Namgis First Nation for several thousand years. Visit the U'mista Cultural Centre to view elaborately carved cedar masks depicting the Potlatch ceremony of the Kwakwaka'wakw People.

For outdoor adventure, make a stop at Strathcona Provincial Park for spectacular hiking, kayaking and wildlife viewing.
Whether you are seeking history, culture, adventure or a round of golf, you will find plenty to entice you. Vancouver Island is one of the world’s most popular islands. For the seventh year in a row Vancouver Island has been rated as the Best Island, North America by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Best Island in Continental US & Canada by readers of Travel + Leisure in their 2005 annual World's Best Awards.