2017CANADA
SPRINGSUMMER
BC1871
BEAUTIFULBRITISHCOLUMBIA
THECOASTWITHTHEMOST
BYCHARLESMCDIARMID
Themanagingdirectorofthefamily-ownedWickaninnishInn,Charlesadoptedthedreamofhisparents,whofirstacquiredtheoriginalpropertyinthe1950s.Within18monthsofopening“TheWick”in1997,itearnedtheprestigiousRelais&Chateauxstampofapproval.ThepropertywasfeaturedintheSpring2016issueofSixStar.
PHOTOGRAPHY:(TOP)DESTINATIONBRITISHCOLUMBIA;(BELOW)MICHAELBECKER
ForvisitorswantingtoexplorethebestofBritishColumbiathissummer,IrecommendyoustartyourjourneyintheOkanaganValley.Whetherit’sfortheday,orforseveraldays,you’llrelishthebestofourfoodandwine.Oncesatiated,windyourwaybacktothelowermainlandoftheprovince.Ofcourse,adetourouttowardstheIslandsisalwaysinorder.
Ferry-hoptheGulfIslandsoftheSouth,orperhapstheDiscoveryIslandsoftheNorth.YouneedtotakeinVictoria—theharbour,ButchartGardens—andseekoutotherendlessopportunitiestoexplorethewestcoastofVancouver.Ifnothingelse,takeinasunsetonthePacificOcean.(Oh,andmakesuretosampleourDungenesscrab!)
Ifyoumakeittoourneckofthewoods,Tofino,you’llfindatownwovenfromtheruggedfabricofthemanydifferentmovementsoftime.Pioneeringfamiliesofthe1950sventuredherewhennoroadexisted.Thelogging,industrialandfishingtradesforgedgravelpathsthatwashedoutwiththetides.Thehippiesofthe‘60sfoundusatthe‘endoftheirroad’andcalledushome,asdidantiwaractivistsandourcurrentcollectionofgreenlivingadvocates.
WhatmakesthepeopleofTofino—and,forthatmatter,thepeopleofBC—souniquefromtherestofCanada?Ourlandscape.Ourgeographyhasshapedpeopletoreflectanadventurous,ruggedspiritandawillingnesstogetlostinthepursuitofdiscovery.Wearewillingtoleavethecomfortofhomeinordertoexploreandtolearn.
CanadaDaywillbeaspecialoneforourfamilythisyear.Forstarters,we’llbeoutonournewdeck,enjoyingthecomingsandgoingsofChestermanBeach.We’llthenhitthe1stStreetDocksowecanwatchthefireworksthatwillbelaunchedfromoutonabargeinthewater.It’salwaysaspecialsight;thisyear,itshouldbebetterthanever.
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