5 reasons why Tofino is this year’s must-visit destination in B.C.

Those who have already visited Tofino know that it’s a scenic six-hour journey from Vancouver, leading to a magical destination full of breathtaking scenery and more than a few reasons to get out on the water. While surfing and boating come to mind, the reasons for visiting Tofino this year might not be as obvious as you think. From gourmet food to private cabins, here’s why we plan to visit Tofino in 2020.

You can see gray whales

What’s a visit to Tofino without a whale sighting? Every year beginning in March, upwards of 20,000 gray whales travel through Tofino’s waters en route from the Baja Peninsula, where they birth their calves, all the way north to Alaska’s Bering Strait. Whale watching tours typically last around 2.5 – 3 hours in length, ensuring enough time to get out into the open waters where the whales like to hang out and say hello.

You can eat at some of the best restaurants in the province

Tofino is home to a wealth of fantastic restaurants, coffee shops, and brand new spots to check out. Most places offer casual vibes, no matter how fancy the fare, and most also show off a fabulous array of local ingredients. While seafood is a must while on the island, don’t snooze on Lil' Ronnie's Backyard BBQ; an authentic southern BBQ joint operating inside a converted shipping container by former Wolf in the Fog team member Ronnie Lee. There’s simply nothing else like it in Tofino, or even here in Vancouver. You can read our full food lover’s guide to Tofino HERE.

You can finally try stand-up paddleboarding

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is an excellent way to get out on the water while vacationing in Tofino. Ocean Village Resort offers board and wetsuit rentals, private and group lessons and tours directly from ​Pacific Surf School​, located within their property on MacKenzie Beach. SUP tours offer the opportunity to experience a wide range of local sea creatures, from urchins to sea lions (and whales if you’re lucky). Enjoy the local sights with bald eagles soaring overhead and dungeness crabs scuttling below your board during this memorable encounter with the raw natural beauty of our open coastline.

You can get cozy during storm watching season

Storm watching season typically runs from November through February, although it is not unusual to catch a storm or two into early March. What makes Tofino such a fantastic storm watching hot spot? One factor is the exposed coast; an unobstructed view that stretches from Tofino to Japan! That’s not to say Tofino is all rain, there’s almost always unexpected bursts of sunshine leading up to spring, offering the perfect setting for beachside bonfires, surfing and or a visit to a local hot spring.

You can stay in private beachfront cabins with sweeping ocean views

Tofino’s Ocean Village Resort offers guests the opportunity to stay inside rustic cedar cabins situated along the stunning shoreline of MacKenzie Beach. Each cabin boasts incredible ocean views, allowing guests to watch the ocean transform from shimmering and serene by day, to an almighty display of Mother nature by night. That’s right, this year you can go from paddle boarding in the sunshine to fireside storm watching without even leaving the property. In fact, you’ll barely have to leave your cabin as every cabin at Ocean Village Resort is situated 100ft or less from the shoreline and comes fully equipped with a kitchen and private bathroom with a full-size tub and local organic products, plus access to a shared indoor pool.

To learn more about what Tofino has to offer this year, visit oceanvillageresort.com