The west coast of Vancouver Island is a natural playground for children, with sand, driftwood, tide pools and wildlife, but it is also a wild place with cold water and strong surf. The best family trips pair big open-air fun with a good plan for rain and clear safety rules about the ocean. Here is how to put one together.
Start with beaches, and set the rules
Chesterman Beach is a good first stop for families, close to town, with wide sand, tide pools at the rocky ends and a tombolo that leads to Frank Island at low tide. Check the tide table so you cross and return in time. Long Beach is bigger and wilder, and children love the space and the driftwood, but keep them well back from the waterline. There are no lifeguards on Tofino's beaches, rip currents are a real hazard and unexpected waves can sweep people off rocks, so set a rule that children stay on dry sand unless an adult is with them, and never turn your back on the surf.
Short trails that suit small legs
The Shorepine Bog Trail is an 800-metre loop on a boardwalk with almost no slope and no stairs, which makes it one of the easiest walks in the park, and the floating boardwalk is fun in itself. The Rainforest Trail has two one-kilometre loops with many staircases, which children who like stairs will enjoy, but it is not suitable for strollers. The Tonquin Beach Trail is short and ends in a sheltered cove, though the stairs and the rocks need close supervision. Save the steep Willowbrae staircase for older children who can walk back up it.
Wildlife without a long hike
The Ucluelet Aquarium is a small, hands-on place that is open daily from March to November, and very young children enter free. It is easy to fit around other plans, since a visit takes about an hour. Boat trips are an adventure for older children. Whale watching from Ucluelet is a small-boat trip of about three and a half hours, and the bear-watching tour in Clayoquot Sound is a shorter outing from Tofino. Check the age limits, the length and the sea conditions when you book, and bring warm layers, because it is cold on the water. Hot Springs Cove is a lovely day, but the crossing can be rough and the day is long, so it suits older children best.
A rainy-day plan
Rain is likely at any time of year, so plan for it rather than hoping. The Kwisitis Visitor Centre has murals, animal tracks, a whale tail and a replica longhouse, and its outside deck is a safe place to watch big waves from shelter. The Rainforest Trail looks magical in mist, and with good rain gear children often like splashing along the boardwalk. On the Ucluelet side, the aquarium is a dry indoor option. Pack a change of clothes in the car, plus a thermos and a towel, so everyone can warm up quickly.
Where to stay
A kitchen makes family travel easier, because meals are expensive and restaurants can be busy. Pacific Sands Beach Resort on Cox Bay has beach houses and suites with fully equipped kitchens, and some sleep up to eight. Waters Edge Shoreside Suites in Ucluelet offers one- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens on the harbour. Hotel Zed Tofino has a family suite, sky bunks, a playground and an arcade, and its rainforest hot tub is a hit after a wet day. Book early for summer, and confirm pet and cot policies if you need them.
Pack and plan
Bring waterproof jackets, spare socks, hats, a small first-aid kit and snacks, since cafes can be crowded. Buy groceries before you drive out, fuel up the car and book popular dinners ahead. A park pass applies in the Long Beach Unit, so buy it before you park. Build a flexible day, with one main activity in the morning and a slow afternoon, and leave extra time because children, tides and weather all have their own schedules.
A word on pacing
Keep each day simple, with one main outing and plenty of time to play. Let children choose a beach or a trail, build a driftwood fort and look in the tide pools, because unstructured time is often the best part of a trip. Plan an early dinner, since popular places fill quickly, and give everyone a hot bath or a hot tub soak at the end of the day.
