Vancouver Island’s best tourist attractions are ones that celebrate the unparalleled access to nature found here while others showcase the intriguing stories of island residents. When considering the many places to visit on Vancouver Island, Campbell River stands out as one the top destinations for travellers seeking a blend of nature, culture, and coastal charm.
Shift Your Perspective on Suspension Bridges
With so many waterways across Vancouver Island, it’s little wonder that one of its best tourist attractions include the unparalleled views that its suspension bridges provide. In Campbell River, the Elk Falls Suspension Bridge is a hotspot for photography and taking in the rush of water over the 25 metre drop into the steep canyon below.
The suspension bridge at Englishman River Regional Park and the Haslam Creek Suspension Bridge both provide a different perspective of their respective waterfalls. Vancouver Island also has many historic trestle bridges. The Kinsol Trestle in the Cowichan Valley is one of the highest wooden trestle bridges in the world at 44 metres and can be walked over by those daring enough to take in its height.
Dynamic Museums Across Vancouver Island
Across the Island there are many museums, from small, intimate spaces that tell the unique stories of a town or individual within it, to bigger museums that provide a detailed look of the history and non-human history of the region and British Columbia.
In Campbell River, three cultural centres usher in eager history-focused vacationers. The Museum at Campbell River itself provides a sweeping look at the city’s dynamic history, from Indigenous storytelling and culture to the arrival of settlers and industry. Beside Discovery Pier, the Campbell River Maritime Heritage Centre explains the region’s maritime heritage with interpretive displays, model boat, and workshops. Tucked away by the river and only open on select days throughout the year is the Haig-Brown Heritage House: a living legacy of writer and conservationist, Roderick Haig-Brown, who so loved the river he lived on.
Two other particularly well-known museums on Vancouver Island, are the U’mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay accessible from the North Island and the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. Take the road less travelled and you’ll discover a wealth of other local museums, from Chemainus Museum in the Cowichan Valley to the Tofino Clayoquot Heritage Museum.
Piers and Coastal Walkways
Surrounded by the ocean, its no wonder that piers and ocean-front pathways are a popular attraction on Vancouver Island. In Victoria, the Ogden Point Pier is the perfect place to catch a sunset, patiently watch for wildlife, or appreciate the views out to Washington State on a clear day. Just a floatplane or ferry away, the Burrard Dry Dock Pier in North Vancouver is one of the best places to appreciate Vancouver’s skyline, particularly at sunset.
Campbell River has its very own remarkable pier: Discovery Pier, which hums with fisherfolk, families delighting in ice cream from the concession stand, and wildlife watchers and photographers. Marine mammals like orcas, humpback whales, and seals are frequently seen from the pier. Slightly further south, the Rotary Sea Walk, which is popular with bikers and walkers, is a true showcase of just how much of the City of Campbell River hugs the coastline, with public seating available to pause and appreciate the view.
Visit the Discovery Islands and Southern Gulf Islands
The serenity of the Southern Gulf Islands and the Discovery Islands is one of Vancouver Island’s best attractions. Each island quietly hums with its own authentic identity, intermingled with organic vineyards and farmer’s markets, incredible artist studios and cultural spaces, and sandy beaches near tasty eateries filled with coastal and foraged fare.
The Southern Gulf Islands are best accessed from the Saanich Peninsula beside Victoria and Crofton in the Cowichan Valley. Campbell River is the gateway to the Discovery Islands. Quadra Island and Cortes Island are both accessible by ferry, while other islands, like Sonora Island and West Thurlow Island, are home to boat-access resorts and fishing lodges.
