After having a wonderful time in Victoria, I took the Vancouver Island Connector bus to Parksville and stayed there for two nights. Parksville is about 150 km north of Victoria, a perfect mid-way place to break up my full day trip from Victoria to Tofino and to meet up with three fabulous blogger friends as mentioned here.
From Parksville I continued my bus journey to Tofino, a small coastal village at the western edge of Vancouver Island. The driving distance from Parksville to Tofino is about 170 km (105 miles). The winding road and Kennedy Hill upgrades along Highway 4 meant the ride would take about four hours. The picturesque scenery made up for the time delay.
Tofino is situated in the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation of the Nuu-chah-nulth peoples, who have called the area home for over five thousand years.
It is surrounded by the vast, breathtaking expanse of the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. Being in Tofino means being close to nature, the ocean, the rainforest, the mountains, the islands and inlets.
I stayed at a hostel situated at the waterfront in Tofino, overlooking a harbour on Clayoquot Sound. The views were breathtaking and ever changing as the wind moved the clouds. They filled me with a sense of wonder.
The green domes in the photo below housed my “neighbours”, an eco-lodge operated by WildPod for luxury waterfront glamping. One morning I saw a family of sea otters came right up to the pier and the rock wall to say hello.
Tofino centre is grid-like and very easy to navigate. There are many shops specialized in outdoor activities such as surfing, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), sea kayaking, scenic flights, whale watching tours, bear watching tours, and hot springs tours.
I was drawn to the many public art works seen throughout Tofino, such as the Weeping Cedar Woman created by artist Godfrey Stephens to protect the ancient rainforests of Clayoquot Sound and Meares Island, and the Totem pole in Anchor Park, created by Master carver Joe David.
I took the self-guided Tofino Art Gallery Walk that featured five individual artist owned galleries, each a five minute walk apart. The bigger gallery of the five is Eagle Eerie Art Gallery by Roy Henry Vickers, a world-renowned Canadian First Nations artist.
Within walking distance from Tofino village centre is a network of hiking trails that go through ancient forests and lead to various beaches. I’ll share one of my hikes in another post. I leave you with a view from my bed in Tofino. At night, the sky glittered with millions of stars. I’m so grateful.
Have you been to Tofino? What were your impressions?
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Natalie the Explorer 
HI, Natalie – I love Tofino and adore the work of Roy Henry Vickers. I’m glad that you were able to experience so much of our Island’s diversity on your short visit here. It was wonderful to meet up with you!
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Hi Donna – BC is a beautiful province and Vancouver Island is a true gem. Every time I go to BC, I know I’ll have a wonderful time. This trip is even more special and memorable with our meet-ups in Victoria and Parksville. I hope to meet you again for a longer chat.
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I was remembering that Donna had been here as I read your post and enjoyed your beautiful photos. So glad you gals were able to meet. And possibly a bit jealous, too! And then Donna also met another blogger I have begun following Erica/Erika. Boo, I haven’t met anyone!!
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It was great for me to meet several blogger friends this year. I hope you get to meet a blogger soon. If I travel near El Paso, I’ll contact you 🙂
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Hi Natalie, I am always in awe as to how much you see and do in a short amount of time. You plan and research well. Again, I see clear days. We had mostly rain when we were camping, and we took advantage of the couple of sunny days/evenings. Having an ocean view from your room is a real treat. Great photos! Likely with your phone, again? Thank you for sharing, Natalie and I look forward to the next instalment of the series!🙂
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Hi Erica – I chose only a few activities that I liked to do and that seemed to work 🙂 I lucked out with the weather in Tofino. The place I stayed at was simply awesome for a fraction of the Wildpod rate for exactly the same views. I used my phone throughout this trip. I think you’ll like the next instalment 🙂
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Hi again, Natalie, Returning from #MLSTL and sharing SM:)
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Thank you, Erica. Have a nice evening!
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I like that totem! Gorgeous
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Yes, it’s a beautiful totem pole. Thanks, Lydia, for your comment.
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And again from #LovingLifeLinky
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Thank you, Lydia. Have a nice day!
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Canada always looks like such a beautiful part of the world to me!
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Thank you, Bella, for your visit and comment. I do think Canada has many scenic places and beautiful nature.
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Sea otters? Oh wow. That morning view is my fave with those very photogenic clouds. Have a great week Natalie, and thanks for introducing me to Tofino.
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Hi Jo – My pleasure to share Tofino with you. The sea otters were very cute and playful. I think they were expecting breakfast offering. I decided just to watch them and not to look at them through my phone camera. Have a beautiful week!
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Isn’t our world a beautiful place! Thank you for sharing the natural beauty of Tofino with us, Natalie!
SSG xxx
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Thank you, SSG, for reading my post and commenting. Yes, we have a beautiful world, full of wonderful places to explore.
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Nope I haven’t been to Tofino but it looks fabulous and those carvings are great! Thanks for showing us this area Natalie. #lifethisweek
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Thank you, Deb, for stopping by. Lots of Canadian Native art to see on Canada’s West Coast.
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It’s been 20 years since I’ve visited Tofino so my memories of it are pretty hazy. Thanks for the photo update!
The Weeping Cedar Woman is strangely moving – the stream of tears and the chain around her waist are both alarming and striking.
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Hi Joanne – I think your love for nature responds to the Weeping Cedar Woman statue. Mine did too. She was carved on Strawberry Island from a 300-year old windfall cedar in 1984 but placed in Tofino in 2014. Her right hand is upheld to say “Stop!”. Her left hand points to the Earth, considering nature. Tears streaming from her eyes represent the sorrow she feels at the destruction.
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Beautiful views, the art works are stunning.
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Thank you, Riitta, for your visit and comment. I greatly appreciate it.
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Natalie, I think there would be many stories attached to that amazing Weeping Cedar Woman by Godfrey Stephens. Very poignant. #MSTL
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Hi Suzanne – I read the history of the Weeping Cedar Woman. Given our increasing awareness of climate change, the statue message is poignant and still relevant today (35 years since the statue was carved from a 300-year-old windfall cedar).
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Thanks Natalie for the information. Brilliant sculpture and sad that it is still relevant!
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Happy to share Tofino and some of its public art displays with you Suzanne. Have a great day!
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Hi, Natalie – I am visiting again from #MLSTL. I have shared your post on my Social Media.
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Thank you, Donna. Have a great day!
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That’s some stunning scenes, thanks so much for sharing the beauty! The ‘eco pods’ look interesting, for sure.
Your post on ‘My Corner of the World’ is much appreciated!
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Thank you, Betty, for hosting and for your comment. If you look up WildPod, on their web site they have more details about their eco-pods for luxury waterfront glamping. Have a wonderful week!
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Hi Natalie. I’ve been to Victoria but only for two nights so we didn’t travel further afield. Your photos are gorgeous. #MLSTL Will share
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Thank you, Jennifer, for your comment and SM share. I’m glad you like my photos. I used my phone and they turned out better than I expected.
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Such a beautiful spot Natalie – I envy Donna and her neighbours who have access to all these lovely places. Vancouver Island is much larger than how I’d imagined it. Thanks for sharing your travels with us on MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
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Hi Leanne – Vancouver Island is a pretty big island. It would take many hours to drive from one end of the island to the other. If time is not an issue, a long road trip all over this island would be fantastic, with lots of places to explore. Thank you for hosting and sharing on your SM. Have a beautiful week!
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Beautiful.
Harbor-views are interesting, aren’t they? Over the summer we spent a few days in Port Angeles. It was lovely to look out and watching the water levels go up and down and to see the ferries between there and Victoria.
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Thank you, D.Nambiar, for your visit and comment. The ocean is always changing even when it looks calm. Lots of sea life activities to watch, too.
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Gosh, your posts and photos are so good and helping me (and others) know more about this Northern Hemisphere you inhabit.
Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next wee’s optional prompt is: 43/51 Your Favourite Book As a Child 28/10/19 BUT I am not following it. I am introducing my Daily Gratitude Instagram Challenge running for the 30 days of November, ending on the last day which is my 70th B’day !! Do add your blog link whichever prompt you choose…even no prompt! Denyse.
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Hi Denyse – Your 30-day Daily Gratitude Challenge is a wonderful lead up to your milestone birthday! I look forward to next week link-up. Have a beautiful week!
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I have never been to Tofino, but now I want to go. We stayed in domes like the ones you pictured when we went to the Elqui Valley in Chile. They were awesome! Not like camping at all.
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Hi Laurie – The WildPod six domes are luxurious glamping right on the water’s edge. Tofino is a special place with lots of nature, wildlife eco-tours, hiking trails, beaches, and water sport activities. I think you’d enjoy it very much.
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Such a beautiful and wonderful space. Very nice. #MSLTL
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Thank you, Patrick, for your comment. I greatly appreciate it.
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British Colombia is such a beautiful area in the world Natalie and as always I enjoyed your travel tales and photos. Thanks for taking us on your travels by sharing at #MLSTL. Have a lovely weekend. x
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I agree with you Sue that BC is beautiful. Thank you for hosting. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Thanks so much for sharing Tofino with us Natalie. It looks beautiful! Love the view from your room too! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
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You’re welcome, Min. Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a great weekend!
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I am not familiar with Tofino but would love to visit. Love the nature shots, totem, and carved weeping woman. Galleries look wonderful too.
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Thank you, Carol, for your comment. I greatly appreciate it.
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I’ve not been, but those pictures are stunning and it’s making me pull out my potential travel list to add a new place.
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Thank you, Jennifer, for your comment. It takes time to get to Tofino. Once you’re there, it’s well worth the drive.
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