While planning a family summer vacation in 2000, my family and I decided to visit Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
In making the arrangements, we were pleasantly surprised that the ferries that transport vehicles and passengers from the BC mainland to the island could easily accommodate a large forty foot recreational vehicle such as ours.
Our first destination was Victoria BC. It is situated on the southern tip of the island. The city is very beautiful, having a nostalgic and royal feel to it, with the gorgeous and majestic Empress Hotel, welcoming visitors from all around the world.
There are numerous attractions to visit in Victoria, including the Royal London Wax Museum, the Victoria Bug Zoo, the Miniature World, and the Royal British Columbia Museum.
The RBCM was founded in 1894, and is one of the only archival institutes in British Columbia that contains archives of the Government including such collections as photographs, paintings, maps, and video tapes. The social and the political history of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest is the emphasis of this museum.
There are also cobblestone streets and horse drawn carriages found throughout Victoria evoking the imagination of what life must have been like centuries before.
With all good things having to come to an end, we were soon packing up to continue our journey to the other end of the island. The next stop on the map was Campbell River Fishing Village and RV Park.
As the name suggests, fishing is normally plentiful, the people are warm and friendly, and the accommodations are great.
A fellow fisherman gladly shared his catch with us after learning that we had tried to catch our own fish with little luck.
That evening after dinner, we observed the luxury passenger ships passing as we looked out over the nearby bay, destined for unknown and exotic ports.
Having the Northern tip of the island yet to explore, we were on our way again the next morning. This time, we had heard of a little known destination called Telegraph Cove, a must see for campers, tourists, and locals. Telegraph Cove RV Park and Resort, offers several amenities including shopping, camping, and even a restaurant.
Activities seemed to be the focus of the welcoming cove we found that day. Included were kayaking, fishing, and whale watching. We chose the whale watching, as it is something we had not yet experienced. The Orcas were the center of attention that afternoon as they would swim right next to the boats, showing their interest with our visit to their home. It was easily the experience of a lifetime.
Upon returning to the campground, we learned of a community barbeque that was planned for that evening. Everyone planned to bring food and after preparing our dish, we joined the festivities. As we listened to our fellow guests, I realized that most were returning visitors or residents of the area. I was happy that someone had been generous enough to share this little known place with us. Our wondrous adventure had gotten even better.
