This is one of our favourite spots to visit whenever we come to the Island! About an hour from Victoria, this easy to moderate 30 minute hike leads to you the most beautiful beach where you can take in the beauty of Vancouver Island.

Another MUST while you are on the Island. Definitely more of a "Maggie" activity during the day, but we promise the guys will still enjoy it! The ideal way to do this would be to wake up and find a cafe for morning coffee's, do some early afternoon shopping down Johnson street, then hit up The Tapa Bar for a late lunch or early supper (make sure to get the Cha Cha Cha mussels if you are a seafood fan and the sangria if you are a wino - we have linked the menu below) then head towards the Harbour where you can take in all of the lights and see all of the boujee Yachts that are docked in the marina. Around here, there are some amazing late night bars, often with live music and amazing cocktails! One of our go to's is the Irish Times Pub. We have attached the address to The Tapa Bar for your reference! The best thing about Victoria is how close everything is but make sure you come prepared with good walking shoes!

A tree huggers paradise! Cathedral Grove is a BC Provincial Park preserving a section of lush old-growth forest unique to Vancouver Island. Plan to spend the morning or afternoon wandering Cathedral Grove's trail system and gazing up at 800-year-old giant Douglas Fir, Grand Firs, Western Hemlocks, and Western Red Cedar trees. This amazing spot is located only 20 minutes outside of Port Alberni.

Each time we visit the island we make fishing a top priority while we are there. Just this summer, we went out with Dean from 50 North and we had an incredible experience! Not only did we catch a beautiful salmon, but we also had orca's come right up to our boat. There are plenty of charter options around Campbell River to choose from but we can't recommend Dean enough. If you plan on doing some fishing while you are here, let us know and we can give you any and all tips we have before you go.

The freshest oysters you've ever tried! Our wedding will be taking place right outside of Fanny Bay so if you love seafood as much as we do this is a great pit stop to make! The shop and market is located around the back of a gas station along the highway so don't be surprised if you find it a little strange to locate like we did. We promise, you are in the right place! Once you are in, you can ask for a dozen oysters, a shucker and a side of mignonette and you have yourself a perfect snack! We plan on sampling some of these delicious oysters on the wedding day so if you are a bit sceptical, the wedding will be a good place to try them.

Tofino is an absolute MUST see while you are on the island. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world and has some of the best surfing in Canada. You can visit the surf school where they will take you to one of Tofino's most iconic beaches and provide you with all of the rentals you'd be needing for this incredible experience. If surfing isn't your thing, visiting the beach is still worth the trip. Our favourite beaches are Cox Bay Beach or Mckenzie Beach! These are both great places to take in the sunset and watch the waves. Mckenzie Beach Resort specifically is a great place to book a camping spot for the night and visit the general store in the afternoon and/or evening. Here they have live music, good beer and some late night bites to enjoy!

While you are here, make sure to check out Tofino Brewing Company for a flight of their craft beers in the tasting room! We recommend the Blackberry Gose or the Coffee Porter. If you are looking for a good lunch spot, Tacofino is an amazing place to stop but make sure you are prepared to stand in line. It is one of Tofino's major tourist attractions so it can get quite busy but the tacos are worth it!

We make sure to stop here at least once each time we are on the island! Yes, there are actually goats on the roof and once inside you can stock up on all the local goodies for your stay at your hotel or air b&b! Enjoy everything this market has to offer. There is a wine stop, a veggie stand, an ice cream parlour and so much more! Jakes favourite is the sausage rolls, cheeses and local hot sauces and Maggie's favourite is the local homemade pickled carrots!

Just a short ferry ride from Campbell River, Quadra Island is a gorgeous place to visit while you are here! You could plan a bike ride making sure to stop and swim in the ocean at Rebecca Spit or visit the Southend Farm Stand for some wine and cheese. It is definitely more of a local treasure to people on the island! Would also be a great place to plan a little staycation during your visit as the air b&b's on the island are both quaint and beautiful.

A slice of home for Maggie and a huge reminder of Ontario! Bring your paddle boards or just yourselves and enjoy the beautiful Lake for the day. Located just 30 minutes outside of Victoria, this lake is a perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon on the water, swimming and cliff jumping the day away.

If you love wine, visiting the local wineries on Vancouver Island will be an amazing stop to make on the way! Averill Creek is one of our favourites because not only is the wine amazing, but the views are top tier. Enjoy the patio and gardens with a selection of bubbles, whites, roses and reds. Afterwards, order a glass of your favourite with some light bites to nibble on! Spend 45 minutes as a quick pit stop or the whole afternoon.

Port Alberni is home to three local craft breweries! The first stop on your tour should definitely be Dog Mountain Brewing as it comes with an amazing rooftop patio and a wide variety of beer samples to choose from! After that, make sure to stop in at Twin City Brewing and the Alberni Brewing Company!

For dinner, we have only heard amazing things about the local gem "Little Bavaria" located in the heart of downtown Port. When Jake and I went to check it out, there was a line out the door! Make sure to call ahead for a reservation and enjoy some authentic german cuisine during your stay here!

Salt Spring Island is another local gem for Vancouver Island. If you have the time, it is a short ferry ride over from Victoria. Once here, head to Salt Spring Island Cheese where you can visit the animals on the farm, taste the delicious selection of goat cheeses and enjoy a beautiful afternoon! On the island, there are some incredible lakes and hikes to explore too!

If you don't have time to actually visit Salt Spring, keep an eye out at some local markets near Port Alberni or stop in at Goats On The Roof and make sure to pick up a package of cheese from this brand!