A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

The Islands

  • Point No Point Starfish
  • Victoria Beacon Hill Drive in
  • Victoria Fort Street AUgust
  • Victoria Moss Street MArket
  • point no point
  • Snow doesn't stop surfing in Tofino
  • Reader LA Tofino BC 1pm

The southern coast of British Columbia is fronted by dozens of islands, the largest among them being Vancouver Island, which is home to several towns and cities including Duncan, Parksville, Tofino, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Port Hardy, and the provincial capital, Victoria. Between it and the mainland of BC are the Gulf Islands. These include such gems Savary, Galiano, Mayne, Saltspring, Thetis, Gabriola, Denman, Hornby, Lasqueti, Texada, and both Penders (they are a great many others).

current-poll

Which cafe offers the best coffee experience in Victoria?

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In The Islands at the moment (our HOOD palettes are ever-changing), we’re seeing the two blues on the funnel of BC Ferries Coastal Celebration vessel; the brick interior of Victoria’s Habit Coffee; the hot stones in the spa at Sonora Resort; the thirsty August grass at Mile Zero in Victoria; the smooth pebbles of Higgs Beach on Pender Island (tri-colour); purple and orange starfishes; the green of Pagliacci’s exterior in Victoria; sunset on the wooden cabins of Bodega Ridge on Galiano Island; the six shades of a winter storm from the The Pointe Restaurant at Wickaninnish Inn; the blue veins of Beddis Blue cheese from Moonstruck on Saltspring Island; the stunning sand of Savary Island’s better beaches; the light blue of Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria; the copper green dome of the provincial legislature; the yellow of the Mary Jane’s Kitchen sign on Lasqueti Island; a Margarita at Sobo in Tofino.

here-you-will-find

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A WOODEN BOAT MUSEUM IN COWICHAN BAY
GOOD SURFING IN TOFINO AND SOMBRIO
RENAISSANCE BOOKS IN VICTORIA’S BASTION SQUARE
THE SINGULAR EXPERIENCE OF HIKING THE WEST COAST TRAIL
SUMMER BASKING ON WHIFFEN SPIT
THE WIDE AND (USUALLY) EMPTY SUN SWATHE OF VICTORIA’S GONZALES BEACH
GREAT EXPLORING AT FORT ROD HILL
THE VALUE VILLAGE & LOWER JOHNSON VINTAGE HUNT LOOP IN VICTORIA
DITCH RECORDS ON FORT STREET IN VICTORIA
BACH, HAYDN, HANDEL, AND VIVALDI ON REPEAT AT MUNRO’S BOOKS IN VICTORIA
BEACHFRONT CAMPING AT BELLA PACIFICA IN TOFINO

what-to-eat-and-drink

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CHOCOLATE DIPPED CONE FROM BEACON HILL DRIVE-IN
TATER TOTS & CEDAR SOURS AT WOLF IN THE FOG
PIZZA FROM LA PRIMA STRADA IN VICTORIA
BUTTERMILK SCONES AND A BIG CUP OF FERNWOOD COFFEE AT PARSONAGE CAFE IN VICTORIA
VOLTAGE ESPRESSO STOUT FROM HOYNE BREWING
HABIT COFFEE IN VICTORIA
ALL THE CAKE AT RUTH & DEAN IN VICTORIA
SHIO RAMEN AT KUMA IN TOFINO
SPAGHETTI ALIO OLIO AT ZAMBRI’S IN VICTORIA
5 COURSE TASTING MENU AT AGRUIS BY FOL EPI
ANYTHING AT SOOKE HARBOUR HOUSE
STEAK FRITES AT BRASSERIE L’ECOLE IN VICTORIA
CHAMPAGNE SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE POINTE IN TOFINO
SEASONAL TASTING MENU AT THE COWICHAN VALLEY’S STONE SOUP INN
DEEP FRIED SOFT SHELL CRAB AT NORI IN NANAIMO
CAJUN HALIBUT SANDWICH AT THE HUMMINGBIRD PUB ON GALIANO ISLAND
DINNER AT PILGRIM RESTAURANT ON GALIANO
EARLY MORNING ESPRESSO AT THE TOFITIAN
PIMENTO ROOT HASH AT THE CAFE AT HOPE BAY ON PENDER ISLAND
THE BREAD AT PAGLIACCI’S IN VICTORIA
CIBOLO SHRIMP & KEY LIME PIE AT SOBO IN TOFINO
ROASTED CAULIFLOWER AT NOURISH IN VICTORIA
FORAGED AND FRESH GOODNESS AT OLO IN VICTORIA

cool-things-of-note

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– Except for rocky Mace Point, Savary Island is almost entirely ringed by white sand.

– Active Pass (the narrow straight between Mayne Island and Galiano Island) was named after the USS Active, an American survey vessel that navigated the area in 1855.

– “Cowichan” is an English treatment of Halkomelem Quw’utsun, or “warm land”.

– The entirely of the undeveloped 100 acre West Ballenasa Island off Parksville is currently for sale for $1.4 million.

– The old Painter’s Lodge fishing escape in Campbell River was a favourite of Old Hollywood stars, including Bob Hope and John Wayne.

– Tofino’s Sobo restaurant was named one of the Top 10 best new eateries in Canada by enRoute Magazine when it was just a food truck operating out of the Botanical Gardens.

– The body of water that encompasses the divide between Vancouver Island and the mainland – including Strait of Georgia, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound – was named the Salish Sea in 2010.

– Victoria’s Chinatown is the oldest in Canada (second in North America only to San Francisco’s).

– In 2010, Kuper Island had its name changed to Penelakut Island in honour of the Penelakut First Nation.

the-things-weve-seen

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  • Vic Wall
    Vic Wall
  • Victoria  Fab Tan Alley
    Victoria Fab Tan Alley
  • Vic chairs
    Vic chairs
  • Habit Coffee in Vitoria
    Habit Coffee in Vitoria
  • Walking the beaches in Tofino
    Walking the beaches in Tofino
  • Snow doesn't stop surfing in Tofino
    Snow doesn't stop surfing in Tofino
  • Victoria Art Deco apartment building
    Victoria Art Deco apartment building
  • Reader LA Tofino BC 1pm
    Reader LA Tofino BC 1pm
  • At Tacofino, waiting for kickass tortilla soup
    At Tacofino, waiting for kickass tortilla soup
  • Sand dollar
    Sand dollar
  • Sweet 65 VW van | Tofino
    Sweet 65 VW van | Tofino
  • Tacofino \ Tofino
    Tacofino \ Tofino
  • Michelle buying 4L of Tacofino's tortilla soup to take home with us (stoked)
    Michelle buying 4L of Tacofino's tortilla soup to take home with us (stoked)
  • Board dragging
    Board dragging
  • Lisa Ahier at Sobo cooking up a delicious duck taco storm
    Lisa Ahier at Sobo cooking up a delicious duck taco storm
  • Tofino Food and Wine Festival
    Tofino Food and Wine Festival
  • Tofino Food and Wine Festival
    Tofino Food and Wine Festival
  • Tofino Food and Wine Festival
    Tofino Food and Wine Festival
  • Hilary's Cheese | Cowichan Valley
    Hilary's Cheese | Cowichan Valley
  • Tofino Food and Wine Festival
    Tofino Food and Wine Festival
  • The path to the point at Pacific Sands
    The path to the point at Pacific Sands
  • The lovely and talented Sarah on her bike
    The lovely and talented Sarah on her bike
  • At the Tofino skatepark
    At the Tofino skatepark
  • Ocean soaked and fire roasted summer corn on a friend's deck
    Ocean soaked and fire roasted summer corn on a friend's deck
  • Andrew & Bobby Honey | Chesterman Beach | Tofino
    Andrew & Bobby Honey | Chesterman Beach | Tofino
  • From our room at the Long Beach Lodge
    From our room at the Long Beach Lodge
  • Long Beach Lodge
    Long Beach Lodge
  • Tofino Tug
    Tofino Tug
  • Tofino Harbour
    Tofino Harbour
  • Sobo Pizza | Tofino
    Sobo Pizza | Tofino
  • Tofino
    Tofino
  • Tofino
    Tofino
  • Tofino
    Tofino
  • Cox Bay
    Cox Bay
  • SOBO goodness at Pacific Sands
    SOBO goodness at Pacific Sands
  • Pacific Sands
    Pacific Sands
  • Pacific Sands
    Pacific Sands
  • Tofino | Eagle Aerie Gallery
    Tofino | Eagle Aerie Gallery
  • Prawns | Tofino
    Prawns | Tofino
  • Tacofino
    Tacofino
  • Tofino
    Tofino
  • Diego and Andrew, Mackenzie Beach, Tofino
    Diego and Andrew, Mackenzie Beach, Tofino
  • Sobo Miso | Tofino
    Sobo Miso | Tofino
  • Dark, intensely flavoured tortilla soup at Tacofino (food truck in Tofino)
    Dark, intensely flavoured tortilla soup at Tacofino (food truck in Tofino)
  • Habit Coffee Victoria
    Habit Coffee Victoria
  • Cherry Point near Cowichan Bay/Maple Bay  396
    Cherry Point near Cowichan Bay/Maple Bay 396
  • Eagle Aerie Gallery | Tofino
    Eagle Aerie Gallery | Tofino
  • The old Sobo menu board
    The old Sobo menu board
  • Victoria Street Scene
    Victoria Street Scene
  • Breakwater Ogden Point Victoria
    Breakwater Ogden Point Victoria
  • Mole - Victoria
    Mole - Victoria
  • Good times roll at Tofino Oyster Festival
    Good times roll at Tofino Oyster Festival
  • Ella at the carving festival in Tofino
    Ella at the carving festival in Tofino
  • Skating a half pipe on the beach
    Skating a half pipe on the beach
  • Tofino dock at sunset
    Tofino dock at sunset
  • Greater White Fronted Geese
    Greater White Fronted Geese
  • Stacking for a feast
    Stacking for a feast
  • Chef Lisa Ahier
    Chef Lisa Ahier
  • Tofino at Sunset
    Tofino at Sunset
  • Tofino Oyster Festival
    Tofino Oyster Festival
  • Tofino Oyster Festival
    Tofino Oyster Festival
  • Superior Beverage - Habit Victoria
    Superior Beverage - Habit Victoria
  • Carving on the beach
    Carving on the beach
  • Tofino forest
    Tofino forest
  • Pow! The Marina in Victoria
    Pow! The Marina in Victoria
  • Victoria chinatown
    Victoria chinatown
  • Beacon Hill park, victoria may 2010 198
    Beacon Hill park, victoria may 2010 198
  • Victoria, Beacon Hill Park
    Victoria, Beacon Hill Park
  • Dudes enjoying the ferry...
    Dudes enjoying the ferry...
  • Ulla
    Ulla
  • Tortellini with peas and carrots
    Tortellini with peas and carrots
  • Rebar, Victoria
    Rebar, Victoria
  • Beacon Hill Drive In, summer, Victoria
    Beacon Hill Drive In, summer, Victoria
  • MacKenzie Beach
    MacKenzie Beach
  • The Wickaninnish | Tofino
    The Wickaninnish | Tofino
  • Bobby Honey and Andrew in Tofino
    Bobby Honey and Andrew in Tofino
  • Goodness at Pacific Sands
    Goodness at Pacific Sands
  • Go to the Tofitian for coffee and monkey bars
    Go to the Tofitian for coffee and monkey bars
  • Bobby cooking corn on Mackenzie Beach
    Bobby cooking corn on Mackenzie Beach
  • Salad, Sobo
    Salad, Sobo
  • Morning mist, Tofino
    Morning mist, Tofino
  • Surfers return at sunset
    Surfers return at sunset
  • Surfing | Tofino
    Surfing | Tofino
  • Tide pool
    Tide pool
  • Mckenzie Beach | Tofino
    Mckenzie Beach | Tofino
  • Tofino
    Tofino
  • Surf, MacKenzie Beach
    Surf, MacKenzie Beach
  • Summer at Bella Pacifica, Tofino
    Summer at Bella Pacifica, Tofino
  • Tofino detail, Roy Henry Vickers
    Tofino detail, Roy Henry Vickers
  • Tofino Lantern Fest
    Tofino Lantern Fest
  • Campfire, Pacific Sands
    Campfire, Pacific Sands
  • Tofino Brewing
    Tofino Brewing
  • Heading to Tofino
    Heading to Tofino
  • Tofino (Marry Me)
    Tofino (Marry Me)
  • Tofino Brewing Co.
    Tofino Brewing Co.
  • Duke on the deck, Tofino
    Duke on the deck, Tofino
  • Tofino lesson #523: always have gumboots at the ready...
    Tofino lesson #523: always have gumboots at the ready...
  • Artie Ahier
    Artie Ahier
  • Skim boarding dog, Tofino
    Skim boarding dog, Tofino
  • Sobo noodles!
    Sobo noodles!
  • Carving Festival, Tofino
    Carving Festival, Tofino
  • Whale Watching, Tofino
    Whale Watching, Tofino
  • Victoria James Bay
    Victoria James Bay
  • Logs at Ogden Beach | Victoria
    Logs at Ogden Beach | Victoria

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