JO’S ISLAND ROAD TRIP

Whale Watching, POP TOP SLEEPING & Long Beach LOUNGING!

I don’t get to visit the island often, but when I do, there sure is something about hitting the road in a Westy that just sets the tone for adventure. The second we pulled out of the driveway and the windows were down, it was game on (and music up). This trip was a first for me in a lot of ways — first time heading west on Highway 4 to Ucluelet and Tofino, first time seeing Cathedral Grove up close, and definitely my first time standing on Long Beach in 29° heat, watching surfers and thinking, This is Canada?!

But before all that, we kicked things off with a bucket list moment (mostly for Dylan): whale watching in Alder Bay. We went out with Seasmoke Whale Watching and I can’t say enough good things about the experience. Seeing whales and sea otters in the wild? Absolute magic. The team at Seasmoke is knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely passionate about what they do. If you're heading north, make this a stop. Trust me.

From there, we cruised the island highway west toward the coast. I'd never done the drive through to Ucluelet and Tofino before, and wow. It’s like driving through a postcard. We toured Ucluelet, hiked the Wild Pacific Trail, stopped at the local market, and grabbed a coffee at The Break Café, which might officially be the busiest coffee shop I've ever seen. But worth it. Friendly chaos. Island vibes in full swing.

Tofino was just as dreamy. We wandered through the little downtown shops, ate lunch at the iconic Tacofino (100% worth the wait), and grabbed ice cream at Tofino Licks. Every corner felt like a perfect blend of surf-town cool and local creativity. I loved stopping in the shops, it gave me such a strong sense of how much passion and care people pour into what they do out here.

The highlight, though? Long Beach.
I’ve seen a lot of beaches, but this one left an impression. It felt like stepping into another country, a true oasis. The wide stretch of sand, the surfers, the heat, the breeze… it just felt like vacation. We stayed all afternoon, walking the shoreline, people-watching, soaking it all in.

We also took time to hike the Rainforest Trail in Pacific Rim National Park, which is something everyone should do at least once. Boardwalks through towering trees, dense green everything, it’s like walking through a live-action nature documentary. On the way back, we stopped at Cathedral Grove, and again, speechless. Standing among those ancient trees makes you feel small in the best way possible.

One of the best parts of this trip was stopping into local visitor centres along the way, not just to grab a map, but to connect. We had some great conversations with the people who live and breathe Vancouver Island and got so many tips we can now pass along to Base Camp customers. There’s nothing like getting advice straight from the locals who really know the land. I'm so glad I had the chance to meet so many amazing people on this trip, most of the time I’m just connecting online, so getting to hang out face-to-face was such a treat

This trip reminded me why I love this work and how amazing the Island is. There’s so much to explore, and doing it in a Westy? It just makes it that much better.

-JO