Continue on west into the Pacific Rim region. We had to stop at Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park, where gargantuan Douglas firs tower in clusters. We trod the paths among the ancient trees, seeing only one other couple on our one-hour detour. Nothing like the crowded big tree venues of northern California. This was communing with nature in a most relaxing way. I quickly gained the reputation as a tree lover, and the boys began teasing me at every turn, "Look Mom, a TREE! Another tree!"

Trees and lakes, such as Sprout Lake, provide gorgeous views for the road trip to the west coast. At Port Alberni, we stopped to check out the docks and fish markets before continuing on to Tofino. There were loads of options in Port Alberni, though, such as a ride aboard the MV Lady Rose that's actually a mail boat, or fishing, kayaking, or windsurfing. On Canada's Labour Day Weekend, the town's annual Salmon Festival hosts a fishing derby and has salmon barbecue, among other attractions.

We headed on to Ucluelet (pronounced You Clue Let). There are more fishing, boating, and cycling opportunities here. From March to April, gray whales can be seen on their migratory journey to the south. We were too late for the Pacific Rim Whale Festival, which occurs in March. But several other events and festivals occur throughout the year.

Our last stop was the burg of Tofino, another fishing village that also offers many boating options, such as whale watching. We spent hours along Long Beach, between Ucluelet and Tofino, watching the fury of the waves, and the crawling over the rocks to find anemones, crabs, and other marine life in the tide pools. In the winter, many people come simply to watch the winter maelstroms.

Both elegant and dramatic, lunch or dinner at the The Pointe Restaurant on Chesterman Beach gives diners a 240-degree view of the wild Pacific. The daily menu, a gourmet feast, includes local produce and delights of the sea, such as oysters.

A wonderful way to end a four-day adventure on Vancouver Island.