My husband and I will be on the Island for several days in late Sept./early Oct. We plan on staying in the Tofino/Ucluelet area some of the time and wondered if Strathcona Park/Campbell River would also be worth visiting? Any suggestions for good places to stay and eat? We like to hike but we also like comfort!
Thanks for your help.

If you are still looking for a place to stay in Tofino, I highly recommend the Wickanninish Lodge. (Hope I spelled that correctly.) It is built out on the rocks along a beach and all the rooms face the ocean. Nice modern rooms with very nice bathrooms. They all have their own balcony also. The restaurant has tons of windows overlooking the rocky shore and the food is fantastic. The dinner is sort of pricey but well worth it.

My husband talks about the place all the time and wants to go there for the winter storm season!!!

Would recommend the a tiny gourmet restaurant in Tofino called something like the Rain Forest. Excellent food!

Have a great time- we were there in Sept. of last year.

Vancouver Island or Victoria Island?

BAK

Victoria Island??????
There is such a place WAAAAYYYY up north of the Arctic Circle (next to the Beaufort Sea).

Vancouver Island is the big one to the west and across Georgia Strait from Vancouver (the city).

Victoria (the city) is on Vancouver Island.

So are Tofino and Ucluelet.

Glad to hear that the food at the Rainforest Cafe is still excellent. We were there six years ago, and were hoping that it hadn't changed by the time we make our next trip (also for the storm season, probably to the Middle Beach Resort, which really impressed my husband, it's another Wickanninish Inn-type place).

Also many years ago we ate at a place called "The Whale's Tail" in Ucluelet and it had the most mouthwatering fresh seafood ever (don't know if it is still there and don't know if the quality of the food has changed). The ambience was very nautical.

Hmmmm. . . . .I SHALL go down to the sea again. . . . .

if you are interested in renting a house/condo on the beach instead of a hotel, check out "tofino beach rentals". we stayed there in june and were very pleased. balcony off the upstairs bedroom, full kitchen, fireplace, 100 steps to the ocean. very nice. i think most of them run for $250/night.

What a goof!!
I did mean Vancouver Island-thanks to all who looked past my mistake!
The Wickaninnish and Middle Beach Inns were on our list of possibilities-thanks for confirming them. I don't think renting is an option as we plan to move on after 2-3 nights to another spot-the question is where? Got any recommendations? We like to do nature-type things and have about 2 days in which to explore after seeing Tofino. Any thoughts about renting a car once we get to the Island, versus renting one in Seattle and driving/ferrying on up?
Thanks for your advice!

I was just there, and visited another hotel on the west coast: Long Beach Lodge Resort. We didn't stay there, but it looked pretty nice. We also drove around the Pacific Sands Resort. The grounds are gorgeous, and the prices are a lot more reasonable than either the Wickaninnish or Long Beach. We stayed at the Tigh-na-Mara Resort in Parksville, in a 1-bedroom Oceanview Suite. Very, very nice. Beautiful views! We had a good meal at the restaurant there, too.

If you decide to drive up as far as Campbell River, I believe that you'd enjoy spending sometime at the Twa Kwan Luten Lodge on Quadra Island. This resort run by the Kwagiulth people overlooks Discovery Passage and features guest rooms with ocean views from sundecks or patios and/or cottages with private verandas, fireplaces, and kitchenettes. 800 665-7745 Driving further north will take you to the interesting little resort community of Telegraph Cove and beyond that you will encounter Canadian fishing villages and logging operations. If you can get a map of logging roads and a 4 wheel drive rental car, you might consider spending a day in the northern part of the island exploring.

Regarding your question on rental cars, if you can rent one on "Victoria Island" you will save the ferry costs for the vehicle both ways as you can't leave a US rental car in Canada. It would also give you the option of taking a catamaran or sea plane from Victoria back to Seattle. There is a bus line out of Seattle called Quick Coach that might provide you with the transportation options you require. Be advised that the ferry service from Victoria to Port Angeles does not take reservations if you're considering that as a travel option.

We stayed in both Tofino and Campbell River last summer. Lots to do in both places. We enjoyed Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino. Very nice and cozy. In Campbell River, I highly recommend Seaside Cottage
http://seasidecottage.com

The cottage was terrific. Right on the water. We saw sea otters, eagles, etc and also saw the cruise ships going by each evening (although it was in July, not Sept/Oct). Beautiful picture window, great deck, jacuzzi. And kitchen is stocked with breakfast items. Very reasonably priced.