Vancouver Island Reviews and Information

With Labour Day weekend here in our faces, there will be plenty of fun events going on this weekend. First off, in Ladysmith LABOUR DAY PICNIC IN LADYSMITH Sept. 1 11am – 3pm Transfer Beach Park, Ladysmith 250-753-0201 Nanaimo, Duncan & District Labour Council host their 18th annual Labour Day Picnic at Transfer Beach Park in Ladysmith on Monday September 1st. It runs from 11 to 3 and is free for all. VANCOUVER ISLAND BLUES BASH Aug 29 – Sept 1 12:30pm free concerts 7pm evening ticketed concerts Ship Point, Victoria’s Inner Harbour www.jazzvictoria.ca Victoria’s Inner Harbour will be rockin’ and groovin’ with live R&B all Labour Day weekend long. The Vancouver Island Blues Bash features groups like Jim Byrnes, the Lloyd Jones Struggle plus lots of free daytime concerts. Have a good one!

Honeymoon Bay is located on the southern shore of Cowichan Lake. A popular tourist destination today, Honeymoon Bay offers a community hall, volunteer fire department, general store, butcher shop, and a post office to support the surrounding resorts and holiday industry. Whether you come for the pristine waters of Cowichan Lake, Nitinat Lake, or the Cowichan River, or whether you visit the ancient forest of the Carmanah Walbran, or hike the West Coast or Juan de Fuca Trails, you will find it easy to satisfy your desire for adventure in this area. Excellent fishing, swimming, kayaking, and boating are all at the community's doorstep. Home to the Cowichan River Footpath in the Cowichan Valley its a historic 20-km trail that winds its way along the north and south sides of the scenic Cowichan River, from Glenora to Skutz Falls. Although originally constructed and used by anglers, the Cowichan River Footpath connects all the river's parks and makes for an excellent scenic hike alon

Tofino is really truly one of the most memorable places on Vancouver Island. Tofino is an amazing fishing village at the tip of Esowista Peninsula near the entrance to Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island/close to Ucluelet. Tofino is a rapidly growing tourist centre for Long Beach and other Pacific Rim destinations. Once a timber and fishing town, Tofino has become a population destination for the world. Tofino's docks bustle with local fishermen and act as launching points for numerous sea kayaking, whale watching, wildlife, hot springs and cultural tours. Local boats also supply the 1,500 residents of five Nuu-chah-nulth communities and others who make their homes on the nearby islands and secluded shores of Clayoquot Sound. The economy of the relaxed, vacation destination of Tofino is largely dependent upon tourism and aquaculture. Surfing is one of the main attractions, here are some of the Surf schools and shops to check out! Tofino Surfing Lessons and Surf Sh

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 - Cobble Hill This weekend is the annual Cobble Hill fall fair, located at the Cobble Hill fair grounds downtown Cobble Hill. Amazingly enough this will be the 99th fall fair for this town! Cobble Hill is located between Mill Bay and Duncan - The population of Cobble Hill is about 15,000 and has been a small farming town. Organized by the Cobble Hill Farmers' Institute, itself a venerable group with a fine history, the show's aims are simple: celebrate the area's rural heritage and bounty, its culture, industries and environment and have a great time at this annual reunion. There is a parade at 9:30 downtown Cobble Hill starting on August 24th! Victoria FREE - FringeKids Fest Add To Trip Planner Starts: August 23, 2008 Ends: August 23, 2008 Intrepid Theatre presents: FringeKids Fest This free day of live entertainmnet, crafts, activities, facepainting and fun especially for kids and families is part of the 22nd Annual Victoria Fringe Theatre

An exciting upcoming event in Victoria is the Rifflandia Music Festival, which takes place August 29th to August 31st. The line-up is compiled mostly of local musicians some of which include Colourbook, Dreamboat, Acres of Lions, The Paper Cranes, Seven Year Old Poets and The Set. You can also catch more familiar artists such as Final Fantasy, The Walkmen, Sweatshop Union, Black Mountain, You Say Party! We Say Die!, and Lion Thief. To attend, you have the option of buying a festival wristband, which will allow you to view any show at any venue. Wristbands cost $58.00 (plus GST & Service Charges) and can be purchased at The McPherson Box Office (250-386-6121), Lyle’s Place, Ditch and www.rmts.bc.ca All other shows allow you the option of buying a single ticket for whichever night, but the following shows have a limited supply and can only be purchased at The McPherson Box Office: - Black Mountain - Friday August 29 @ The Royal Theatre (All Ages) $25.00 + Service Charge - Man Man

A couple years ago in my infinite wisdom I decided to take off for the summer and picked up a job in Bamfield working at the lodge there. It was the first time I had ever been and I thought I was truly lost after driving on a mediocre gravel road for over an hour. The road was first built in 1963 and is still an active logging road, so if you happen to be driving it (especially in the summer when it's dry) be sure to pull over and wind up your windows. I was driving the road twice a week back and forth and I had dust in my car where you would never imagine. There are other ways of getting there - floatplane, boat, and the M.V Lady Rose which boards in Port Alberni. The population of Bamfield is about 200 off season, but swells immensely in the summer, as it attracts visitors, fishers, camping and hikers. It is close to the West Coast trail. I met people from ALL over, literally. There is one store in the town, which is also the liquor store. Bamfield is also seperated by an inlet,

Coombs is well known for their Old Country Market which is open currently for the 2008 season. Store hours are from 9am to 7pm everyday. Restaurant hours from 9am to 6:30pm and garden center hours from 9am to 5:30pm. The market boasts local produce, ice cream and many different shops and gift stores to visit. The Market was made famous by the goats that live on top of the roof! The population of Coombs, which lays between Parksville and Qualicum is about 2,000. Butterfly World and the Emerald Forest Bird Garden are some other attractions. You can stroll amongst hundreds of exotic butterflies flying free in an indoor tropical rainforest. View the entire life cycle of the amazing butterflies. Amazing flowering plants and foliage, fascinating birds, waterfalls and streams all help out to make this a photographer's paradise and an entertaining experience for the entire family. Also located in Coombs is the World Parrot Refuge, which provides a safe home for abandoned and previously own

Mmmm the smell of cotton candy and cow manure! The Vancouver Island Exhibition is on this weekend! It's located at 2300 Bowen Road Nanaimo. Children 6 and under - Free Ages 7-12 - $3.00 Youth 13-18 - $6.00 Adult 19-64 - $9.00 Senior 65+ * - $6.00 Three Day Passes ** - $18.00 Just to note all parking can be accessed on Labieux Rd, so don't try to turn off on Bowen, it isn't happening. The Kiltlifters are playing today at 6:30 followed by a Fleetwood Mac tribute band at 9:30, could be good! check out more information and what's going on at www.viex.ca <-----

My swimming hole at Nanaimo River, summer time heaven!

Finding the beginning of the trail down Nanaimo River Rd can be the biggest challenge as it is basically unmarked. Access to the Nanaimo Pipeline trail via the Nanaimo River Road can be found about 8km from the main island highway at the Pipeline Trail access (look for two white gates on either side of the road). Unmarked but look for some small signs courtesy TRAILS BC. It's easy to miss as the signs are very small and unoticeable. Once on the trail there are many popular swimming holes along the trail and it can be quite busy in the summer. I often go with my dogs offleash in the spring and fall, where I rarely see anyone. The trail also leads down to Nanaimo River white rapids and there are markers leading down to the trail.

Today we decided to check out Petroglyph Park, I pass it all the time near the old highway but have never checked it out. It's located just past Southgate mall area and just before entering downtown. There is a small parking lot and it is NOT an offleash park. All in all it isn't much of anything - the entire walk is not more than 10 minutes and the petroglyphs are not much to see. The sandstone was very eroded. These prehistoric rock carvings could potentially be more than 1000 years old. Interstingly enough locations for rock art carvings were often chosen carefully, and are usually made at places of power or mystery – places where the forces of nature are believed to be especially strong. These areas are usually marked by natural features such as waterfalls, rock formations or caves, and most are near water. Petroglyph park is meters away from the ocean. It's a cute Provincial Park, but if you're looking for a serious walk or hike with your pet it will disappoint.

This weekend is the annual Parksville Sandcastle Competition it's going August 8-10 and the sandcastles will be on display until September. The sculpting competition has been happening since 1982, when they hosted their first "B.C. Open". 100 people went to the first event and it was hailed successful. From the BC Open to its present day title "Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition", This event is now a world class competition. Recent years have brought in over 427,601 visitors to our Sand Sculpting Exhibition. The event is located at the Parksville Community Park on Corfield Road off Hwy 19A (Exit 46).

Since the arrival of summer many people I know (myself included) are interested in going to local farmers markets. A great opportunity to support the 100 mile diet and local vendors, take full advantage of what Vancouver Island has to offer. I've listed the cities and dates for your viewing pleasure! Pier Street Farmers Market (Campbell River) When is it happening? Sundays! Cedar Farmers Market (Cedar/Nanaimo) When is it happening? Sundays Comox Valley Farmers Market (Courtenay) When is it happening? Wednesday and Saturday Crofton Market (Crofton) When is it happening? Saturdays Market in The Square (Duncan) When is it happening? Saturdays Duncan Farmers Market (Duncan) When is it happening? Saturdays Luxton Station Market Society (Langford) When is it happening? Saturday Bowen Road Farmers Market (Lantzville) When is it happening? Wednesdays Nanaimo North Farmers Market (Nanaimo) When is it happening? Saturday Nanaimo Downtown Farmers Market (Nanaimo) When is it happening? Fridays