Vancouver island

After spending 2 days or so in Victoria, I had 3 full days and drove to Uclulet, which was about 25 miles from Tofino (I wanted to end in Tofino but my time was just too short). I didn't go there for whale watching though, but to do some hiking on the Pacific Rim Trail/ National Park Reserve in Uclulet (highly recommended). I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed that drive (Victoria to Uclulet), and I stopped at some lovely places along the way that made it very much worthwhile (including a state park/woods and a little town with a great market and restaurants called Coombs). Also, I don't recall the name, but there was a beautifully situated modern luxury hotel facing the water in/around Uclulet with a great restaurant where I had a meal or two. There are a number of such high-end properties either in Uclulet or in Tofino, so you should have no problem finding a nice place (I found a lovely home facing the water on booking.com) With 8-9 days, I wouldn't hesitate to drive all the way to Tofino. Vancouver Island is a gorgeous part of the world, I look forward to coming back. I thought the western part of the island was just stunning.

Thank-you for that info

Also, check out the online resources and library books - that's how I planned my own trip 2 years ago around this time. The visitor/welcome centers on the ground also have great maps and the folks there are very friendly and helpful. I talked to someone at the Pacific Rim Park Welcome Center close to Uclulet to get hiking ideas and maps.
(https://www.hellobc.com/places-to-go/vancouver-island/)
I would add to consider spending some time in Victoria and/or Vancouver (although Vancouver could easily take all 8-9 days itself). Victoria is much smaller and doable in just 2 days or so.

We do plan to spend some time in Victoria-thanks for the link. Looks like some good info

This was the little market in Coombs - it was really unusual, it had goats on the roof which was quirky. I stopped there on my drive to Uclulet and I really enjoyed it. They had a very nice restaurant onsite called Cuckoo Trattoria.
https://oldcountrymarket.com
I also stopped at this park (MacMillan Provincial Park) to hike around the Cathedral Grove section
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/macmillan/

If I may suggest, given your time frame, you may need to decide if your priority is to:

A) relax and stay at more luxurious places, and do some day hikes - there are many romantic accommodations to choose from in the Victoria area and also near Tofino: For example, this is one very famous destination hotel for celebrations https://www.wickinn.com/ ) OR

B) be adventurous watching for whales and/or grizzly bears and fishing up island near Campbell River.

If you are flying into Victoria and renting a car, it takes at least 4.5 hours straight driving time from Victoria to Tofino, and you will want to stop along the way, so plan on a full day to and from (the road is not straight!).

The drive from Victoria to Campbell River is at least 3 hours non-stop, but again, you will likely want to stop at a few places en route - and if it happens to be raining as you drive across the Malahat, the drive will take longer.

Goldstream is a beautiful park about 30 minutes drive north of Victoria: https://www.goldstreampark.com
Early September is too soon for the salmon run there (later in October, an incredible sight!).

For more planning ideas: https://www.hellobc.com/places-to-go/vancouver-island/

mulcher,

With such a short time frame, I'd suggest limiting your stay to southern Vancouver Island. There's lots to see and you shouldn't have any problems finding things to do for 8-9 days.

Although it's a really nice trip, I would not recommend taking the Ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, as that would require a large part of your holiday and there wouldn't be as many opportunities to enjoy posh hotels. The drive from Rupert back to the lower mainland is a LONG one. As I recall it's about 20 hours of straight driving, stopping only for fuel.

Spending a few days at the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino would certainly be good way to celebrate an anniversary, but it won't be cheap. You should be able to find a good whale watching cruise in Victoria (I haven't checked lately on what tours are available). Here's a link for Bear watching tours on the Island?

If your main focus is seeing bears, have a look at Bella Coola, on the central coast, which is billed as "The Gateway to the Great Bear Rainforest". You will see Grizzly Bears there! There are several hotels right in Bella Coola, but they're more basic but comfortable, rather than luxurious. If you want posh, you could also look at the Tweedsmuir Park Lodge which is about a 30 minute drive from Bella Coola. That area is accessible by road (rental firm may not be happy as part of it is unpaved), Northern Seawolf Ferry (new vessel this season, also from Port Hardy but somewhat expensive) and air (Central Mountain Air, two flights from Vancouver daily in summer).

Where are you flying from? Were you planning to fly directly into Victoria or into Vancouver and then take a connecting flight?

Thanks all for the help. We are from Ohio planning to fly into Seattle as of now then take the ferry to Victoria. Seeing bear isn’t our main goal but would be an added bonus. I have seen the Wickaninnish Inn and if we drive to Tofino would like to stay there. I was also looking at staying at the Villa Eyrie Resort just north of Victoria if anyone has been there with any feedback. From what I’m hearing from all I think as far north as Campell River and possibly over to Tofino would be plenty for us to see and do in 8-9 days.

An alternative to Wickaninnish may be Middle Beach Lodge. It has a similar location on a point of land with views but not the price or quite the same luxury. It is also close to Wick Inn, so area and access would be similar.
I also suggest Cathedral Grove enroute. Coombs....I smile as I haven't lived on the Island for some time, but it was a place to go even in the mid-70s. Green roof before its time.
You most likely have enough to do with the time you have, and it might be too similar to Tofino, but tea at Point No Point past Sooke (from Victoria) is another mainstay.
Enjoy.

Haven’t stayed there, but Wickaninnish regularly makes top hotels of the world lists. It would be a great place for an anniversary.
I am from PNW, we spent a few days in Tofino, but had our then 2 yr old daughter with us, so we were a bit limited. I will say the west coast of Vancouver Island is beautiful and on the drive from east to west you can stop at Cathedral Grove, which has some of the last remaining old growth trees on the island. Beautiful part of our world!

I try to get over to the island every two years, at least. One of the places I like is Point No Point Resort on the west side. I love sitting nice and dry with something good to drink watching when a storm comes in in the fall.

If you get up to Campbell River (on the north end) stop in at Granlund's Sporting Goods and say hi to my friend Karl.

We just returned from a visit (first time) to Ucluelet and Tofino. We used this Sunset Magazine article as inspiration for our trip. While we stayed at Ocean Village Resort in a beachfront cabin, the Wickaninnish Inn looks like a wonderful place to celebrate your anniversary.

Plenty to do on the island, and it really doesn't take that long to drive to the West Coast. Be forewarned that there is major road construction on Highway 4 with intermittent closures.

Ok-thanks all for the helpful tips and ideas

Here's a bit more info regarding the construction project on Highway 4 to the west coast of Vancouver Island and suggested places to see along the way:

https://www.hellobc.com/stories/top-5-places-to-stop-between-vancouver-and-tofino/

https://www.discovervancouverisland.com/blog/highway-4-closures/

Hi Mulcher,
Below is the link to our related Trip Report. Maybe you will find something useful there.
Have a super trip!
I am done. The end.

https://www.fodors.com/community/canada/ocean-odyssey-vancouver-island-and-vancouver-1224160/

You will love Vancouver Island, I hope. I came for a weekend 14 years ago and I am still here! Which ferry do you plan on taking? There are two, both car ferries. The MV Coho from Port Angeles deposits you right in the middle of Victoria. Or the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes which will drop you in the seaside town of Sidney, about 22km north of Victoria. Both these options involve long drives from Seattle to the ferry terminals in the States. I have done the Anacortes/Sidney trip many times and it is easily the most beautiful ferry ride through the San Juans and Gulf Islands. Whales, Orca and Humpback, are often encountered. One year just about every trip I took was delayed because the Orca were playing in the middle of the Strait! WSF are very careful about maintaining the correct distance from the Whales (200 metres).

Victoria and Sidney offer some of the things you want, whale watching tours for example. There is Butchart Gardens, lovely any time of year, wineries, etc. Range of hotels in Victoria, the Empress being the historic one overlooking the harbour. In Sidney we have the Pier with great sea views or the Beacon Inn, a purpose built, very beautiful B & B. But unfortunately no sea views.

One suggestion, it might be more efficient use of your time to fly from Seattle to Victoria (Alaska Airlines have about five flights a day) and rent a car here. All the usual rental firms are here If you rent a car in the States there may be issues with taking it on a ferry, I believe it’s to do with insurance but check first if you plan on doing this.

Let me know of you need more information.

I think the one I was looking at was the MV Coho but I will look at the other option of ferry from Anacortes or flying. Thanks so much all for the help and we are looking forward to a great trip. God Bless. John 3:16

Another option is to do a circle by ferry, MV Coho from Port Angeles to Victoria and then WSF from Sidney to Anacortes. By the way Victoria International Airport is only a few minutes from Sidney, 10 at most and about 35-40 mins from downtown Victoria, again dependent on traffic.

Regarding going to Tofino, it’s a long days drive to get up there and the same back, Long Beach is magnificent but I think it’s more atmospheric in the fall or spring during storm season. With 8 or 9 days that will bring you down to 6 or 7 days to actually do what you want to do. One day for whale watching, one day to find bears, 4 or 6 days. Adding Prince Rupert into the mix doesn’t make sense, time and distance wise, especially as you say you want to relax! Besides whenever I’ve been there it has been raining! Then you have a long (2-3 days) drive through the interior to get back down to Seattle or wherever......

I think you are better to do a few days around Victoria and then head up to Tofino for the rest of the time. Hotels: Victoria, The Empress, iconic hotel. Grand Pacific, walking distance from ferry terminal, Abigails, Marriott. In Tofino, Wickinish Inn, Long Beach Resort, pacific Beach and others.

The Victoria Clipper is a passenger ferry between Seattle and Victoria, by far the easiest way to go unless you want to rent a car in the US and take it into Canada (which might not even be possible). Takes less than three hours, but only one each day after Sept. 8. You can rent the car on your way out of Victoria.

I think you have time for Victoria, Tofino, and various points in between. I agree with others about the ferry to Prince Rupert, a trip I'd like to make but not a great idea in your time frame. If you want to visit nearby islands or experience parts of the Inside Passage, BC Ferries has good service and the fares are affordable if you leave the car behind and just ride the boat. You'll find good whale-watching choices around Victoria and also Tofino.

Update-our travel plans have changed and we are considering late September early October now (leaving for our trip Sept 30 and being on the island the first week of October). I would like feedback from anyone who has direct knowledge/experience to know if that is too late in the year for a good vacation and spending time outdoors. Is it traditionally cold and rainy already during this time frame. I’ve been reading some online and called onto the island and I get conflicting responses. Thanks for any help.

October would not be my choice for visiting Vancouver Island. I would expect chilly and rainy. BUT it could be a glorious "indian summer" so just bring layers and good rain gear

Nobody in the PNW stops going outside when it rains. Take a hat (umbrellas are for tourists) and Gore-Tex and enjoy. Some of the best days are those in the woods when it's wet, and if you're in the city it really doesn't matter if it's wet outside or not.

Early October may have more chance of rain than early September, and the days will be a little shorter, but these things shouldn't affect your plans much. Raingear is always good to have in the northwest. Where I love, inland and about 100 miles south of where you're going, we don't really hunker down for the rainy season till early November.

Victoria gets less rain than the Pacific coast of Vancouver Island because it's somewhat in the "rain shadow" of the Olympic Mountains on the US side.