This dreamy BC small town with miles of sand was dubbed a spot 'every Canadian should visit'
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Small town of Vancouver Island.
B.C. is chock-full of dreamy small towns, but this one has seven beaches with soft sand, blue water, and unreal views. Then you've got a cute town streets, local shops and restaurants, and hikes that will leave you breathless.
Days in this little B.C. beach town are all about the beach, wave jumping (or surfing, if you're up for it), and rainforest walks. Nights are spent eating waterside, grabbing a beer at the local brewery, and sitting by a campfire under the glow of the stars — far away from the sounds and light pollution of city streets.
Tofino really is a bucket-list spot, and that's been proved yet again in a Narcity poll, where it was named among the spots that "every Canadian should visit at least once in their life."
If you haven't heard of the small town — which is unlikely, given how talked-about it is – it's set on the west coast of Vancouver Island. From Vancouver you can hop on BC Ferries to Nanaimo, and make the almost three-hour drive from there, to get to Tofino.
It's a bit of a journey for many people, depending on where you're coming from, but you're rewarded with jagged coastline broken up by velvety sand, a beach town that could've been plucked from a romance novel, and thick rainforest alongside it all.
Famous for its surfing, this town has a few rental places and surf shops that you can go to for lessons and fun out on the waves.
If you're not up for that you can just take your pick of beaches to lay out on (or rent a bike and spend the day beach-hopping). You can't really go wrong because each one is stunning, but Long Beach stretches out 16 kilometres and has pretty amazing views.
North & South Chesterman Beach is also a popular one with soft sand, tidepools to explore, and an island to walk out to at low tide (Frank Island).
In town you'll find a bunch of local businesses, from cute coffee shops to trendy boutiques.
A bit outside of the main town center though you'll find the famous Tacofino truck, serving up its legendary tacos.
Toki Doki is another must-try in Tofino, whipping up incredible Japanese Street Food. It's also conveniently right next to Tofino Brewing Co., which is a great brewery to grab a pint to pair with your meal.
On top of beach days and afternoons wandering the town's shops and eats, you also can escape into the peaceful rainforest. There's a bunch of trails around here where you can be surrounded by lush greenery and the tranquil sounds of the forest.
This is just the start of things to do in Tofino that make it one-of-a-kind, so book that trip!
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.