Trip Planning: Island Adventure of a Different Kind

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We are in the midst of planning our next trip. In June we are flying to Vancouver Island where we'll be spending two weeks exploring the island, soaking in its wild beauty, quiet beaches, and winding roads. We have both been there once before - separately, and each very briefly, so this trip feels like a long-overdue deep dive into one of Canada’s most stunning destinations.

We’ve been mapping out our route, tweaking and reworking the plan to make sure we have enough time to see and do everything—though let’s be honest, is there ever really enough time? We’ve already had to deal with one flight cancellation, just to keep things interesting. But after a few adjustments, here’s the basic itinerary we’ve landed on:

Day 1 - Fly to Victoria, pick up rental car and drive to Port Renfrew
Day 2 - Port Renfrew
Day 3 - drive to Tofino
Day 4 - Tofino
Day 5 - Tofino
Day 6 - Drive to Campbell River
Day 7 - Campbell River
Day 8 - Ferry to Mainland and drive to Whistler
Day 9 - Whistler
Day 10 - Drive to Vancouver
Day 11 - Vancouver
Day 12 - Ferry to Victoria
Day 13 - Victoria
Day 14 - fly home

Our accommodations are booked.
The car is rental booked.
The flights are booked (and rebooked).
The ferries still need to be booked.

Now we get into the fun part of planning and research the route and stops.  Decisions need to be made on what are the must-sees along the way, the hikes we want to take,  and the tours that are worth spending money on. 

I love a good summer road trip! I'm really looking forward to this one!


Comments

  1. DebbieMay 3, 2025 at 8:53 AM

    Your itinerary looks great! Looking forward to reading about your trip!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 3, 2025 at 10:18 AM

    Looks like a fun road trip! We've taken a road trip East from Vancouver to the Penticton area (definitely worth a visit), but Tofino is high on our list.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JolayneMay 3, 2025 at 10:55 AM

    Sometimes the planning is half the fun as the excitement builds and you find cool places to visit and things to do.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 3, 2025 at 11:51 AM

    I love how you have everything planned and organized—it makes the excitement of the trip even more fun to follow! Vancouver Island sounds absolutely dreamy, and it’s great that you’re giving yourselves the time to really explore it this time around. The beaches, winding roads, and wild beauty sound like the perfect escape. Can’t wait to see how your journey unfolds—it already sounds like an unforgettable adventure in the making!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMay 3, 2025 at 1:07 PM

    Great itinerary! Whistler is at the top of my bucket list and am hoping to visit in 2026, so I "borrowing" this timeline and may check in with you at the end of yhe year to see how you made out!

    ReplyDelete
  6. SimonaMay 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM

    Sounds like a fun trip – a simple itinerary with great spots and just the right amount of time.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMay 3, 2025 at 3:32 PM

    Seems like a fun trip and well planned itinerary! Thanks for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMay 3, 2025 at 6:26 PM

    Looks like such a fun trip, can't wait to hear what you get up to - Ash

    ReplyDelete
  9. KimberlyMay 4, 2025 at 1:55 PM

    Looking forward to reading about your trip

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousMay 6, 2025 at 5:35 PM

    You have such a thoughtful well=planned itinerary! I look forward to reading your road-trip adventures.

    ReplyDelete

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Where are we now?

Currently we're home, in Ontario, Canada

Where are we going next?

Up next is a trip to Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada

Where We've Been