Local Attraction
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Attractions:
- Rainforest Interpretive Center: in the Village of Tofino
- The Whale Center: on Campbell has a great selection of Nature exhibits including a full skull of a gray whale.
- interpretive center at Wickinninish Beach: inside the Park
- Hotsprings: Located 30 miles (about 1.5 hours by boat) the Hot springs are located right
in the heart of pristine Clayoquot Sound in Maquinna Provincial Park. Still in
their natural state, the springs offer you an opportunity to experience the warm
soothing water.
Upon arriving at Hot Springs Cove, there is a marvelous 2 km boardwalk through
the temperate rainforest to the springs. Take a picnic lunch (available from
the hotel), wear good walking shoes and don’t forget to pack your towel
and suit. Weather permitting, the ultimate time to visit the Hot springs is
in the off season. A number of companies offer tours by boat or float plane.
We recommend the following:
By Boat:
Remote Passages: www.remotepassages.com
Ocean Outfitters: www.oceanoutfitters.bc.ca
By Air:
Atleo River Air Service: www.atleoair.com
Westcoast Wild Adventures: www.wcwild.com
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Activities:
- Beach: Beaches attract visitors year-round to the Pacific Rim of Vancouver Island. Long,
pristine beaches framed by mountains and rainforests offer soul satisfying walks
among shells and driftwood.
Long Beach is well named - it’s about 10 km long - vast and unspoiled,
perfect for long beach combing walks or picnics.
There are many smaller beaches to explore, some enclosed by rocky headlands.
Discover more about Pacific Rim National Park - click here - Hiking: There are many options for visitors wishing to walk orhike on rainforest trails or long expansions of beaches. Tofino, Pacific Rim National Park and the village of Ucluelet all offer different options, with different vistas and levels of intensity.
A map outlines the major walking/hiking trails in the area and our staff would be happy to give you information based on your expectations to maximize your personal experience. There is a paved path, along Pacific Rim highway from the Lodge to Tofino, a distance of about 7 km. This trail is also great for bike riding. - Nature Preserves / Trails: Long Beach Nature Tours brings over 25 years of guiding service in the form of
its founder and head Guide Bill McIntyre. The former chief naturalist of Pacific
Rim National Park can help you focus on "Tide pools and Beaches", "Storm
Watching"(weather permitting), and the "Secrets of the Rainforest",
or "Whale Watching by Land" during migration.
Outings can be geared toward a half day or full day and can be set up to meet
individual or group needs.
www.oceansedge.bc.ca - Golf: For those of you that enjoy a round of golf, the area has a very challenging
9-hole golf course on the edge of Pacific Rim National Park.
Long Beach Golf Course (http://www.longbeachgolfcourse.com) has a beautiful
setting, a clubhouse with proshop and a restaurant. The proshop has rentals
for visitors.
Phone-250-725-3332 - Airplane Rides: If you love the west coast of Vancouver Island, you must see it from
the air!
There are several great options:
Tofino Air: www.tofinoair.ca
Atleo River Air Service: www.atleoair.com
Westcoast Wild Adventure: www.wcwild.com - Tours: Backroad 4x4 Adventure
To experience the backcountry, arrange a trip with Raincoast Back Roads Adventures
to the outlying areas of Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds including Mt. Ozzard,
Toquart, or the magnificent Virgin Falls.
Full and half day trips are available with an experienced guide at:
www.raincoastadventures.com - Shopping: Set aside some time to explore the villages of Tofino and Ucluelet. Both villages
are an eclectic mix of small shops, galleries and restaurants. Tofino has outstanding
views of the island studded bay from almost every corner. Artists thrive in the
laid back atmosphere. You’ll find native, contemporary and wildlife art,
also sculpture and jewelry, in demand the world over.
To find local shops and a whole lot more, a great site is
www.longbeachmaps.com - Spa/Massage: With the relaxing mood that we strive to achieve at Long Beach Lodge we offer
you an option to take the pampering one step further with an in-room massage
or a trip to a local spa.
From hot stone therapy to full body massage, facial treatments or aesthetic
services we would be pleased to organize for you the ultimate in relaxation
with the assistance of Sacred Stone Wellness Studio.
www.sacredstone.ca/index.htm - Whale Watching: During the months of March-May witness first hand the incredible 15000km (9500mile)
annual northern migration of approximately 20000 gray whales. These whales feed
in the food rich waters and protected bays of Clayoquot sound on their way to
the Bering Sea from the lagoons of Baja Mexico.
From June to November, view the ‘resident grey whales’ plus a
whole host of other mammals, that visit our coast, including transient Orcas
(killer Whales), Humpback whales, a variety of porpoises, Stellar and California
sea lions and Harbor seals. If you are fortunate enough you may also spy a
sea otter, which are making a comeback from virtual extinction.
A number of excellent operators offer tours in a variety of vessels, from
Zodiacs to large cabin boats:
www.remotepassages.com/index2.html
www.island.net/~whales/
www.browningpass.com
www.jamies.com - Kayaking: People from all over the world come to kayak in Clayoquot Sound, Deer Group Islands,
Barkley Sound and the Broken Island Group for this area of unspoiled, pristine
wilderness is the best anywhere. Experience sightings of whales, sea lions, otters,
seals, black bears and sea birds, and much more from a kayak! Experienced guides,
with an abundance of knowledge about the area, history and wildlife, will teach
the novice the basic skills required for kayaking. A number of great companies
offer a variety of tips from part day to multi day adventures.
We recommend the following:
Clayoquot Sound: Paddle West: www.paddlewest.com
Tofino: Sea Kayaking: www.tofino-kayaking.com
Barkley Sound: Subtidal Adventures: www.subtidaladventures.com - Canoeing/Kayaking: A nice alternative when spending time on the water is paddling with the Nuu-chah-nulth
First Nations guides aboard a 34-foot ocean-going, dugout canoe.
We recommend Tla-ook Cultural Adventures www.tlaook.co
- Surfing: The surf and beaches are more than a pleasure to the eyes. Surfing has been a
major pastime and lifestyle choice for many year round residents. Now more and
more visitors are experiencing the joys of surfing on our wild West Coast. The
ability to " Catch a Wave" is a unique way to experience the water
of the open Pacific. Best of all, our location at Cox Bay is the top surfing
beach in our area.
You can rent a Surfboard, Wakeboard, or Surf Kayak and all the gear that you
need, or have one of our local experts help you with the experience. From short
lessons to full surf camps the Long Beach area offers you a chance to experience
the surfing culture.
We recommend Pacific Surf Schoolor Surf Sister for lessons or rentals. If
you really catch the bug we can direct you toward one of our local builders
for your own custom board. - Fishing:
Salt Water Fishing
All five species of salmon can be found in the waters off Tofino, but coho and
chinook predominate. Both are here most of the year. Sockeye and pink salmon normally
migrate great distances offshore and are seldom seen. A few chum navigate to local
rivers in late October. Winter chinook frequent local waters from October - March,
reaching weights of 15 lbs. One to two pound blueback coho school in January to
March.
Summer fishing begins in April with early Chinook bound for the Fraser and Columbia
Rivers. Weights average 17 - 28 lbs. The bulk of the summer fish are Chinook from
Robertson Creek, Conuma hatchery, Nitinat River and Clayoquot Sound's Kennedy
River. These fish average 25 lbs. Coho arrive early in Tofino, with good schools
encountered as ravenous 5 pounders in June. They commonly feed so heavily that
they grow a pound per week and by September reach the 12 - 15 lb range.
Salmon are the best sports fish in the world. (Weights average from 20-30lbs)
Do not pass up the opportunity to fish salmon shallow salt water by fly. This
sport is becoming very popular.
When the variable weather permits, halibut can be
caught 12 months of the year. June - August is the prime period. Fish up to 200
lbs. have been caught.
We recommend:
Westcoast Fishing Expeditions:
www.westcoastfish.com Matt Olsen 250-726-8221
Weigh West Marina:
www.weighwest.com.
Jay's Clayoquot Ventures:
www.tofinofishing.com
Fresh Water Fishing
Don’t overlook the possibilities of freshwater fishing. Try your luck
at steelhead fishing in a river or rainbow and cutthroat fishing in a lake.
The sights are equally as magnificent as the fishing.
We recommend the following companies:
Jay's Clayoquot Ventures: www.tofinofishing.com
Atleo River Air Service: www.atleoair.com
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