If you have access to a car and want to explore further afield than Victoria, here’s some suggestions of where to visit around Vancouver Island!
You’ll find some trips listed in both sections because a day trip can easily be extended if you’re having too much fun to go back right away!
DAY TRIPS – Places close enough to get there and check things out – then get back the same day!
ADVENTURE AT THE MALAHAT SKYWALK
The Malahat Skywalk The Malahat Skywalk is one of Vancouver Island’s newest attractions, located about 30 minutes from downtown Victoria near the summit of the Malahat Drive. The Malahat Skywalk Spiral Tower Is
AVATAR GROVE – PORT RENFREW
Avatar Grove and "Canada's Gnarliest Tree" Avatar Grove is one of the highlights of a visit to the Port Renfrew area and well worth a visit whether you decide to make the 2 hour drive
THE PACIFIC MARINE CIRCLE ROUTE
The Pacific Marine Circle Route or South Island Spirit Loop The Pacific Marine Circle Route, also now known as the South Island Spirit Loop, follows the coastline from Victoria through Sooke and out to Port
ADVENTURES ON MAYNE ISLAND
Exploring Mayne Island - What to see, What to do. If you have traveled to Vancouver Island on the BC Ferries, you will have passed Mayne Island on your way through the spectacularly scenic Active
DUNCAN, BC – CITY OF TOTEMS
If you're looking for a great day-trip while visiting Victoria, BC, consider a drive up the beautiful Malahat Drive to the city of Duncan, BC. The city is about 50 kilometres from both Victoria to
COWICHAN BAY
Cowichan Bay, BC is a small sea-side community about an hour north of Victoria, BC. For many thousands of years Cowichan Bay was home to First Nations people who harvested the wealth of salmon and
WHIPPLETREE JUNCTION
About 45 - 50 minutes or so north of Victoria right along Hwy #1 is the quaint and unique Whippletree Junction. It's a funky collection of businesses, restaurants and art and craft galleries that's always
CHEMAINUS – CITY OF MURALS
Chemainus is a small town of approximately 3900 and is located about 80 kilometers north of Victoria, BC. The drive itself up to the town is on the breathtaking Malahat Drive which passes through some
THE MCLEAN MILL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
A Trip Back in Time at the McLean Mill National Historic Site, Port Alberni, BC. A 2 1/2 hour drive will take you to one of Vancouver Island most interesting historical sites, the McLean Mill.
COOMBS COUNTRY MARKET
I first happened upon this place over 20 years ago when it was just a ‘country market’ with the added appeal of having goats grazing on it’s turf roof. It was a great place to
HISTORIC KINSOL TRESTLE
For a unique biking or walking experience, I suggest you drive up to see the amazing century old Kinsol Trestle which is now part of the Trans Canada Trail. It's about an hour's drive up
JUAN DE FUCA PROVINCIAL PARK – BOTANICAL BEACH
When visiting Victoria, a really nice day trip is out to Port Renfrew - there you'll find a wonderful place to explore, particularly at low tide - Botanical Beach. The drive to Botanical Beach is
SATURNA ISLAND
A SATURNA ISLAND DAY TRIP While you're in Victoria, you should definitely think about exploring some of the Gulf Islands. If you want a quiet, outdoorsy get away, Saturna Island is probably your choice. With
VINEYARDS
Vancouver Island is fast becoming one of the premier wine growing areas in BC - second only to the Okanagan Unsworth Vineyards, Mill Bay, BC Within the Greater Victoria area here are some
BUS SERVICE OUT-OF-TOWN
Bus Transportation from Victoria to other Vancouver Island Destinations If you're looking for easy, convenient and less expensive ways to get around Vanvouver Island, there are some very good bus services running on the island
SIDNEY SPIT NATIONAL PARK RESERVE
Sidney Spit National Park Reserve is located on Sidney Island, just east of the town of Sidney, BC Sidney Spit is accessible by kayak, canoe or boat. There are 21 mooring buoys, and dock space
ALBERNI PACIFIC STEAM TRAIN, PORT ALBERNI, BC
Welcome to the Alberni Pacific "Steam" Railway! Come ride the rails with the Albenie Pacific Steam Railway! Over the past 20 years the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society has restored a number of pieces
HORNE LAKE CAVES PROVINCIAL PARK
Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park is located about 2.5 hours north of Victoria. (See map and directions at bottom of post) What to do at Horne Lake Caves… Cave Theatre & Museum Come visit the
PORT RENFREW
Port Renfrew is a Beautiful Drive and an Easy Day Trip Port Renfrew is situated near the entrance to the Juan de Fuca Strait and as such allows you to experience full exposure of the
THE GULF ISLANDS, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Just a short ferry ride from Victoria is a series of small islands called the 'Canadian Gulf Islands'. For something very different and memorable, take a ferry ride to one of the many Gulf Islands.
DUNCAN AND CHEMAINUS, VANCOUVER ISLAND
A Driving Tour from Victoria To Duncan and Chemainus, BC If you're looking for other things to do within a day's drive from Victoria, consider driving up the famous 'Malahat' (Highway #1 North) with it's
LONGER TRIPS – These are far enough away that you might want to spend the night (or nights!) and return the next day (or week!).
COWICHAN VALLEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
JUNE 14 - 16, 2024 LAKETOWN RANCH, 8811 YOUBOU ROAD, LAKE COWICHAN, BC The festival is genre-specific to bluegrass and Appalachian-style “old-time” music, which is different than what music fans find at traditional folk festivals
LAKETOWN SHAKEDOWN
JUNE 28 - 30, 2024 8811 Youbou Rd #648 Lake Cowichan, BC Laketown Shakedown takes place June 28-30, 2024 on the beautiful Laketown Ranch in Cowichan, BC on the unceded traditional territory of Ts’uuubaa-asatx, the
THE PACIFIC MARINE CIRCLE ROUTE
The Pacific Marine Circle Route or South Island Spirit Loop The Pacific Marine Circle Route, also now known as the South Island Spirit Loop, follows the coastline from Victoria through Sooke and out to Port
ADVENTURES ON MAYNE ISLAND
Exploring Mayne Island - What to see, What to do. If you have traveled to Vancouver Island on the BC Ferries, you will have passed Mayne Island on your way through the spectacularly scenic Active
A VISIT TO CAMPBELL RIVER
Outdoor Enthusiasts will Love Campbell River, BC Campbell River is the third largest city on Vancouver Island and is literally surrounded by nature. It sits on the 5oth parallel about a 3 hour drive north
WEST COAST TRAIL
One of the best hikes on Vancouver Island is the West Coast Trail. This is not a trail to be taken lightly - it's not a Sunday afternoon type of hike. This is a major
SATURNA ISLAND
A SATURNA ISLAND DAY TRIP While you're in Victoria, you should definitely think about exploring some of the Gulf Islands. If you want a quiet, outdoorsy get away, Saturna Island is probably your choice. With
BUS SERVICE OUT-OF-TOWN
Bus Transportation from Victoria to other Vancouver Island Destinations If you're looking for easy, convenient and less expensive ways to get around Vanvouver Island, there are some very good bus services running on the island
Telegraph Cove, Vancouver Island
Telegraph Cove is named for a coastal telegraph station built a century ago. Kayaking into Telegraph Cove This renowned whale watching outpost retains it's original character as one of the West Coast's last
PORT RENFREW
Port Renfrew is a Beautiful Drive and an Easy Day Trip Port Renfrew is situated near the entrance to the Juan de Fuca Strait and as such allows you to experience full exposure of the
To Courtenay/Comox/Mt. Washington, Vancouver Island
WINTER AND SUMMER ACTIVITIES Vancouver Island If you're in to winter sports, we have a very good ski hill - Mt. Washington - which is about 3 - 3 1/2 hours north of
LONG BEACh, TOFINO, VANCOUVER ISLAND
SIGHTSEEING/PADDLING/WHALE WATCHING/SURFING Vancouver Island Because Vancouver Island is fairly small (about 460 km - or 290 mi x 80 km - or 50 mi) it's easy to get anywhere in a day. But