This isn't your grandmother's island. Get past the teahouses, parliament buildings and flower gardens.
Embrace the wilds of the rainforest. Kayak across open ocean. Surf in Canadian waters. Go rock climbing or caving.
There's a special commune with nature here.
Where pouring buckets of rain will soak you to the bone and leave you wanting more. Where pounding white surf will reverberate in the halls of your mind long after the trip is done. Where you'll never feel more alive.
When it comes to outdoor adventure, there's no better place to get started than in mecca — Tofino.
Remote, rugged and spectacular, this western island fishing village has turned into a melting pot for free spirits from across Canada. You'll find all types in Tofino — a restaurant manager from Ontario, a surfer from Quebec, a kayak instructor from Saskatchewan.
They all came searching for adventure and found it.
Many come for the surfing. And then never leave.
Our instructor Louise Rodgers did just that more than a decade ago. With visions of blue thunder dancing in her head and a little prodding from a friend, Louise left Quebec, surfboard in hand.
Now she works for Surf Sister, a school for hang-ten enthusiasts located mere minutes from Long Beach, one of the best surfing spots in all of the Great White North. She's been here for years.
It's not hard to see why.
Even after a thorough lesson from Louise, I surf like an elephant on a tight rope. It's ugly.
But the experience is so unparalleled, I have dreams about the perfect wave.
Louise warned us that will happen — surfing gets in your blood.
Sea kayaking is another important ocean activity here.
One of the oldest outfitters in the area is Tofino Sea Kayaking Company, owned by Dorothy Baert, an ambitious woman who runs six other businesses, including a bookstore, bed and breakfast, and expresso bar.
There are many sublime adventures to be had in the Clayoquot Sound area, including paddling to Meares Island, site of an old growth rainforest. The trees are so large, our kayak guides tell us they once fit 16 people inside one of them.
Adventure, it seems, is everywhere in Tofino. Even a game of golf isn't for the faint of heart. At Long Beach Golf Course, just a 200-metre walk from the Tofino airport, you might see a black bear roaming the fairway, like I did.
You'll surely see a hearty breed of golfer, where rain, hail and puddles of water do little to deter them from playing.
Whale watching is another big activity in Tofino, something we didn't get to experience because of 10-metre swells.
It makes you appreciate the raw power of such a place.
From ocean to alpine, Vancouver Island offers more to the thrill seeker. On the other side of the island, overlooking the Comox Valley, lies Mount Washington, a veritable powder hound's dream.
It snows so much here, a few years ago it reached the top of the rooftops ... on the second storey.
Just down the road from the mountain lies the unique cave formations of Horne Lake Provincial Park. Guided tours can be as extreme as you want; there's even a five-hour trip including a seven-storey rappel down a waterfall.
You can also rock climb, hike or canoe in the park, rated as the best natural outdoor site in B.C. by Attractions Canada.
Your outdoor tour can continue on some of the best golf courses in Canada, too. Or grab a mountain bike. Or even try bungee jumping.
For full information, check out www.HelloBC.com or call 1-800 HelloBC.
Outdoor people, your island awaits.
And your awakening begins.
WHERE TO STAY
• Tofino's Wickaninnish Inn is a spectacular Relais & Chateaux property, an exclusive group of some of the best hotels in the world. Watch the surf pound on Chesterman Beach from your room window. (250-725-3100 or www.wickinn.com).
• One of the premier hotels in the Comox Valley is the Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa (250-338-1323 or www.kingfisherspa.com).
• Down the road in Parksville, choose the Tigh-Na-Mara Resort, Spa and Conference Centre (250-248-2072 or www.tigh-na-mara.com)