Summer is in full swing here in Tofino, and what a glorious time it is to be here! The west coast is a busy place during the summers, but there are still many “off the beaten path” adventures to explore.

A day trip to Cougar Annie’s Garden is one that is well worth your while. Now over a hundred years old, this remote pioneer homestead is one of the oldest rural gardens in B.C. and a treasured heritage site. You can take a floatplane up the coast to visit the gardens and learn more about Cougar Annie’s extraordinary and colourful life. Case in point: she’s nicknamed so because of the number of cougars she shot in her lifetime!

Browning Pass Boat Charters offers a fascinating tour to Freedom Cove, a floating artist studio in Clayoquot Sound. Home to Catherine and Wayne Adams, this unique space is a living art project with moving sculptures, walkways, a garden and one-of-a-kind buildings. The resident artists are welcoming hosts, happy to answer questions about their creations as well as their sustainable and off the grid alternative lifestyle.

For the get-into-nature explorers: the Ahousaht Wildside Heritage Trail on Flores Island winds through ancient Sitka forests and over pristine sand beaches. A round-trip hike is 22 kilometres, so it’s recommended to have two days to take in all the fantastic sights. Camping overnight to wake up surrounded by true wilderness is an unmatchable experience.

If time is limited, there are plenty of scenic hikes closer to home, too. A personal favourite of mine is the rainforest trail to Schooner Cove. Just north of Long Beach, this two-kilometre boardwalk takes you over creeks and through mossy rainforest, eventually spilling out at the ocean’s edge. During low to medium tides an absolute must is to continue walking north to the more secluded Schooner Cove beach, don’t mind if the westerly is blowing once you round the corner and a short ways down the beach it will abate. If you arrive at high tide a great option is to walk south towards Incinerator Rock. I suggest packing a lunch and making a day of it, I’m sure you’ll want to spend a few hours exploring the beach when you get there!

These are just a sampling of the many other options available, there is so much to discover in and around our neck of the woods. Our concierge team is always ready to customize an experience or range of experiences that perfectly match what might intrigue you including the option of a hike with a local naturalist through Long Beach Nature Tours. So ask away! We look forward to hearing from you.