2008 Vancouver Official Visitors Guide - (Page 123) Beyond VancouVer Vancouver Island the Gulf Islands and North Coast Vancouver’s western perimeter is made up of narrow waterways dotted with hundreds of hemlock- and fir-forested islands. Vancouver Island is the largest landmass in the bunch. It’s said to be longer than the Green Isle of Ireland and is circled by more than 2,000 miles of rocky coastline. Visitors to the island can explore British Columbia’s provincial capital, Victoria, which is a walkable city with gourmet restaurants, fine hotels and a grand Parliament building. The city lies at the island’s southeastern tip on a busy harbour. After browsing the boutique shops, many visitors head to the outskirts of town, where the technicolour, manicured grounds at Butchart Gardens draw more than a million visitors each year. Visitors can also spend time in Nanaimo — the island’s second-largest urban center. Cosmopolitan with a thriving arts scene, this city of 77,000 also offers legendary scuba diving. Dozens of outfitters in town will prepare and shuttle you to dive sites at nearby Dodds Narrows. There, outstanding visibility, dramatic geological formations, and a rich, colourful ecosystem make for a superb adventure. On the island’s west coast, visitors will find Tofino and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, one of Canada’s most treasured natural areas. The city offers fantastic deep-sea fishing, hiking, surfing, kayaking, whale watching and more. Photography (Clockwise from top left): Butchart Gardens; Parliament building in Victoria; Nanaimo waterfront. ©iStockphoto, ©Tvan/Tourism Victoria, ©TVan/Tourism Nanaimo BC Ferries, with its fleet of 36 vessels, takes visitors to 47 ports of call along the British Columbia coast, including many of the Gulf Islands. Day trips aboard one of the ferries guarantee breathtaking views along the way and endless recreation opportunities, dining and art galleries on the islands of Salt Spring, Mayne, Gabriola, Pender and more. 123
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