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Welcome to the latest series of Super, Neighbours blog posts where we highlight incredible travel destinations in British Columbia!Feast Tofino was back for it's fourth year and was bigger and better! Running throughout May, it featured “Stay and Dine” packages, as well as $29, $39 and $49 “Dine About” set price menus, special events, and celebrates "local, sustainable fisheries [and is a] collaboration between acclaimed local and regional guest chefs, restaurants, fishermen, foragers and farmers, all of whom celebrate in 'boat-to-table' food philosophy and great West Coast times..." |
If there is one place that has so much you can do that it's hard to jam it all into one trip, it's Tofino. On previous visits I went surfing (or, attempted to after a lesson), as well as watched people WAY better than me surf, strolled the beaches, went whale watching, ate ALL the food...the possibilities are endless!
This time around I unexpectedly had perfect timing with a 2-day-a-year event and had one of the best afternoons ever! Clayoquot Island Preserve (aka Stubbs Island) opens to the public once a year during the Victoria Day long weekend with water taxi's departing from the harbour to bring people over.
I don't know how it even begin to describe my afternoon as I lucked into the glorious gift of being shown around by Sharon Whalen, who is pretty much Wonder Woman. She tends to the magnificent gardens throughout the island, and also produces the product line Sea Wench, of which I got to smell and sample! It was like a history lesson, horticulture lesson, and great fun all rolled into one. Check out some of the photos:
The island was PACKED with people, both locals and tourists, many of whom make a day of it, bring a picnic and the family and have a special time on a very special island.
Now here is where everything gets a little more surreal. After several hours of gardens and wine and sunshine, as we were departing from the dock, an excited roar went up from the crowd waiting for the boats. A pod of orcas decided to grace us with their presence and do a swim-by between the island and the harbour. They showed themselves a few times as the whale watching boats zoomed in and then they were gone.
Needless to say, if you find yourself in the Tofino area next Victoria Day weekend, this is a MUST!
Upon arrival in Tofino on my first day, and my immediate stop-in at the Tofino Brewing Co., I learned that there was a concert happening that weekend by my friends in the Victoria-based band Carmanah. Turns out it was a preview for the Otalith Festival, as well as their line-up announcement. As you can see below, it rocks...
The talented ladies of the local band The Poor Pistols kicked off the packed show, followed by Carmanah, and more dancing!
On my last morning on Cox Bay, the tide was low enough to walk around the little rock island and check out the tide pools. If you are ever in Tofino, I highly recommend checking out the low tide charts and making a point of checking some of the tide pools out. I mean, check it out, it's like a whole other world that you can only be a part of at certain times of the day!:
There is a lot to see and do in Tofino, but there is also a LOT to eat. I'll be showing you more in my last two posts from the very cool FEAST Tofino events, but I just wanted to share some pics of my other stops, at Tacofino (a must. Every. Time.), and my delicious brunch at Spotted Bear Bistro.
Okay, are you jealous yet? Wait until tomorrow and my first post from my Feast Tofino events!
