Tofino Trip

Peaceful ocean waves rolling in at Long Beach, Tofino

I’ve been trying to savour summer here, remembering that I only have a limited number of summers left and I live in a spectacular place. So we took a four-hour drive up island to spend some time in Tofino, a relaxing beach community where it seems like everyone is a surfer and everything was laid back even on a long holiday weekend.

Ochre star near Frank Island

Anemone at Middle Beach

Gooseneck barnacles near Frank Island

We took advantage of some very low tides to see so many amazing creatures! If you want to see ochre stars and anenomes, they’re there in a great abundance. And I’m always captivated by gooseneck barnacles - they look so otherworldly.

Olive snails burrow in the sand creating these mysterious-looking tracks. Their shells are beautiful, and after they’re finished with them, hermit crabs often move in. If you look closely, you can sometimes watch them shifting in the sand.

A surfer walking through a misty morning, Long Beach, Tofino

Tofino is definitely famous for its waves and there were surfers out even on a foggy morning when the visibility was low. I didn’t surf, but it was fun watching the waves and the surfers and practicing some “street” photography.

Totem pole at Anchor Park carved by Joe David

This stunning totem pole is at Anchor Park in Tofino. It was carved by Joe David in honour of the Ha waiih (hereditary chief). You can read more about it here.

Round leaf sundew near Tonquin Beach

Yucca in Tofino

Hydrangea in Tofino

If you get down on your hands and knees and stare intently into a bog, you might just catch a glimpse of a round leaf sundew! It was such a treat to see this one on a boggy part of the trail to Tonquin park. There were so many more of them along the boardwalk of the Shorepine Bog Trail. (The bog ecosystems can be fragile, so stay on the planks and watch your step.) Sundew are carnivorous plants and this appears to have trapped an insect. The yucca and hydrangea were just too pretty not to take some pictures.

Tacofino, Tofino’s famous taco truck

Middle Beach at sunset

Naturally we finished off our Tofino weekend by standing in a long line at Tacofino, the famous taco truck. This is one of those touristy things that is absolutely worth it and I’ll particularly recommend the watermelon basil slushy to go with your fish tacos.