A Weekend in Vancouver Island

Hi Wanderers! I thought I would share Tyrell and I's weekend itinerary from Ucuelet and Tofino. This post will include what we did, what we didn't do, and what we wished we would have done. This was our first time visiting Tofino and Ucuelet, and hopefully will help you out on your future trip to the west coast!

We started our trip at 4 AM. We really wanted to make the most out of the time we had, so we booked a 6 AM ferry ride. I would recommend going as early as you can. We got breakfast, and then slept in the car during our ride so we would be energized for the long day ahead. When you arrive in Nanaimo, It's a little over a two hour drive to Ucuelet. Tyrell and I stopped along the way at Cathedral Grove, which is a beautiful hike halfway to Ucuelet. It has some of the oldest trees as they have been untouched by the modern world and it is magical. If you are touring the area, it is a must see. After you continue on, there are many little spots with stairs along the highway to stop and view the scenery around you.

Arriving in Ucuelet, we checked out the local thrift shops and apothecaries, wandered the town, and explored the area. There are plenty of local shops that have unique handmade products. After our wander we headed to check in at Waters Edge Shoreside Suites. This resort is right along the water with very private rooms that have an outdoor tub, fireplace, and much more. They make you feel as if it is a home away from home. I can't express enough how incredible it was to wake up in the morning to the view of mountains, ocean, and beautiful greenery all around. Plus instead of birds waking you up, it's the sound of seals playing on the bank. Perfect spot to have a morning coffee before a busy day of adventure. If you plan on staying in Ucuelet, this is hands down the best spot.

We spent most of our evening relaxing on the patio of the suite, getting ready for dinner and watching Love it or List it Vancouver. I don't know why but there is something about HGTV in a hotel room to really sink in that you're on vacation for us. Every time we stay somewhere, we always put it on while having down time. Hilarious.

We went for a late dinner at Ucuelet's "Pluvio". Now I won't share too many spoilers... We didn't have any expectations or knowing of where we were going. When we arrived at dinner, the tone was set from the start. It is a smaller space so I recommend booking your reservation in advance. This place completely blew us away. We did the three course menu which has plenty of options for your starter, main, and dessert. They have creative, stunning cocktails with an open concept bar and kitchen so you can really feel like you are apart of the experience. They came along with beautifully presented appetizers and tasters throughout the evening in-between courses, and the courses were filling and delicious. This was the best restaurant I have been to. I don't mean to be dramatic but there were a few times I felt like tearing up at how amazing our experience was. It was the perfect spot for a special evening. If you are headed to Ucuelet, Pluvio is a must. You will not be disappointed! I recommend the "Midas Touch" cocktail, or the duck thigh starter. If you aren't into duck, the Tuna Crudo was also amazing! ( If I could, I would have both everyday.)

After a good night's sleep, We headed into our day trip to Tofino. I have been wanting updated pictures of Tyrell and I for our room so we got ready and headed to Long Beach. It was a beautiful sunny morning and although it was cold, we set up my tripod and made the most of it. Photo's have always meant so much to me as they truly speak 1000 words, and hold so many memories. We ran back to the car with wet sandy feet and lots of adrenaline from the freezing water and continued the drive to the little surf town. When we arrived we went to Rhino Coffee House for breakfast. This place is definitely a hot spot but worth the wait! My usual go to dirty chai latte tasted like Tofino (in the best way) and set us up for a great day. We wandered the town and checked out the surf shops and what else was available to us for the day. I will say If I could go back, I would've booked a surf lesson. Tyrell and I tried to rent scooters for the day to explore, but something was going on with the young man behind the desk and he didn't seem like he wanted to help us. We puts'd around for most of the day and I think because it's early Spring, a lot of the business had short hours. If I could change anything, I would recommend booking that surf lesson, it's our only regret! We headed to Tacofino for a late lunch and people are so right when they say the line up is worth it. It was the perfect pick me up for our hangry moods. We went to Tofino Brewing Co. for a beverage and headed home in the rain. We stopped at "Rainforest" Which is a short 1km hike. I felt like I was on a tropical vacation. the tree's sheltered us from the rain and the greenery was glowing around us, being in nature can definitely put a smile on my face and this was something special to appreciate. We arrived back in Ucuelet and went to Abbonadanza Pizza for a comforting dinner and that's exactly what we got! Best authentic Italian Pizza I've had in awhile, with a warming environment to keep you from the cold. We headed back to our suite to warm up by the fire and went for a late night beer at Ucuelet Brewing. They play the best tunes to sing along to and we finished our evening with with a card game of GOLF.

This was our last day. We woke up, checked out, and got ready to head home. We went to Zoe's Cafe for our morning fuel. I started to get really bad allergies so I wasn't the happiest camper but I got a warm tea and breakfast and it helped me through the day. They had a wonderful bakery with so many treats, I wanted to get one of each just to take home. We went to Ucuelet's Aquarium, which is quite a sight to see. They are a non profit organization and they home local fish and reef for a season and then release them back to the ocean, which is something I feel more than happy to support. It was great to see what beautiful creatures live off our beaches! A little terrifying for me because I didn't realize how many things were alive at the bottom that we don't see.. but still super neat! We then headed to the lighthouse loop hike which was beautiful. Every look out point gave you a different view of the ocean as the tides came in. It is a little over 2km so be ready to get moving! On our drive to the ferry we stopped at a short hike "Hole in the Wall" where an old pipeline once was and it was the coolest photo spot. If you have an extra 30 minutes, this is super neat to see! We planned on stopping at the Old Market to see "Goats on the Roof" in Coombs but sadly they had a power outage and had to close. If I were to go back I would definitely make this a priority as I've heard great things about the food, local shopping, and overall experience. We got to the ferry and reservations were sold out so we crossed our fingers and thankfully made it on the last 4% availability. (PSA... ALWAYS book ferries in advance) We reminisced over all the weekend's moments on the boat, and I can't wait to return.

Thanks for reading if you've came this far, and I hope this helps with planning your future Island trip. There is so much joy and clarity Ucuelet and Tofino bring, it should be a bucket list destination for any wanderer up for an adventure. This is my first of hopefully many travel blogs, and I hope to be back soon!

Cheers,

Hunty