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The first time I visited Tofino was the summer after my first year of university when I had some time between the end of my classes and the start of exams. When I should have been studying, instead, I was out exploring. The rained the whole time I was there. I was cold and wet and I was miserable. Tofino was also the first time I had ever stayed in a hostel and in a co-ed room too! I was so shocked that there was a guy in our room (there is photo evidence of this exchange). The poor Aussie didn’t know what hit him and probably thought that my friend and I were extremely strange.
So when the opportunity to go back to Tofino came up over the Easter long weekend, I was really excited to hopefully change my poor memories of the town. This time around, I was pleasantly surprised. While it did rain, and I got ridiculously cold and wet on my whale watching tour, there were moments of beauty and sunshine.
Tofino, BC on Vancouver Island is hailed as a surfer’s paradise with great waves coming off the Pacific Ocean. A 2-hour ferry ride and 3-hour drive away from Vancouver, Tofino is the perfect escape from the city.
Tofino is so off the grid, that there was barely any internet access. The thought of having no access in this ever-connected world didn’t even crossed my internet obsessed mind. Turns out, all the internet in the town is satellite so it is incredibly slow. One Canadian provider, Telus is working on it, but it is slow going. If you’re on the Telus network you should have no problem (which my boyfriend is), but if you’re on anything else (aka me on Rogers), all you get is this:
At first, I was freaking out because I hadn’t posted my blog post for the day and I had promised to do some work for a volunteer event. Of course, both of those went out the window the moment I realized I couldn’t get online. My super-duper awesome boyfriend allowed me to tether every so often, so I was able to post a few social media updates along the way. By the end of the weekend, I didn’t even miss the internet (much). [Note for you desperate Internet folks – there are a couple cafes in the city that have faster internet: Rhino Coffee House in town and the Driftwood Café inside the famous Wickaninnish Inn.]
Tofino was quiet. Really quiet and the room we stayed in at Jamie’s Rainforest Inn looked directly out into a dense patch of trees which made this weekend escape even better. At night, driving on the highway was eerie especially when there were no cars around. It was so dark.
The trail behind the inn – how awesome is that?
The town, while small, was extremely quaint. With a regular population of 2,000 people, during high season they receive so many tourists and are so incredibly accommodating. It wasn’t just people from Vancouver or the mainland coming to visit. No, we heard a variety of languages the whole time we were there and a surprising amount of German. Surfers, nature lovers, campers, whale watchers. You name it, they were there. Even though we weren’t there during high season, the town still had a lot of visitors.
I had forgotten how much I love the beach. Not the beaches of warm climates where people are sun tanning and playing various beach sports, but the beaches of the Pacific Northwest where it’s cold, damp and silent. When I lived in Victoria, BC for university, I would regularly go to the beach for quiet time.
Just me, listening to the sounds of the waves. I would have virtually the whole beach to myself which just doesn’t happen at the beaches of Vancouver. Standing on the beach in Tofino in the slight drizzle, watching people conquer wave after wave, brought be back to that time. It was calming and it was exactly what I needed. Providing clarity and stillness in my mind.
Going to Tofino came at a time when I was feeling a lot of instability in my life. You might have noticed that I haven’t been posting as frequently. I would start posts and they would go nowhere. The long list of ideas I have for content and improvements to the site just kept on growing and I had no motivation or even will to tackle it. Unhappiness in other parts of my life was affecting every part of me. Blogging and writing about travel was my escape, but it started feeling like work.
The last stop before we left. I climbed up Incinerator Rock (how cool is that name?!) on Long Beach and was feeling rather proud of myself. Getting back down wasn’t all that fun though…
Tofino was my opportunity to refocus and just relax. Turn off all the screens (well as much as possible for me. I still couldn’t resist having a camera with me all the time) and just be in the moment. My second visit to Tofino was so much more than I expected and I left the town feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, and definitely a little bit disappointed to be returning back to reality.
Where do you go for peace and to escape from life?
I received a media discount for my stay at Jamie’s Rainforest Inn, however, all forest praises are my own. I really did love having a forest literally right outside my window.
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Tofino is beautiful and really sounds like a wonderful getaway from the city. I’m glad this visit was so much better for you and you’re feeling renewed. I can totally relate to blogging feeling like work. Love those trails!
Tofino is the perfect getaway. I’m tempted to go there more often now!
Such a beautiful corner of the planet; one day I hope to make it there.
Blogging should sometimes feel like work –because it is– but it’s crucial to step back once in awhile, recharge, refocus and refuel. Having spots like this in which to do it is a pleasant plus. Listen to your body and heart; they knows best.
Agreed, but enjoyable work. When it’s like pulling teeth then it’s time to take a step back. I hope you get a chance to visit Tofino one day Bob!
So beautiful! When I need some peace and to calm my mind, I usually go to the sea… and if there is no sea, any kind of water surface (lake, river…). I feel it gives me energy. So good that it helped you relax and refocus.
Agreed! There’s something just so calming about the water. I like listening to it. The rhythm whether its the gurgling of a stream or waves at a beach. So relaxing.
I think I discovered Tofino in an article published in Islands Magazine. The photos of town and surrounding areas left me speechless. So many incredible forests! So, I hope one day I can stop by Vancouver Island and visit Victoria, Tofino and Nanaimo (I have been to Vancouver and absolutely love it!).
Yes! Tofino get’s written up a lot and yet I feel like most people have never heard of it. It really is a beautiful part of the world.
Back when I visited Vancouver Island I unfortunately only made it to Victoria, but I remember people recommended us going to Tofino, even though it’s quite remote. It looks incredibly beautiful on your photos! Next time for sure 🙂
It’s quite the trek to get from Victoria to Tofino by car so I can understand why you didn’t go. If you’re ever back in this neck of the woods you definitely should check it out!
There’s an area of the UK called the Lake District, which does what it says on the tin. We used to go there a lot on family holidays when I was a kid. It always rained, except one year, which was bad because it was too hot for walking up mountains and there was no wind for sailing.
Anyway, when I am in need of tranquility, living in cities as I do these days, the image of the water lapping at the lake’s edge, or suitably damp scrubby grasslands high above are the ones I hold in my head.
Torfino (which I admit I thought must be in Italy – what’s with the name?) sounds like an excellent place to similarly recharge.
Oh! I’ve heard a lot about the Lake District (didn’t it also feature in Pride and Prejudice?) and I’ve seen photos. It looks like a great place to get away from the city.
I stumbled across this post while browsing the internet in excitement anticipating my June 2017 honeymoon in Tofino. I had originally had lofty dreams of honeymooning in the Peak District of England (which was indeed featured in Pride & Prejudice!), but we settled on Tofino after discovering it on the internet (we are Americans from the Midwest). This comment comparing the two made me smile.
A quick Google search tells me that the Lake and Peak Districts are different places… but I bet all are lovely and relaxing.
Thanks for the lovely post about Tofino!
Thanks, Crystal! I hope you have a fantastic time on your honeymoon in Tofino. It’s a beautiful place.
I love heading to the beach out of season too. This looks like a lovely place and I’m glad you got your mojo back a little while staying there.
I hate crowds especially under the hot sun so beach in the off season is amazing 🙂
So very beautiful. So very British Columbia. 🙂
So true! <3
I loved Tofino when we visited in 06 on a BC road trip , doesn’t look like it has changed much. I remember the beach being awesome!
Such a beautiful part of the world ❤
I visited in 06 last too and you’re right, it hasn’t really changed too much. A couple more restaurants and a few more housing developments, but otherwise, more or less the same quaint town.
This is definitely the kind of place I’d like to visit! I’ve not yet seen the Pacific, but am hoping I’ll be able to in the fall if family plans don’t change my travel plans! 🙂 Satellite internet is the story of my life, though. We live in the country where no cable or high-speed internet access is (yet) available. I’m used to it, though, and love living where things are more rural. Besides, I have two great towns and cities a mere 30 minutes drive away so I can get my fill of civilization whenever I need it! 🙂
I think I just take it for granted that I’m able to connect anywhere and any time especially when I’m in a town. Logically I know if I’m off camping somewhere that I wouldn’t expect it so I don’t know why I would have in Tofino. Weird how the mind works! I’m hoping you’ll get a chance to see the Pacific this year 🙂
British Columbia is so gorgeous! A dream trip of mine is long a roadtrip from BC to Sand Diego, CA.
I wouldn’t mind doing that either! I’ve driven parts of highway 101 along the coast but never the full length. That would be an epic trip.
What a delightful part of the globe – and the fact that its quiet is even better!
I think we don’t realize how much we *need* to unplug until we’re forced to do so. When I was on Koh Chang, I didn’t have internet for almost a week and I felt so relieved. It felt so good to not have to be on social media or writing for the blog. I was feeling uninspired during that time too, but after a break, I felt refreshed and ready to get back into it. I did notice you haven’t been posting as much (and I miss it!), but I hope you’re feeling much more upbeat and inspired. But I really do think if it’s not so much fun anymore, then there’s nothing wrong with taking a break! It’s important!
Yes exactly! Once I stopped trying to connect and gave up, I was so much happier and didn’t really have to think about all the online things I had to do. I’m feeling more rested so hopefully things are on the up and up. I’m hopeful at least 🙂
love the beach shots looks like a little bit of paradise. Of cold paradise…. 🙂
Haha, very true. It’s chilly! I’ve never been in the summer but I would envision that it would warm up a little at least. Until the winds off the ocean get you!
My blogging has also been slowing down since it’s seeming more like work, the kind where there’s no money as motivation. Perhaps I need to escape to off-the-grid Tofino. It looks soooo relaxing. Also, I had no idea you could surf in Canada.
The way I see it is that if blogging is suppose to be a hobby, then it shouldn’t feel like work. There’s no harm in taking a step back and refocusing. Tofino was great to recharge! Hopefully you can find something close to where you are too 🙂
Tofino looks like the perfect spot to relax and uwind. Those of us who are usually permanently attached to their phones would have a hard time adjusting but it looks well worth it.
Yep, that was me for the first couple hours I was there. I was fruitlessly trying to connect to no avail. I was so much happier once I stopped trying.
What a beautiful town!
I have the same internet problem with some towns in Alaska – even with my phone, it’s easier to access through the Canadian networks sometimes. Usually it’s so slow I give up.
I remember you mentioning this before and now I totally get it. You have such good patience 🙂