| 'Conde Nast Traveler Magazine' readers have ranked | | | | 3.Vancouver Island has the scenery. |
| Vancouver Island as the "Top North American Island" | | | | From the rocky inlets of the west coast to the central |
| eight years in a row and this was matched by the | | | | mountain chain through Strathcona Provincial Park, this |
| readers of 'Travel + Leisure Magazine' who voted this | | | | Island has the extremes in scenery. Mountain streams |
| island in the Pacific North-West as "The World's Best | | | | feeding crystal clear lakes, glaciers melting into salmon |
| Island in the Continental United States and Canada". | | | | rivers which flow into the sea through pot-holed |
| These publications do not bestow their blessings lightly | | | | gorges. Craggy headlands, small island chains, |
| and without reason, so what is it that has "wowed" the | | | | meadows, valleys and long soft sandy beaches: and all |
| readers of these prestigious magazines? | | | | within a days easy drive! |
| 1.Vancouver Island is a travelers dream. | | | | Within a six hour period you could experience a |
| The island is easy to get to by ferry from the mainland | | | | bustling modern city with a European flavor, a coastal |
| or from Seattle or by plane into the International airport, | | | | forest with 800 year old trees and miles of flat sandy |
| some 20 km's from downtown Victoria. It's mild climate | | | | beaches full of surfers: and if your quick, get in some |
| is easy on the visitor, all year long, and is conducive to | | | | night ski-ing as well! |
| lush greenery, beautiful gardens and colorful flowers. | | | | 4.Vancouver Island has all the family stuff as well. |
| It's easy on the eye and easy on the language: | | | | Beaches and fairs for the kids, historical sites and golf |
| Canadian eh! But what makes it so easy for the visitor | | | | for dad and glorious gardens and street markets for |
| is the network of tourist offices up and down the | | | | mum. Throw in the antique fairs, the book fairs, the |
| country, manned by knowledgeable, helpful staff who | | | | jazz and art festivals, the sports teams, the cycle |
| can direct you to world class accommodation and | | | | tours, the boating, the swimming, the craft fairs, the |
| amenities. Camping in the wild or five star hotel, the | | | | local wineries, breweries and cideries and all the street |
| choices are many, varied and of quality. Driving is easy, | | | | performers you could imagine: there really is |
| information readily available and the tourist industry is | | | | "something for everyone". Vancouver Island is family |
| healthy and strong. | | | | friendly, whether it be camping, driving or 'bed and |
| 2.Vancouver Island has adventures for all. | | | | breakfast', which is probably one of the main reasons |
| Sailing and Kayaking are world class, through the | | | | for it being selected as such a popular place. |
| surrounding Gulf Islands and there is abundant | | | | But the one thing that makes Vancouver Island such a |
| moorage for all sizes of vessels. Diving, fishing and | | | | glorious place to visit is that there is so much to |
| surf-boarding are first class and there is ski-ing and | | | | discover, so much to do, so many experiences to |
| snowboarding on Mt. Washington. The island is known | | | | enjoy, and it's all waiting for you. Be like John Sebastian |
| for it's caving and pot-holing, it's biking and walking trails | | | | Helmcken, the Hudson Bay Company surgeon who |
| and it's wilderness camps. But that's not all. Some of | | | | helped negotiate British Columbia's entry into Canada. |
| the best salmon fishing in the world is available here, as | | | | Discover Vancouver Island like he did: you can visit his |
| well as whale watching and other marine life studies. | | | | house from 150 years ago, which is B.C's oldest, still on |
| Mountain climbing, guided tours to see the bears, both | | | | it's original site. He knew how important the island was, |
| black and grizzly, snorkeling, canoeing, swimming, | | | | long before any magazine readers voted on it, so |
| para-sailing or the quieter sport of watching over 260 | | | | much so, he married the local governors daughter. See |
| species of birds. Take your pick, there are adventures, | | | | for yourself, check out his house and medical |
| organized or not, for all forms of visiting travelers. | | | | equipment if you don't believe it: you'll be glad you did. |
