Summer on Vancouver
Island is generally warm, sunny and dry – perfect beach weather. This top 5
list is for beaches outside of Victoria that are perfect for summer relaxing and playing.
·
Rathtrevor:
This stretch of beach in Parksville is popular with tourists and locals alike,
and big enough that there is room for everyone. At low tide the sandy beach
stretches for miles. This is the site of one of the province’s most popular
provincial parks, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, as well as home to numerous
resorts. No dogs are allowed on the beach in the summer months, so don’t bring
Fido.
·
Chesterman
Beach: Tofino and Long Beach on the west coast of the island have many beaches
to choose from, but Chesterman is a favourite with the locals and for good
reason. With two beach fronts it is easy to be protected from any wind and to
choose what wave action to play in. Both sides are nice and sandy, and the
large space where the two beaches join gives lots of room for play.
Chesterman
·
Saratoga:
Just north of popular Miracle Beach,
Saratoga Beach is home to small resorts and RV campgrounds, as well as the
popular Pacific Playgrounds Resort and Campground. Another sandy stretch,
Saratoga has stunning views of the mainland coastal mountains and is great for
a swim when the tide is coming in over the warm sand.
Saratoga
·
San
Josef Bay: At the top of the island in the Cape Scott Provincial Park, San
Josef is a walk-in beach well worth the easy 40 minute walk on good trails.
With an interesting forest environment through the trails leading down to the
marshy tidal area of the San Josef River, the beach itself is a shock with its stretches
of sand broken only by amazing rock formations. This is a remote area, so the
beach is never busy (although locals from Port Hardy do like to come there on
sunny days).
San Josef Bay
·
China
Beach: West of Sooke at the bottom of the island, China Beach is another one
that requires a short hike to reach. It is well worth it though, with a long
stretch of sandy beach, amazing views, and even a waterfall at one of the beach
close to the day use trail. This is also the head of the Juan de Fuca multi-day
hiking trail. There is a small campground at China Beach, separate from the day
use area.
These are all sandy
beaches great for summer fun. Do you have a summer favourite?
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