My husband and I are going to spend 3-4 on Vancouver Island in July and are looking for something off the beaten path. Do non-touristy areas exist? We're looking for an active vacation (moderate hiking & biking, fishing, communing with nature). We'd want to stay in a hotel or B&B (moderate prices). We're considering Tofino; other suggestions?

Hi Kathy, my husband and I spent 3 days on Vancouver Island a couple of weeks ago. That was just long enough to make us wish we had longer! We took the ferry over to Salt Spring Island and although it's not off the beaten path, we really enjoyed it. I think the other Southern Gulf Islands would be quieter because we were told the ferry doesn't go to them as often. The terrain on Salt Spring would be ideal for biking and light hiking, so I would assume the others would be similar, just less populated. Hopefully someone who has a little more experience than me will reply! Enjoy!

We've been to Mayne Island a couple of times and really enjoyed it! Although we do also love Salt Spring, it is much busier and more commercial than Mayne. Both times we stayed at Oceanwood, a lovely country inn with an excellent dining room. There are a lot of hiking trails in the area along Active Pass, and we had a wonderful time kayaking along with a pod of Orcas. Do pay attention, though, when they tell you where to go when in relation to the tides! We discovered they didn't name Active Pass that for nothing! We were on Salt Spring in early April for the first time in about 8 years, and discovered it is much busier than we remembered. Mayne is significantly quieter. This last trip we also went to a floating barge (converted to an inn, rates including 3 gourmet meals a day) about a 30 min. boat ride from Tofino and absolutely LOVED it! It's called the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, and it is definitely "off the beaten path"! Wonderful kayaking and hiking, and they offer fishing as well though we didn't pursue that (on a walk up to one of their lakes, they offered to send fishing gear along with us and seemed quite puzzled when we declined!). They had mountain bikes as well, I believe, and all you have to do is go out on the deck off your room or walk ashore to commune with nature!

http://www.wildretreat.com is the site for CWR. <BR>Excellent choice BTW although like many WCVI places overpriced. <BR>As to 'touristy' places just avoid Victoria and you'll most of the Toffee and Ice Cream shops behind. <BR>Staying in a B&B country puts you closer to people so there are some things you can't avoid-running water, hot showers, electric lights, etc. <BR>You might laugh but when I holiday that's exactly what I try to avoid, except for the showers of course. <BR>http://www.gulfislands.com/musselbeach/ my kinda place. <BR>Forget Saltspring, overbuilt and boring IMO, although the Smallmouth Bass fishing is good at times. <BR>For Fishing see my recommendations below, it's all too easy to get 'taken for a ride'. <BR>What with the collapse of the Forestry Industry everyone and anyone who can afford an old scow is calling themselves a 'Fishing Guide' buyer beware. <BR>