Road Trip: Tofino, Vancouver Island, B.C.
Got a gray whale costume? Pack it up and head to Tofino.
By Seattle Mag February 4, 2011
This article originally appeared in the March 2011 issue of Seattle magazine.
WHERE: Tofino, Vancouver Island, B.C., for the 25th Annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival (3/19–3/27; pacificrimwhalefestival.com). WHY: Live music, guided hikes, film screenings, cookoffs, children’s fairs—in all, more than 75 events celebrate the migration of the world’s largest population of California gray whales to the Arctic. BRING: Binocs for a shoreline glimpse of the more than 20,000-strong Pacific population. INDULGE: Chocolate Tofino (1180 Pacific Rim Highway; 250.725.2526; chocolatetofino.com) is a sustainable and organic shop serving sweets conjured from seasonal and local ingredients, such as the region-exclusive Clayoquot blackberry buttercream—just don’t feed it to the whales. GET THERE: Catch the Victoria, B.C., ferry from Port Angeles, then drive north on Island Highway and west on Pacific Rim Highway toward Tofino. Cayla Lambier
Follow Us
Victoria, B.C.: A European-Inspired Getaway in Seattle’s Backyard
With gas prices soaring and flights canceled, a little Old World charm is just a boat ride away.
Skip the airport chaos and discover Victoria, B.C., a European-inspired getaway right in Seattle’s backyard. Explore castles, historic pubs, and high tea.
Every Day Is the Weekend in Carlsbad, California
Seven miles of shoreline and a come-as-you-are pace make this coastal city north of San Diego an easy escape.
It was the first night, first dinner, and our server arrived with the calm authority of a man who loves his job. He set down the ceviche and surveyed the room, with locals at every table and the ocean just blocks away, and said it like he was reporting the weather: “Every day is the…
Whitefish Has Range
James Beard-caliber dining, a thriving literary journal, and a bike ride along Glacier’s famous Going-to-the-Sun Road make this old Western Montana railroad town feel bigger than expected.
The first thing we notice at Herb & Omni is the room itself. Dark-beamed ceilings. Gilded mirrors clustered salon-style across the walls. Pendant lights that belong in a Milanese townhouse. The space feels warm, ornate, and transportive. Even the cocktail menu suggests expectations are about to be rearranged. Then the food arrives. A potato chip…
Summer Getaway: The Quiet Side of Jamaica
Perched above the sands of the island’s South Coast, Bluefields Bay is an idyllic destination that feels refreshingly off the beaten path.
Escape to Bluefields Bay Villas on Jamaica’s quiet South Coast. Discover an off-the-beaten-path luxury resort with private pools and personal chefs.