After seeing quite a negative review of Tofino today...starting to wonder a *little* re: our potential trip late Sept. (Perhaps refer to other thread re: Tofino from this week for more, if you haven't seen latest comments from others, already.) We have a long, long way to drive to get to this region...
hoping it will be as special as I've read.

I realize there are very different tastes & all! But, has anybody been to the Olympic Peninsula/Coast...or the Oregon Coast, who might compare it to the West Coast of Vancouver Island? (or the Gulf or San Juan Islands?) Even if it's quite similar...we'd like to experience it, I think. 'Course since we can't go 'til late Sept...it's not high summer by any stretch, but still sounded like it might be worthwhile, even post-high season.

Would also appreciate the latest reviews on Middle Beach Lodge, Long Beach Lodge & the 'Wick'. We've been leaning towards the Middle Beach place, based on prior postings here. (altho' all sound pretty terrific)

Again, however, after reading another's posting today...since they didn't really feel like *ever* going back to Tofino...
you gotta wonder too if Middle Beach Lodge wasn't winning their hearts over either?
It leaves me wondering, at least.

So, any recent reports or recommendations for lodging in Tofino would be wonderful to have, as well! If anyone else is not that keen on Tofino area, please DO share, too!!
There's a place for healthy dissent here...
after all, it's how we all compare & figure out, just where we'd like to explore next. So, any reviews & comments are welcome on this thread! Thanks!

......I've stayed in all the areas
you've mentioned and Tofino is very
much like the little towns in the
Gulf Islands/San Juans. In fact,
it reminds me of Coupeville on Whitby.

You go to Tofino and environs for the
sheer beauty of the surroundings and
the chance to submerge (!) yourself
in its tranquility. Culture? Hmmm,
not really. Good restaurants? Yes,
oddly enough! Middle Beach Lodge -
good value for the money plus vistas
to remember!

Go, enjoy - September will be gorgeous!

Hi there,

I'll weigh in with my views on Tofino. These will be general comments because I haven't stayed in any of the hotels that you mention, though I've heard great reviews of Long Beach Resort and the Wickaninnish Hotel.

When my husband and I go to Tofino we always stay in B&Bs with a private entrance, some miles from Tofino, on Chesterman Beach (a few hundred yards from the Wick Hotel). Our main reason for going to Tofino is to get away from big city life and just spend time together without too much interaction with other people. (Nothing against other people: in fact, all our other holidays are geared towards cities, art galleries, museums, architecture, theatres and so on. We just like the change of pace in Tofino).

I've never visited the Oregon Coast, unfortunately. Friends of ours here in BC go camping there regularly, but say they have a slight preference for Tofino. It's just hard for them to find camping spots in Tofino in mid-summer.

When I think of Tofino, I think of long walks along the beaches, exploratory walks along the trails in the rain forest, sitting in our B&B reading or listening to the radio or just enjoying a glass of wine and my husband's company. It's a complete change of pace from our life in the city and I think I would just shrivel up if I couldn't get over to Tofino at least once a year. This year we'll be spending only one week there (in November) and that doesn't seem like nearly enough. If I could get time off work, I'd book the B&B for a month or even longer.

It's true that the town of Tofino isn't big and exciting. We drive into the town only to buy groceries or go to the bank or maybe eat out (there are some great restaurants). We're not into whale-watching or fishing so we don't have much other reason to go into town. It does have a slightly hippie, 1960s atmosphere but you don't have to be part of that if you don't want to (it would be a real stretch of the imagination to describe my husband and me as hippies).

I was really surprised by the negative review of Tofino that you mentioned. It sounds to me as though maybe the poster had unrealistic expectations. I have to emphasize that for us, our trips to Tofino are just a chance to do nothing except enjoy nature and each other's company in some of the most beautiful surroundings I've found in western Canada (where I've lived for forty years). If we could live there full-time, we would. I can't think of a stronger recommendation.

Just go. You'll love it. I'll be pleased to post more ideas of things to do there, if you tell me some of your interets. We've been regular visitors to Tofino since we got married ten years ago.

It's just struck me that I haven't watched news on television since our last trip to Tofino in October 2003. Our B&B had only a radio, no t.v., and I got into the habit of listening to the news on the radio. I carried on that habit once we returned to the city and don't miss t.v. news at all.

Thank you both for your wonderful replies! I'm feeling encouraged again. Will write more later when I can grab some minutes. I'm at work now & just had to peek. ;-)
Appreciate your time & feedback so much!! - Rosemary

I live in Tofino so am somewhat biased. We moved here from Vancouver after coming over for winter holidays several years in a row. I'm also in the accommodation business. Anyway, I have visited the Olympic Penninsula in Washington often as well as the Oregon coast. They are both beautiful areas but are both very different. Same with Tofino and surrounding area. The beaches are magnificant! You can walk for miles on hard-packed sand along beaches backed entirely by forest. If you want to venture out then go kayaking or out with the First Nations in a cedar dug-out canoe (now there's culture for you)!
It is not the entertainment or shopping capital of the world (although we residents do get treated to plays and other live entertainment from time to time.) The Pacific Rim Music Festival is on soon with live jazz, chamber music, pianos under the stars, etc.
Tofino is spectacularily situated and the views from the town are wonderful! I think Tofino has a "heart" in it's town centre. There are only 1600 extremely lucky people living here BTW.

You are one fortunate person, ginocat, to live in the Tofino area. It is a family favourite and for many on the Island where I live. We'll be back this winter!

Cheers,
L

I think when you say "negative post" you're referring to the person (15kids)who said the beaches in Ontario were just as good. (??!!) Ontario's not on the ocean!
It seems to me that that poster (15kids) was expecting something entirely different than what Tofino has to offer (ie commenting on it having "no culture" and attracting people who "don't add much to the community&quot. I don't think that he/she had much of an idea of what Tofino is all about before he/she went there, and so was disappointed. It's not a swanky, posh, luxury resort type of place! It's kind of earthy, has an untouched quality, and is very, very stunning.
The posters on this thread who have replied to your query have given you a very good, realistic idea of what to expect. If their descriptions sound appealing to you, then you will not be disappointed.

In some ways it's similar to the other areas you mentioned. (llamalady, the town really is kind of like Coupville - good comparison).

Thanks again for your time & the kind replies. I have a better idea now.
Looking forward to planning our getaway, asap!

Good I found this question - I just checked out Tofino thoroughly for a wedding and live in CA, and am up and down the coast all the freaking time.

The difference in the coast is that it is just wild. Oregon - tree-y North and rocky/beachy south (gorgeous!); Pacific NW in general kind of a rugged coast - but Tofino is different.
The drive in is awesome. The ferry ride is okay - Nanaimo is "quaint" - the one highway to Tofino does not have a lot of stops so take snacks and water and hit the rest stops. About 1/2 way you'll come to a gorgeous bit of rainforest, complete with giant redwoods. California meets Brazil; worth a stop and stroll for sure.

Tofino is small - and a bit pricey - Ucluelet is a real small Canadian town with a generally run-down look. Tofino is nice on the town side, but when you get to the lodges you'll be blown away. You'll see surfers in foot-thick wetsuits (kidding) catching great waves on a huge, long beach.

My recommendations: Middle Beach Lodge, with a huge glass windowed lobby and warm, full coffee and teapots where you can stare at the sea for hours. Also the Wickanninish, set up above the sea a little with the THE THE most incredible dining room suspended over the rocks and beach with a 270+ degree view of the coast. I would stay at either, or stay at Middle Beach and make at least one dinner stop at the Wick.

We decided against the wedding in Tofino as it is quiet, removed from most everything, and as I said, wild. More a couple thing than a huge social thing. But we will be there for our first wedding anniversary when we are looking for a spot to enjoy pure rugged beauty and one another.

I didn't read the other posts; it is a bit of a drive to want to do twice but once at least is worth it for sure. You can write me with any other questions. Go. I hope you have a great time.

Thanks, "Engaged", for the helpful feedback & reviews of lodges.
That helps a lot!!

Yes, we have a long drive from here...
but due to health reasons, just don't think flying is wise for now.
And, it does gives us a different perspective on the world, for a bit (a nice one).
Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, we'll be able to fly again, for the convenience, however. Maybe in a year or so. Then again, we were often running into flight delays & whatnot. Sometimes I'm thrilled to not be dealing w/that anymore! ;-)

I wish you the best of luck w/your wedding plans! It can be stressful, but try to keep it all in perspective & 'enjoy the ride', too.
Congratulations!!

Please see my post on the previous thread. Dont let one negative keep you from a ton of positives. Tofino is worth it!

IMHO, you don't go to Tofino to go to Tofino. You go, to go to the beaches, rainforest, for the excellent (but expensive) food and to stay in a wonderful resort. Anyone who is going to see the town will be disappointed. (Not that there is anything WRONG with it, it is a nice little town) but you don't drive all the way up there to sit on a bench in Tofino. You go to walk on the beach and on the Park trails.

Stay in which ever of the 3 places you mentioned is cheapest. They are all nice, and most importantly, all on the beach. You can't go wrong.

Thank you for the add'l feedback.
Glad to hear that the $ differences won't buy that much difference as far as experience goes.

At this point, since we've had to wait so long to book (various family health issues)...I may not have much choice left anyway. :-\ (or any)
But, I'm hoping by the 3rd week of Sept....things might be calming down a bit??

Tofino is still in high season until mid-October. September is extremely busy here so you best get working on those reservations as we speak.

I'd heard of a place to stay in (or near) Tofino that has fireplaces in the rooms. Not a B & B, but a hotel. Does anyone know what that might be?

Sue

Both Long Beach Lodge Resort and the Wickininnish Inn have in room fireplaces.

Some rooms at Middle Beach Lodge also have fireplaces. I just got back from there today and it was wonderful!

We also had great meals at the Lodge (seafood buffets), the Raincost Cafe, and Sobo.

I highly recommend Middle Beach Lodge - it feels just like your own luxury cottage in Tofino. The Wick is much more of a "hotel" with a beautiful setting.

Thanks for the further feedback.
It does sound like a great place!

May I ask what kind of unit you stayed in? Have you been before in other units?