Tofino

Shortly after arriving, it was time to explore the Island, Vancouver Island. And, what a better first stop than the surf town of Tofino. Long Beach and Chesterman's beach were just as beautiful as I imagined, set amongst a backdrop of forest and distant mountains. Not being much of a surfer myself, I wasn't drawn to the icy cold waves. However, the beach walks and sunsets rivaled even the best that Australia has to offer. Our long weekend was spent exploring the island by boat, meandering along numerous trail walks, wildlife spotting, and one of my favorite things, hiking to the plane crash site of a Royal Canadian Air Force Canso 11007 that crashed shortly after takeoff on in 1945.

Tofino, with its quirky charm and 'go slow' vibe, was one of my favorite places to switch off from the hustle and bustle of downtown Vancouver.