Where we stayed:  Wickaninnish Inn

How long we went for: 3 nights & 4 days

Favourite experience: long walks along Chesterman beach & watching the sunset from a double-soaker tub while drinking wine and listening to relaxing music

If I could pick one place to go visit every weekend, it would be Tofino, with no doubt! Tofino is my favourite place on earth. I remember the first time I discovered Tofino. It was the year I came to Canada – I saw a commercial on TV from BC Ferries, and I could not stop staring at it. I thought it was the most magical place I have ever seen. It became my #1 place on my bucket list and I did not stop talking about it until we went their first time on my birthday. Let me tell you – pictures don’t do this place justice. There is something magical about the power of nature in this Canadian paradise. It was love at first sight and I am committed to coming to this place every year for a weekend. 

HOW TO GO:

Since we travel from Vancouver, we always take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, which is about 1.5 hours. We always make ferry reservations as soon as we know the dates we plan to go. Save yourself a headache & do the same. We went once without a reservation and ended up waiting 6 hours at the ferry terminal! We usually stop for a bite to eat in Nanaimo and then drive to Tofino, which takes about 3 hours. 

WHERE TO STAY:

We’ve been in Tofino many times, during spring, summer & fall – each of our stays was equally unique and beautiful! But today, I am going to share with you our most precious Tofino experience or, let me say: retreat. It was our anniversary & we wanted to make this trip even more special. We decided to book a room in the legendary Wickaninnish Inn. Let me tell you, staying in this place is not a budget stay, but it’s worth experiencing for an occasion. 

This place forces you to unplug and reconnect to nature & yourself. From huge windows overlooking the ocean, calm music, and extra soft bedsheets to an extra-large bathtub – it’s the perfect place for rejuvenating romantic couples’ getaway. You feel like you are outside, even if you decide to stay in your room and relax all day long! If you come here, I recommend paying extra for a room with a double-soaker tub. Watching the sunset over the ocean from this giant bathtub while sipping on wine and listening to their relaxing music is one of the most romantic experiences I’ve ever had. If you take a bath when it gets dark, you can literally watch the stars from the tub! It feels even more special than it sounds! 

I know that this experience is a bit of a luxury twist on Tofino, but you can find here all sorts of accommodations to suit whatever occasion you are looking for! From camping to local Airbnbs to full-on retreat in Wickaninnish Inn! Our second favourite place to stay is Pacific Sands Beach Resort. Places here book up quickly, especially before the summer, so if you are considering visiting Tofino, I recommend booking it asap.

WHERE TO EAT:

We LOVE Tofino dining options. Who would think that this hidden paradise has so many delicious local places to eat?! When staying in Wickaninnish Inn, we usually order room service for breakfast & enjoy a quiet breakfast on the balcony watching the ocean. If you are not staying there, you can drive to their Pointe restaurant and enjoy a delicious breakfast overlooking the ocean. Our other favourite places for breakfast are Rhino Coffee House, Tofitian Cafe & Savary Island Pie Company.

When it comes to dinner options, Wes always enjoys tasting the menu at Pointe restaurant. My favourite dinner spot is Wolf in the fog – their dishes are always fresh and unique combinations, flavours I’ve never tasted before – simply amazing! It books up even months ahead, so if you want to make sure that you get a dinner spot here, I recommend having a reservation as soon as you know that you are going to Tofino! Our other favourite dining places in Tofino are Shelter Restaurant, Shed & Tacofino. Oh & don’t forget to try the ice cream at Chocolate Tofino when you are there! 

WHAT TO DO:

Your Tofino stay can be as relaxing and as adventurous as you can imagine! It’s known as a surfer’s paradise, so if it’s something you enjoy – you can go crazy here! But for us, it’s always rejuvenating, relaxing retreat full of sleep, hot baths, reading, and nature walks. We love taking a long walk on Chesterman beach, grabbing coffee and watching the surfers in the ocean. We also love walking in the rainforest – the trees here are spectacular! If you want to make your trip extra special, you can try one of the local adventures – such as whale watching, fishing tour or helicopter tour. I am not the adventurous type, but if I’d go for a helicopter ride again, it would be in Tofino. We did it once on Wes’ birthday, and it was one of the most memorable experiences. We even spotted a whale & bears from our helicopter!  

There you have it, my friend! I hope you will have the most fantastic trip! If you’d like to see videos from our Tofino trip, check out highlights on my personal Instagram account at @michaelafong.

Xo & talk soon,

Michaela