ABOUT VACATION RENTALS IN VANCOUVER ISLAND
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is a blend of strikingly varied climates and topographies, with snow-capped mountains in the interior, sunny beaches in the east along the Strait of Georgia, and a rugged coastline in the west along the Pacific Ocean. Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The city's interior is lined with cobblestone streets, gas lanterns, and enough Victorian atmosphere to make Charles Dickens envious. Victoria also boasts Canada's warmest climate.
The Greater Victoria area includes the Saanich Peninsula, with the Saanich Inlet to the west and the Strait of Georgia and Gulf Islands to the east. Outdoor activities like golfing, hiking, cycling, canoing, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, whale watching, and freshwater and saltwater fishing makes the area a favorite destination for travelers with a passion for an active outdoor vacation. Visitors to Sidney by the Sea, located at the northern end of the peninsula, will enjoy the Sidney Maritime Museum and the Sidney Aviation Museum. The Brentwood Bay area, a small neighborhood is home to the world famous Butchart Gardens.
From your Vancouver Island vacation rentals by owner, you can drive north from Victoria to Malahat and serve your senses with spectacular views over the Saanich Peninsula to the Gulf Islands. The mountain drive begins at Goldstream Park, home of the salmon spawning run each fall. The waterfront town of Mill Bay is at the north end of Malahat Drive, and is the gateway to the vineyards and cideries of the Cowichan Valley. Just a few miles west of Mill Valley is Shawnigan Lake, a popular getaway for sunbathing, boating, canoing, kayaking, fishing, picnicking, and bird watching.
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Nanaimo, about 70 miles north of Victoria, is a major mainland-to-island ferry terminus to the eastern shore of Vancouver Island.
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Parksville and Qualicum Beach are popular family-oriented beach resorts along the eastern shore. Cave exploration is located near Qualicum Beach at Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park.
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Move further north from Vancouver Island to the Comox Valley for downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing from December to April.
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Mt. Cain Alpine Park is a family-focused resort about two hours north of the town of Campbell River.
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Mount Washington Alpine Resort, the largest on Vancouver Island, boasts the deepest all-natural snow base in Canada with ample opportunities to outdoor lovers of all levels.
Head west from Parksville through majestic mountain scenery to the Pacific Rim National Park, located on the Island's west coast. The breathtaking coastline attracts more than a million visitors a year to vacation rentals in Vancouver Island. Three units comprise the park. The Long Beach Unit, between Tofino and Ucluelet, is the most visited part of the park. Fishing and sea kayaking are popular activities along the scenic, broad sandy beach of Vancouver Island vacation home rentals. Farther south is the Broken Islands, made up of over one hundred small islands and islets in Barkley Sound. The best way to visit the archipelago is aboard the MV Lady Rose. The West Coast Trail Unit, on the south side of Barkley Sound, is named for it's famous 48-mile-long hiking trail compete with rocky beaches,rough and muddy terrains, and rainforest.
