If you’ve ever walked along the kilometres-long Campbell River waterfront, you’ve likely seen a wash of discarded driftwood along the shorelines. Local driftwood sculpture artist Alex Witcombe has long been giving this driftwood a second life, with locals and visitors alike enjoying the hunt of locating his wildlife-themed driftwood sculptures throughout town.
In the last few years, a few new driftwood sculptures have been installed, so make sure to include them in your driftwood sculpture scavenger hunt. Here are a few recent favourites, as well as what else to do while you’re in each area to make the most of your visit.
The Whale at Willow Point
All great scavenger hunts involve a drink to accompany them, and before you find the impressive 9-metre-long humpback whale driftwood sculpture in Willow Point to the South of town, you’ll want to grab one from Serious Coffee or Dave’s Bakery. Dave’s Bakery is also known for its deli sandwiches and sweet and savoury baked goods made fresh in-house if you need a snack. Stop into some of the stores—from Indigenous-owned RavenSong which stocks candles, soaps, and other delicious-smelling goods to Bough and Antler which stocks Northwest-inspired home goods and gifts. There are also tasty spots for a full meal if Willow Point is the last spot of your day tour, like SoCal for Mexican-inspired dishes and Miki’s Sushi.
Between Willow Point and Downtown, you’ll also want to keep an eye out for the likes of Sarah the Hererrasaurus and Peabody the Racoon along the Seawalk.
Finding Sculptures in Campbellton River Village
At the other end of town, you’ll want to seek out two newer spots in Campbellton that have been revitalized and gifted with driftwood sculptures. On the river’s edge at the end of Spruce Street, you’ll find “Bruce on Spruce”—Bruce the bear. Then head West and you’ll find the new River Nook parklette which hosts several driftwood salmon sculptures—fitting for their riverside location—as well as a smaller bear.
If you’re looking to refuel in the Campbellton area, you’ll want to find a meal or a snack at the popular More Eatery and Deli at the intersection of Spruce and the Island Highway, grab a bubble tea and a bagel at Kung Fu Cafe, or maybe enjoy a diner-style brunch at Ideal Cafe just across the bridge. Campbellton is also the home of On the Rocks Climbing Gym, and the gateway for some of our most popular trail systems: Canyon View, Quinsam, Elk Falls and Snowden.
If you’re spending time Downtown, you’ll want to keep an eye out for two sculptures: a cougar at Dick Murphy Park and a seal at the Coast Marina. Enjoy a visit to the Campbell River Art Gallery, our numerous independent stores on Shopper’s Row, a night at the Tidemark Theatre, and many of our restaurants, taprooms, and Beach Fire Brewing, while in the area.
