Going to the island.

[Aquattro]

Steve, you've been here, right??

Goats on the roof of Coombs market is known world wide. Yes, a real market with real goats. Kinda cool.
Tons of great fish and chips, but http://www.redfish-bluefish.com/ gets great reviews, right in Victoria.
As Tyler mentioned, Botanical Beach is cool, tons of little tide pools with burrowing urchins, my kids loved going there.
Butchart on a Saturday night hosts a fireworks display that shouldn't be missed, try to get there then.

[KevinK]

ok so my input, not knowing how long you want to stay, ore if you camp in tent, trailer ore hotel.

so come down to victoria,

visit Shaw ocean discovery, and walk a bit around in Sidney,

than when you like go to the butcher gardens (depends on how much you and the kids are into plants)

find a place to sleep

mornings head down to Victoria, se to make the day there.

find a place to sleep

make your way to the West shore, and go to Sooke (when it is nice and warm, I agree go to the pot holes)
from here you go all the way to Prot Renfrew (past all the nice beaches (Mystic Beach, Sombrio Beach or Botanical Beach ) and

you can camp on your way at Gordan river on the beach for about $15 ore drive all the way to Port Renfrew.

strawl the marina’s (ohhh thy are so nice)

from here you can ore find a place to sleep, ore drive towards gordan river / cowichan lake, and camp there

I love this short trip from sook to here (you can Easley do it in one day, but take your time and spot bears (we always do)

mornings you head to duncan, and from there towards Coombs/Parksville/Qualicum



- I think Parksville has there annual sand castle contest on, check there website !
- Coombs, thy have the goats on the roof and is noce to spend a 2 ore 3 hours

you can camp again at Englishman river falls.

mornings you head up to Cathedral grove, go for a walk and head to port albernie.

definitely take the day trip on the lady rose and stay overnight again


sorry, now my time is up, I have to go,

but you could go from here even further up island if you want and take the ferry back to vancouver

[Leon71]

Thanks for all the info. I think I will pass on the Shaw centre and Gardens and go up the west coast instead. Especially if they paved across to Cowichan. Been on that road about 16 years ago and it was crazy. Definitely want to show my kids the Coombs goats. We will be stationed at Ladysmith, and doing day trips from there. Probably check out the Vancouver aquarium on the way back off the island. Then Hell's gate. I know I won't have a chance to see it all in four days, but will try to cram in some really cool things for the kids.

[pinhead]

Just got back from Tofino a few days ago. One of our favorite places to go. If you have teenagers I would recommend: sea kayaking to the big trees on Meares Island, a hike to the crashed World War II plane near radar hill or a whale watching tour. My brother-in-law took a Zodiac tour last Wednesday and saw Orcas, Eagles, Sea Lions, Sea Otters and Puffins.