Tofino with Kids
We visited a number of places our our British Columbia road trip including Whistler, Vancouver and Victoria. However, the small town of Tofino has to be my favourite.ย Set at the southern end of an area called Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island, part of the Pacific Rim National Park, this is Canadaโs (almost) westerly point. Itโs also incredibly beautiful –ย wild, natural and rugged.
Tofino was first discovered by Spanish explorers in 1792 when the area was in habited by the indigenous First Nations people, led by Chief Wickaninnish (his name literally means ‘he who no one sits in front of in the canoe’ – possibly the best name ever!). For the next hundred years or so, the area was visited primarily by fur traders and whalers before Clayoquot Sound was opened for settlement in the 1880s. From the turn of the century, Tofino began to grow and in 1913, the C.P.R. steamship Princess Maquinna docked at Tofino and Clayoquot Island for the first time, providing regular contact with the outside world.
The first road to Tofino was only completed in 1959 and today the small, hippyish town still feels like you’ve stumbled across somewhere really special. Itโs home to only 1,850 permanent residents although these numbers swell during the summer months owing to Tofinoโs reputation as Canadaโs best surf spot.ย The Pacific is cold, however! Remember to bring a wetsuit.
The town itself is peppered with restaurants and cafes, including the fantastic Sobo, as well as surf shops and a handful of operators running whale- and bear-watching tours. We took an early morning boat ride in search of bears with Westcoast Aquatic Safaris and, lucky for us, were the only people on the boat. We also saw bears!
In the centre of town, onย Campbell Street, youโll find The Eagle Aerie Gallery that displays the works of award-winning Canadian artists Roy Henry Vickers.
Just outside town are the whimsical Tofino Botanical Gardens, 12 magical acres of gardens, forests and shoreline dotted with fanciful art installations and garden buildings, such as the โhistoricโ Bernardo OโHiggins homestead. Thereโs also a fantastic Childrenโs Garden.
But however charming the town is, itโs Tofino’s dramaticย scenery that is the real draw; a wild mix of ancient cedar and fir forests, windswept beaches and mountains. You really do feel like you are at the edge of the world; stand on any beach and thereโs nothing between you and Japan except vast swathes of the navy-blue Pacific ocean.
We loved Chesterman Beach when we visited, especially for the oversized emerald green sea anemones and plump starfishย that we discovered when rock pooling. Other popular beaches are Tonquin and Mackenzie. But these beaches are not just summer destinations, Tofino is also popular during the winter months when visitors come to witness the dramatic storms โ the town can receive two to three inches or rain an hour! Not surprsingly, the seas are roughย in winter months, stay clear of the rocksย if you visit during this time.
Gettingย to Tofino
Be still my beating heart. When I first arrived in Van, I was shocked to hear how far away Van Island was but now that I’ve read this and ogled over your pictures I can see a trip is 100% worth it. Planning for November when Craig’s brother is over.
Oh you must go! It really is amazing, I would go back tomorrow if I could!
My dear friend just moved there… What a heaven on Earth!
Lucky them!! It really is one of the most beautiful places I have visited.
Stunning place!!
I love rough beaches, the power of the waves, clear water…
I have never heard about Tofino, so thanks for sharing! ๐
Nat
Me too, I’d really love to go back in the winter and see the storms. I hope you get to visit Tofino one day!
your daughter is so cute! ๐ My little one is 1 month old and can’t wait to show her the WORLD! <3
Absolutely!! Kids make the best travelling companions (most of the time!:) )
Oh my gosh I am so lost for words. This place looks so beautiful and your video…oh my I really want to visit. How incredible to see the bears up so close. This looks incredible. Your pictures are absolutely stunning and I am insanely jealous. I love your little one asking why he can’t get closer but not wanting to slim. So cute!!! Thank you for linking this post to #whatevertheweather x
Thank you! Seeing the bears was a real highlight…even if we couldn’t get close enough for some in the group! ๐
What a gorgeous place to visit! My kiddos would love Tofino Botanical Gardens and Chesterman Beach.
It is really beautiful! My kids loved the gardens too – and the beach!
I still kick myself that we never made it to Tofino when we lived in Seattle. It was at the top of my list but I could never make it happen for some reason!
What a shame! You will just have to go another time, it really is truly amazing!
vancouver is beautifu! Great ideas for travelling with kids – i love beaches and botanical gardens especially
Sher
http://Www.shershegoes.com
Thank you!
Beautiful photos. Glad to know about the surfing option since that is always how I can convince my husband to take me to a new, fun travel destination. I would love to go!
Haha! Apparently the surfing is great…but the water is COLD!
I enjoyed reading this post so much. We actually just visited Tofino this past weekend ! Those emerald coloured sea anemones are really something !
Thank you Tara! I have you to thank for the incredible recommendation!!
Canada was never on my list as my friend is from Canada and she told me, there’s nothin’ up there! But after seeing this post, I might give it a shot! Nice to see kids enjoying!
There certainly aren’t a lot of people up there but the scenery is stunning – I say you should go!
At first I thought you were talking about Italy and then I realized you meant Tofino in Canada, eye opening and bears? very cool. The kids look like they had a great time too
Ha, yes I think Italy’s Tofino is probably a little different!
Cannot get over all your beautiful pictures. I have heard a lot of Tofino and would like to visit on a road trip too. That would be a dream come true.
Thank you! I hope you get to visit one day – I can’t wait to go back!
Incredibly beautiful and it looks like you had fun. ๐
Thanks, we did!
This looks really beautiful. My sister went to school in Seattle, but we never made it to Vancouver or Tofino. (Sighs). It looks amazing and definitely a great destination for kids. If we ever get back that way, we will definitely try to add it to our trip.
There are so many places that I didn’t quite get to when we were either visiting or living somewhere – it’s always the way! I hope you get to visit Tofino one day ๐
This just looks beyond gorgeous. I’ve never heard of Tofino before and it is now getting pushed way up on my list of unplugged travel destinations. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you for your kind comments! It truly is a beautiful, beautiful place and definitely a great contender for an unplugged travel destination
Canada is very firmly on my bucket list. In fact the more I see of it, the more I think I would like to do an Expat stint there! ๐ Loved your adventures here, it looks gorgeous! ๐
I know, I’d quite like to live there for a bit too!
Vancouver Island is awesome – I was just there this past spring. Re Tofino, I really enjoyed the The Eagle Aerie Gallery, learning to surf, and hiking on Meares Island!
Thanks for the Meares Island tip, I’ll have to go there next time we visit!
How beautiful! and you actually saw bears! we went to Yellowstone last year and the kids were so disappointed that they didn’t see any bears.
We were lucky!! We could hear the cubs crying as well but they stayed hidden in the trees.
Wow! So mama was nearby. Were they brown or black couldn’t tell from photo?
I know, my photos aren’t great!! ๐ They were black bears
Not many would be excited to go bear hunting but I sure am envious of your courage to do such! Tofino must have been amazing!
It was a figurative bear hunt rather than a real one (we went on a bear-watching tour on a boat with small children!). Tofino was indeed amazing.
Wonderful place!!! I lived in Canada and never visited this area ๐ A great reason to come back. I would love to visit this island and see the whales or learn more about them ๐
Thank you for linking up with #MondayEscapes
Ah, you must go back! Where did you live in Canada?
I lived in Winnipeg ๐ ahaha veeery cold!
Tofino is an absolutely stunning part of Canada. The majestic seaside views are matched only by the tranquil island ambience. Great post and wonderful blog! I’m enjoying the content you’re publishing and will be back in short succession. Cheers from Korea.
Thank you so much! You are so right about Tofino, it truly is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to and I can’t wait to go back!
We went to Tofino when I was 7 months pregnant with our first. I loved it!! I’ve lived in Canada my whole life… and it just goes to show how much exploring you can do close to home!
Lucky you, I completely fell in love with Canada this summer!! And I agree, there is always so much to see close to home. I think it’s easy to forget that sometimes ๐
Your photos are gorgeous. I’m not sure why I haven’t yet made it over to Canada, it looks beautiful and full of opportunities to get outside and enjoy that lovely scenery. I need to get there soon! Thank you for linking up to #GlobalKids ๐
Thank you! I completely fell in love with Canada this summer and I can not wait to go back.
I visited Tofino when I was a teen and I have such fond memories of it, brought back by your amazing photography! I can’t wait to take my kids there one day.
Thank you so much! It really is a magical place and a great destination for families. I hope you get to visit again soon!