Day Trip Planner Day trip "TIPS" to the many attractions surrounding The Ocean view Motel , points of interest, communities, trails, and provincial parks. Click and explore Saanich Peninsula: A day trip through Saanich Peninsula will be an unforgettable day of exploration City Of Victoria: BC's capital city and famous for it's comfortable lifestyle and old world charm. Up Island Attractions: A must, visit friendly cities, colourful fishing villages, long sandy beaches, rivers, lakes and jagged peaks.

A Day Trip up Island and Attractions along your route

Shawnigan Lake: Take the side trip to this popular summer cottage area. This beautiful lake means good swimming, water skiing, canoeing and fishing. Near the south end of the lake is Memory Island Provincial Park with boat access only. On the northwest side is West Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park. Drive back to Hwy 1, or continue on and rejoin Hwy 1 at Mill Bay.

Cowichan Bay: Take a short side trip off Hwy 1 to Cowichan Bay. This sport fishing and forestry village has a somewhat weathered charm.

Wooden Boat Society and Cowichan Maritime Centre: Located in village centre, the Society offers courses in small boat building. There are a number of hands-on exhibits.

Return to Hwy 1. 54km (33.4mi) north of Victoria, is Whippletree Junction, a recreated turn-of-the-century village.

Cowichan River: From the headwaters at Cowichan Lake, the river winds its way through canyons and forests, past Duncan , through native reserve and into Cowichan Bay. This river is well known for rainbow and steelhead trout and the salmon runs. Easily reached, due to the Cowichan River Footpath that leads to the most popular fishing spots.

Duncan: 62km (38.4mi) north of Victoria is the main centre for the 50,000 plus residents that live in the Cowichan Valley. It is also home to the Cowichan Native, B.C.'s largest native band. Duncan, calls itself the "City of Totems" with 41 totems throughout the city. Look for them at the intersects and the downtown area.

Native Heritage Centre: Located at 200 Cowichan Way featuring a large number of native arts, crafts and books. Included are Cowichan hand-knit sweaters, mitts, toques and other items. Children's programs with beadwork, weaving and knitting. The restaurant offers native foods.

Cowichan and Chemainus Valleys Ecomuseum Society: Taking in the two valleys, the Ecomuseum has no walls. Residents are involved in showing their heritage, the value and beauty of this region. This Ecomuseum is the only one of this kind in Canada.

Somenos Lake: Nesting and wintering habitat for a number of waterfowl and upland bird species, owned by Nature Trust of BC. View from the pullout or take the short trail to the nesting project managed by Ducks Unlimited Canada.

B.C.Forest Museum: Through the help of both indoor and outdoor exhibits, you can see the history of B.C.'s forest industry. It also has a working sawmill and resorted planer mill, and a blacksmith's shop. See log sawing, bucking, shake splitting and paper making. The narrow-gauge steam locomotive runs through a farm, a logging camp and a forest.

Chemainus: Located on Stuart Channel, 78 km (48.3mi) from Victoria, Chemainus is just off Hwy 1 and well worth the stop. Since 1982, the painting of 32 giant wall murals depicting the history of the area, done by local artists, has managed to attract thousands of tourists a year. It's becoming a major art centre.

Ladysmith:It started as a home for coal miners, when mining died out, the economy in the 1930's switched to forestry. Now tourism is increasing in importance. The downtown core and heritage buildings have been given a facelift.

Main Street Ladysmith: Take a walk on 1st Avenue and check out the restored heritage buildings, as well as the gift shops, art gallery, antiques and collectibles.

Transfer Beach: On Ladysmith Harbour, this local park offers swimming, picnicking, and a wooden waterfront walkway that leads to heritage harbour site.

At 93km (57.6mi) north of Victoria, take the Cedar Road (south access) to Cedar and Yellow Point. Along this route you will find Roberts Memorial Provincial Park, Quennell Lake, Homer Provincial Park and Brother Twelve.

Brother Twelve: In the 1920, a middle-aged English sea captain, named Edward Arthur Wilson formed an occult brotherhood and called himself Brother Twelve. From the settlement "Cedar-by-the-Sea", this New-Age prophet took money from this many followers, to keep the Brotherhood operating. The House of Mystery is located on a cliff above the boat ramp on Nelson Road. From here Brother Twelve moved his group to De Courcy Island, accessible by private boat and established his group on the island's south end, now Pirate's Cove Provincial Marine Park. It's rumored that he and his companion disappeared with large sums of money. From here Cedar Road continues and joins Hwy 1.

Back on Hwy 1, cross Nanaimo River,a major fishing spot. Just a bit beyond the Nanaimo River Bridge, is the Bungy Zone and Nanaimo Lakes. If planning to go to Nanaimo Lakes, you must check in with Fletcher Challenge at their Security Gate, as this is a logging road only.

Nanaimo: This is the second largest city on the island, and is 110km (68mi) north of Victoria. Hwy 1, the Trans-Canada, leaves Vancouver Island at Departure Bay ferry terminal. Nanaimo comes from the Coast Salish natives who were known as Snenymo. The first coal mine was opened in 1852 and mining continued until World War 11. Today, Nanaimo is the island's largest export centre, and a major ferry terminal, and is also in the process of a major beautification project. The industrial area is moving from the downtown waterfront to industrial parks. Walkways, gardens, lawns and beaches are replacing them. Nanaimo, has about two dozen parks and offers a number of shopping malls and specialty shops.

The Bastion: Located at the corner of Bastion and Front Streets, built in 1853 by the Hudson Bay Company. for protection. The Bastion collection depicts life from 1850-1880. During the summer, to salute visitors by sea or land, is the Noon Gun ceremony.

Heritage Buildings: The Nanaimo Courthouse, The Palace Hotel and many others. The infocentre, at 266 Bryden Street, has guidebooks.

Pacific Biological Station: On Hammond Bay Road, this federal station established in 1908, is one of the largest fisheries research labs in Canada.

The Bungy Zone: A specially designed bridge over the Nanaimo River, was the first Bungy Bridge in North America. Take a leap if this is your idea of adventure.

Newcastle Island Provincial Marine Park: This island in Nanaimo Harbour can be reached by private boat or foot-passenger ferry.from Swyalana lagoon (behind arena). Newcastle Island , formerly a coal mine site and CPR Resort, offers swimming, water-skiing, fishing, hiking and history.

Petroglyph Provincial Park: South of Nanaimo, trails to native rock carvings, that represent humans, birds and animals. Check with Nanaimo Centennial Museum at 100 Cameron Street.for the other petroglyphs around the area.

Garbriola Island Ferry: Car and passenger ferry from downtown Nanaimo will take you to Gabriola Island.

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island, is the largest North American island in the Pacific. From Victoria to Cape Scott, the island is 450km (280mi) long and anywhere from 80km (49.6mi) to 100km (62mi) wide. The west coast of Vancouver Island is rugged, with deep fjords, penetrated by long inlets and lofty mountains that overlook the island. The west coast area is where you will find the fishing and logging communities. The east coast of the island is peaceful. It's rich with fishing stream, farmlands, timber, lovely sandy beaches, quaint villages, bustling towns, cities and the capital city of Victoria. Vancouver Island abounds with great fishing, whether it be ocean, lake or river fishing. There are hundreds of hiking trails, from the novice hiker to the experience backwoods hiker, you'll find the trails that suit your capabilities. Go whale watching, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, beach combing or plain sight seeing the many historic and heritage sites on the Island. It's all there and yours to seek and enjoy.

Getting to Vancouver Island is simple. It is well served by BC Ferries , a government-owned vehicle and passenger fleet with over 40 ships serving Vancouver Island and the B.C. coast. From the lower mainland you sail from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, 32km (19.8mi) north of Victoria, on Vancouver Island. The second BC Ferry Terminal is at Nanaimo (Departure Bay) with sailings from Tsawwassen as well as Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. The southern Gulf Islands that include, Salt Spring, the Penders, Galiano, Mayne and Saturna are also serviced by BC Ferries from both Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. For other Gulf Island destinations, check with BC Ferries.