While golf may certainly be the focus of your trip to Vancouver Island, there’s so much more to see and do while visiting! Along the Vancouver Island Golf Trail, you’ll find everything from bustling cities to quaint seaside villages, and a host of activities to explore:
1. Wildlife Viewing
Wildlife is plentiful on Vancouver Island, so you’ll want to plan some time for a tour. Head out on a whale watching eco-adventure with Prince of Whales to explore the BC coastline from Victoria, while visitors further north can embark on a bear viewing, whale watching, or wildlife adventure in Campbell River with Campbell River Whale Watching.
If you prefer to catch rather than watch, then a fishing charter is a popular Vancouver Island activity, with charters leaving destinations on the northern end of the Vancouver Island Golf Trail. Make sure to plan plenty of time for each of these adventures as they can take several hours each or browse a complete Fins and Skins Package.
2. Explore Craft Culture
Find plenty of farm-to-table and craft food and beverages all across fertile Vancouver Island. Craft beer and cider lovers are encouraged to explore the Vancouver Island Ale Trail, extending from Victoria 227km through Comox Valley, while wine connoisseurs and foodies alike can find their fix on the Cowichan Valley Flavour Trail. If you’re in the Qualicum Beach area, stop at the Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company for a delicious Island brew with a gorgeous mountain view.
One of the most unique craft concoctions you’ll find on the Vancouver Island golf courses is our very own Vancouver Island Golf Trail Ale. A unique partnership between Vancouver Island Brewing and Golf Vancouver Island, this craft ale is only available at member courses on the Vancouver Island Golf Trail. It’s something you just have to taste and be sure to tag your images with #GolfVancouverIsland.
3. Visit Victoria, BC
Victoria is a vibrant, bustling city right on the ocean, full of exceptional après-golf activities and perfectly placed for a BC golf vacation. One of the most popular Victoria, BC attractions is Butchart Gardens, where 100 years of meticulous cultivation has resulted in a 55-acre oasis that will put your green thumb to shame (but is well worth visiting!). Afterwards, spend a delightful afternoon exploring the bustling Victoria Harbour where you find boats and floatplanes, water taxis, artists and performers, plus plenty seaside dining and historical buildings on view nearby.
Nearby Government Street and area is also a terrific place to find pubs, restaurants, and live music, including Irish Times Pub – voted Best Irish Pub in North America with live music every night, Bard & Bunker Public House – offering local beer and craft cocktails, and 10 Acres – a group of three restaurants where ingredients are provided by their 10-acre farm for fresh, wholesome, farm-to-table fare and everyone’s favourite, The Keg Steakhouse is on hand to satisfy even the choosiest palates. All in all, Victoria is the place to go if you want to hit the trifecta of a perfect golf trip – incredible golf courses, après-golf adventures, and amazing food and beverage options.
4. Go Natural
The hustle and bustle of the city may tempt some, but for others towering trees, untainted sea air and endless views may be what caps off the perfect Vancouver Island golf vacation. MacMillan Provincial Park, just outside of Qualicum Beach, is home to Cathedral Grove, an ancient old-growth forest nurturing 800-year-old cedar trees and is a perfect place to reconnect with nature.
If sand and sun is more your style, you’ll find plenty of options along the Vancouver Island shoreline, including arguably Vancouver Island’s most beautiful location, Rathtrevor Beach. With over 2km of sandy beach along the shoreline, as well as seemingly endless exploration out to meet the ocean during low tide, you won’t feel crowded here even on the busiest of summer afternoons and can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
5. Just Relax!
Those in need of a little more rest and relaxation need look no further as Vancouver Island Spas are some of the world’s best:
Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort (located along Rathtrevor Beach mentioned above), offers a terrific place to stay to help your cares melt away. Schedule a session at the Grotto Spa – the #1 Spa in Canada. Home to 20,000 square feet of pure relaxation, soak in the mineral pool, indulge with a massage, or sip a soothing cup of tea by the fire and feel your soul recharge.
The award-winning Amatista Spa at Bear Mountain Resort offers specific treatments for golfers to help soothe sore muscles, and you’ll also find an all-around exceptional resort complete with restaurants, trails, activities and two of Canada’s top golf courses.
Whether wildlife, nightlife, relaxation or all of the above, a Vancouver Island golf trip offers plenty of opportunities for enjoyment. Explore Vancouver Island Golf Packages and start planning!
May 21, 2019, by: Golf Vancouver Island