Lizard Adventure Travel

I recently returned to Vancouver Island from a glorious week in Oahu, Hawaii.  I went from sunshine and temperatures of 25+ degrees Celcius to a rainy and windy 10 degrees.  Although this sounds like I'm leading into a complaint, I have to say I felt the exact opposite.  As I caught up on the local news, I felt a sense of privilege...it is winter, yet here in Victoria it's only 10 degrees Celcius! 

The rest of Canada, much of the United Kingdom and even Florida are experiencing record cold snaps.  I think I can handle a little drizzle, and consider myself lucky that my 'winter' jacket is only a thin wind breaker.

To emphasize my point, I came up with the top ten reasons why Vancouver Island is so awesome in the winter:

10) You can have fresh herbs, vegetables and flowers from your garden in the winter.  If you don't have your own garden, there are many local farms where you can indulge and support the local economy!

9) You can play outdoor soccer year-round...go Vic West!  Also when you go for  a run you look normal... those balaclavas can really cramp one's style!

8) Big Discounts! Since our peak tourism season is from April-October, ask around for off season discounts at local tourist attractions and accomodations.  

7) The wineries on Vancouver Island still operate and benefit from the winter weather - most wineries have challenges in the winter months.  Our wine just gets better! 

6) If you want to experience some snow you can take a day trip to Mt.Washington and participate in various winter sports: down-hill or cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing or even snow angel making.  There are also cabins that you can rent if you want to spend a couple nights. 

5) If you're more interested in the summer sports you can also hit up the local golf courses.  Yes, they are open and fully operational in the middle of the winter!  You can also try sailing, as you won't freeze out here!

4) Stormwatching in Tofino - I absolutely love watching the big waves roll into the shore, and even better is when you catch a surfing competition.

3) Hike the rainforests of Vancouver Island, and you'll actually be surrouded by wildlife and greenery.  Most other locations in the winter are so cold that the animals hibernate and the leaves of the trees fall off, leaving the area barren.  We are so lucky to have the temperate rainforests that are so beautiful year-round!  One of my favourites...the Gowlland Tod Trails (about 30 minutes outside of Victoria).

2) You heating bill is going to be lower, compared to other Canadians.  This means two things:  you'll have more money to spend on surf lessons when you go to Tofino and enough to hop on a Lizard Adventure!

and what I find most exciting....

1) An opportunity to watch the hundreds of bald eagles that fill the area around Goldstream Provincial Park (about 30 minutes from Victoria).  In the winter months this area if full of bald eagles, as they search for food and feast on the left over salmon from the spawning the took place in the stream (Oct-November).  A truly unique experience that you can't find anywhere else!

Please feel free to share why you feel Vancouver Island is so special in the winter.  To comment on the blog, you must register as a Lizard Member (free!).