I am planning my first Canada trip for early August and will be bringing my wife and 10 year old daughter. We live in Colorado, so although I would love to see the Canadian Rockies we want to be on the coast for a change of pace. I am thinking we will have a week to explore.

Orca viewing and brown/grizzly bear viewing are essential.

I would appreciate any recommendations on those activities as well as any other can't miss destinations. I welcome any lodging recommendations too.

As for itinerary -- how many days in Victoria and how many in other towns? For brown bear viewing do we need to make it all the way to the north end to take a day trip or can it be done from other spots.

Finally -- how is the best way to arrive and rent a car? I can use frequent flyer miles to get to Seattle or Vancouver, not sure about Victoria. I also think it would be an interesting experience to ferry across. Is it best to rent a car and ferry with it or just get it in Victoria?

Thanks in advance for all replies!

PredatorBiologist,

You will surely get various conflicting opinions about grizzly watching - but here is my 2 cents worth.

Just to let you know , one of my 'hobby jobs' is as a part time professional nature tour leader. A strong conservation ethic and good interpretive skills are the first things I consider when recommending a service.

For grizzlies I strongly suggest Tide Rip Tours. They travel by boat to Knight Inlet from Telegraph Cove on northern Vancouver Island. If you possibly can, re-schedule your trip for the very end of August when they actually go ashore and watch grizzlies from the ground - based viewing stands. In early August you will be watching grizzlies feeding along the shoreline.

For Killer Whales I personally prefer Mackay Whale Watching out of Port McNeill, although Stubb's Island is good too - but more touristy.

Early August is a good time for Killer Whale watching near Port McNeill and Telegraph Cove.

I DO NOT recommend whale watching out of Victoria -the animals are more scarce than in the north island and are highly stressed from visitor traffic and pollution.

Let me know if you need any more detail. I will be pleased to help.

Jerry
Toronto, Canada

i highly recommend tofino although you would have to choose either tofino or going to the north of the island. not enough time to do both. if you go to tofino, check out http://www.southchestermantofino.com/
we had a great condo there with ocean view, bbq, 2 bedrooms, full kitchen (totally stocked with essentials and spices). we went on a bear watching boat trip from there. only saw 1 bear though.
i'm not a huge fan of victoria so i'd only stay there for 2-3 nights then go up north or to tofino.
probably cheaper if you take the ferry over from vancouver and then rent the car in victoria.

Jerry: Many thanks for the recommendations!

I am a wildlife biologist and leading a safari to Africa as well, so like you I believe good guiding and a conservation minded company are essential. I checked out the websites for both companies and they look great.

So it looks like I should plan an itinerary where I spend a couple of days in Victoria and then work our way up to Port McNeill/Telegraph Cove for our nature activities before returning to Victoria.

Any suggestions on a good town to stay at in between the two areas? Lodging recommendations?

Lastly, on the Tide Rip Tours I see them recommending taking the train from Victoria and renting a car in Courtenay. What are thoughts on staying in Victoria with no car and then taking the train route followed by a drive back to Victoria?

Itt: Thanks for the input. Tofino area looks beautiful and I would love to get there. If we are too limited by time though I am definitely going to head to where the best bear and orca watching is.

Thanks for the feedback on the rental car.

I'm puzzled why you would want to spent time in Victoria- a sleepy minor league tourism destination at best-instead of a beautiful, thriving and cosmopolitan city like Vancouver.

Sam: I really based it on the fact that we want high quality orca and bear viewing and it seems like being on the Island is the best base for that. Also, through reading it sounded like Victoria had a cool London flavor with double decker bus, high tea, etc. Touristy maybe but things that I thought my 10 year old would find fun.

As I don't know that much about the area I would certainly consider basing us in Vancouver if we could still have the high quality wildlife experiences. Perhaps it would be best to stay in Vancouver and then just go to northern Vancouver Island. Please give me your suggestions for a one week trip -- I'm interested in learning about all options.

Thanks!

I could be wrong, but I don't think that there are grizzlies on Vancouver Island. Brown bears and cougars - yes, but not grizzlies. The cougars have been known to attack children, so be careful with your 10 year old in wild places (on hiking trails etc.).

As for towns and other places, be sure to drive to Pacific Rim National Park and visit Tofino and Ucluelet - charming places, plus lots of huge long sandy beaches for walking and wild-life observing in the area. You might even see a bald eagle on your strolls!!

Vancouver is a lovely city, but it's just that - a city. If the outdoors is your thing, I would stay on the island and explore it instead.

You're right about the north Island being the place for what you want-I've been there many times.
A quick visit to Vancouver-easy to do without a car-a fast ride over to the Island www.harbourlynx.com and then a rental to take you to points northward will take all of a week especially factoring in the distances to be driven.
Who knows you <i>might</i> be able to connect with a bus from YVR to BC Ferries in Tsawwassen and make it to Victoria in one long day.
The drive up the east coast of the Island is scenic but north of Campbell River and through the Nimpkish Valley endless stands of second growth trees start to numb the senses.
Once you arrive at Telegraph Cove, Port McNeil or Port Hardy the area is still a bit underwhelming but once out on the water-with the huge tides ripping back and forth-you'll see it was all worth it.With a full day to head east to the mainland to (<i>hopefully</i see Grizzlies and a few days on the water for Orcas/WHY you're not left for much time at either end-a Tofino visit might not be doable except '<i>on the run</i>'.
Be advised that in season many Tofino-and Ucleulet-accommodations require a 3 night minimum-another complication.
http://www.lostsailor.ca/
http://www.alertbayhostel.com/

Just a ferry note: In the summer you need to reserve places for cars as ferries fill up quickly.

Victoria is a lovely city, I've been up for a week the past 2 months as we are thinking of moving there. Last week w/ sunny weather I biked around town and walked to whole sourthern coast of the city and Oak Bay, great views out to the Olympics.

I'm not sure I'd rate it a major tourist destination, its mild climate, setting and the friendliness of the people seem to be its biggest draws. From my explorations ( back again in mid March) I think it could be a very comfortable place to live,.

AndrewDavid

Borealis -you are correct - no grizzlies on Vancouver Island. Telegraph Cove, however is a good location from which to access the Grizzlies that frequent the Glendale Creek area on the mainland.

The boat trip through the islands and up Knight Inlet is beautiful and marine mammal sightings are frequent on this trip.

Jerry

Thanks to all of you for the tips and suggestions! I am getting excited to visit and all the insider knowledge will make the planning go much easier.