This guided trip avoids the crowds but finds the beaches for some good old family fun. Temperate rainforests, an island with the warmest waters north of Mexico, campfires amd marshmellows. The endlless sandy beaches of Pacific Rim National Park beckon those young and young at heart.
West Coast Family Tour Itinerary
Day 1. Whistler B.C.
From Vancouver we take the famous Sea to Sky Highway to Shannon Falls. After a short hike we head further into the Coastal Mountains to Whistler. This lively mountain community of only 9,500 permanent residents was home to the 2010 Olympic and Para-Olympic Games.
In the early afternoon, your driver/leader will lead families on a tour of Olympic Village including the ski jump, biathlon range and cross country stadium. Family members can choose from a selection of optional activities including:
- Horseback riding. One hour horseback riding along mountain ridges. $70.00 per person.
- Biathlon Tour. Take aim at the Olympic and Para-Olympic Biathlon Range. With guidance from a certified instructor, learn about the sport of Biathlon and test your marksmanship and skill with a traditional Biathlon rifle. $15.00 for adults and $7.50 for children under 12.
- Ski Jump Interpretive Tour. $15.00 for adults and $7.50 for children under 12. Families take a ride up the chairlift to view the Olympic Ski Jump through the eyes of an athlete – the panoramic view from the top of the lift is stunning. Everyone can learn about the sport of ski jumping, the athletes, their equipment, and the construction of the ski jumping venue.
Family rates are available for many of these activities.
After our visit to the Olympic Village, we drive to Whistler Village and check into our hotel which is centrally located along the “Village Stroll” stone walkway. Families are free for the rest of the afternoon to enjoy dinner and the local night life on their own.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: N/A
Day 2. Whistler B.C.
After breakfast your driver/leader guide will meet the families in the lobby to help you organize their day of adventure. No need to worry about parking, getting to venues on time or missing out on the best deals. Optional activities include:
- Hiking
- Peak to Peak Gondola
- Westcoaster luge
- The Core – rock climbing walls
- Zip trekking
- ATV tours
- Gyroscope
- Electric go carts
- Windsurfing
- Mountain bike rentals and mountain bike park
- Golfing
- Helicopter tours
After your day of adventure, the driver/leader will shuttle everyone back to the hotel. Families have the evening free .
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3. Sunshine Coast, B.C
From the Coastal Mountains we head to British Columbia’s tropical island secret on the Sunshine Coast. At Horseshoe Bay we board one of the four BC Ferries we’ll take on this family tour of BC’s coasts. The first ferry crossing is from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, the beginning of the Sunshine Coast. From here we’ll continue along the waterfront highway to Earl’s Cove and take a second ferry to Saltry Bay. We continue our drive along the coastline to the village of Lund at the end of the road. At Lund we board a water taxi to take us to our island paradise. This island is almost completely surrounded by white sandy beaches and has some of the warmest waters on the Pacific Ocean north of Mexico.
We check into our bunkhouse by late afternoon.
Accommodation: Bunkhouse
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 & 5. Sunshine Coast, B.C.
Our bunkhouse is steps away from the beach. For the next three days we’ll swim, snorkel, dive, bike, or just plain relax and soak up the sun. During your stay, the driver/leader will help organize the group’s meals.
The Sunshine Coast is home to many species of mammals including black bear, raccoon, white-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, mountain cougar, beaver and river otter. Bird species common to this area include the Great Blue Heron, Stellar Jay, Bald Eagle and Saw-Whet Owl.
Accommodation: Bunkhouse
Day 4 and 5: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6. Gold River, Vancouver Island, B.C.
After breakfast we return to the mainland by water taxi and drive to Powell River where we board our third ferry to Vancouver Island. From Comox we’ll stop at a country market near Courtenay to replenish our supplies before we head to the wilderness of the westcoast.
Our drive takes us through scenic Strathcona Park. Here we stop and explore a few easy walking trails and tour a fish hatchery. Now having crossed the spine of Vancouver Island, we arrive at Gold River (pop. 1400) on the west coast of Vancouver Island. This village is a central hub for marine and seaplane access to the smaller communities, fishing lodges and wilderness camps that dot this section of the Pacific coast. During our tour of Gold River, we stop at a local sporting goods store to purchase our fishing licences (not included).
Turning onto a local de-activated logging road, we arrive at our lakeside campsite by mid-afternoon. After setting up camp, we enjoy an evening campfire complete with a barbeque and marshmallow roast.
Accommodation: camping
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 7 & 8. Gold River, Vancouver Island, B.C.
For the next two days we explore the wild west coast of Vancouver Island.
This area has a large deer population and a large number of Roosevelt elk. Wolves and cougars, though present, are seldom seen. Resident birds include the chestnut-backed chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, winter wren and kinglet, as well as the gray jay, Steller’s jay, band-tailed pigeon and blue grouse.
Family activities can include:
- Salmon Fishing. Families can choose to either charter a boat or fish for salmon right from the shores of the local dock. (Midnight Sun supplies the casting rods and lures for dock fishing).
- Hiking in Strathcona Park. Take the Bedwell River Trail to Upper and Lower Myra Falls - beautiful waterfalls located deep in the forest.
- Caving. With fifteen known entrances, the Upana Caves contain nearly 1500 feet of passage. A self-guided tour can be completed in about one hour.
- Visiting the Crest Creek Craig which offers 100 routes for great rock climbing and scrambling along shallow rock shelves and ridges.
Also available are guided kayak day tours along Nootka Sound or a day trip on the MV Uchuk III, a local freighter that takes passengers on day tours to the First Nations community of Friendly Cove on Nootka Island. Friendly Cove offers visitors campgrounds, hiking trails, and tours. As one of the most scenic spots on the West Coast, this cruise is a great way to spend a day on the water.
Accommodation: camping
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 & 10. Tofino, Pacific Rim National Park, B.C.
From the wilderness of the westcoast, we reconnect with the Island Highway before turning west and heading to Pacific Rim National Park. Along this three-hour drive, you’ll encounter rolling farmland, stretches of wilderness and Cathedral Grove, an old growth rainforest, with massive 800 year fir and cedar trees. After Port Alberni, located at the end of a long saltwater inlet, we drive across a mountain range and drop down to the Pacific Ocean. Here lies Pacific Rim National Park, bordered on either side by the small towns of Tofino (pop: 1,902) and Ucluelet (pop. 1,652).
Now it’s back to the surf, sand and beach! In the evening families can choose to go on a boat tour in search of black bears or take a guided sunset kayak tour.
During Day 10 families can choose to go kayaking in Clayoquot Sound, take a full day zodiac tour to Hot Springs Cove, try their hand a surfing, or explore the beaches and trails of Pacific Rim National Park. Trails include:
- Long Beach - pristine sandy beaches framed by mountains and rainforests offer soul satisfying walks among shells and driftwood.
- Rainforest Trail - an interpretative walk along an elevated boardwalk through old-growth forest; and.
- Nuu-chah-nulth Trail - newly renovated with cedar boardwalk and 12 richly illustrated interpretive signs about the cultural, and natural history of the First Nations peoples.
Pacific Rim National Park is home to an extensive variety of wildlife both in the sea and on the land. Within the park's rainforests blacktail deer, cougar, marten, mink, Vancouver Island wolf, black bear, raccoon, and many more wild creatures thrive.
At the shoreline we often see various marine animals such as seals, porpoises, sea lions, and several species of whales including humpback, Pacific grey, Minke and orcas.. The most commonly seen mammals are the California sea lions, Steller's (Northern) sea lions, and harbour seals.
Whatever you choose your driver/leader will help you organize your activities and provide shuttle service to trail heads and other venues.
Accommodation: guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11. Victoria, B.C.
Now it’s time meander our way to from the westcoast of Vancouver Island to the bright lights of the City of Victoria. On the way we stop at the town of Chemainus and for an ice cream cone and explore one of the world’s largest outdoor art galleries. We arrive in Victoria by late afternoon.
After check-in your driver/leader will provide a tour of the City of Victoria, including Beacon Hill Park, Rockland, Chinatown, Inner Harbour and Government Street. After the tour, families will have the rest of the evening free. A favourite activity is to stroll to the lively causeway in Victoria’s’ Inner Harbour where buskers and street vendors provide entertainment, hand crafts and novelty items.
Accommodation: hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12. Transfer to Vancouver
For those returning to Vancouver on this day, your driver/leader will meet you in the lobby of your hotel to transfer you to the Victoria Bus Depot (tickets included). The coach tour includes passage on the BC Ferry sailing through the Gulf Islands to the Vancouver Bus Depot in downtown Vancouver. Families wishing to stay on in Victoria have access to the same service.
Accommodation: None
Meals: None
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