Romancing The Storm in Ucluelet

If you want to get closer to your partner, you need to turn up the cuddle. A sun-soaked beach in February may seem like a great idea, but do you really want to snuggle with someone slathered in SPF 50, sitting on crowded, hot sand? The smarter thing is to find a quiet, secluded, romantic place like Ucluelet. Even when it’s sunny things can get a little chilly, but you can warm things up together by exploring the shops, restaurants and trails or walking along the beach.

The storm and drama of windswept, crashing waves on a rocky shore may be a perfect natural equivalent to the rush of passion that rises within you each time you lock eyes with your beloved. Or it may just be reason enough for you to reach deep inside your heart and say, “You look cold, let’s head back.”

Whether you choose to limit your time in the outdoors to however long it takes to get inside from the car, or you fully embrace the many different ways breathtaking natural beauty can build a stronger bond, you’ll find the shared experience of our wild coast will do wonders for your soul – and your relationship. If it’s raining, don’t be afraid to join those who head out into the storm in their rain gear. Once you shed those wet clothes and slip into something comfortable, the roaring fire, hot drinks and snuggling up afterwards will make it more than worthwhile.

Ucluelet has a perfect balance of storm-tossed natural splendour and creature comforts for all couples looking to get close. In addition to our restaurants and cafes, storm season is a great time to take advantage of the many accommodations with kitchens. There’s nothing like the sight of you unpacking groceries and creating a romantic meal to reassure your partner that they made a good call, romantic-getaway-wise. And remember: toast or popcorn can qualify as romantic – just add candles.

It’s true, some couples stay together without ever going on a romantic stormwatching trip. But many other couples have discovered the lasting value of these shared experiences and the deeper connection it creates in mind, body, and soul. They know you come home looking forward to spending more time together and eagerly anticipating the next trip to Ucluelet. In the summer, say. (Pass the sunblock.)

Although the last few years have been anything but “normal,” we’re happy to let you know that things around Ucluelet continue to be welcoming and familiar. It’s a great time to see us, because our “normal” is never “average,” especially during storm season.

Now that we’ve settled into shorter days and crisp, cool temperatures, a sense of coziness sneaks in, and storm watching season takes centre stage, presenting an opportunity for some winter-time self-care – booking a last-minute escape is always good for the soul.

And the wild weather doesn’t wait for anyone or care if it has much of an audience: it’s coming here no matter what. Standing on the trails tucked away amongst the rainforest or sitting next to a fire staring out the window watching these storms roll in off the Pacific is a pretty new experience and was invented around here. It’s not hard to see why mother nature’s storms are second to none.

Once you’ve spent some time being mesmerized by the rhythmic sound of the pounding waves, feeling a gentle mist on your face and blowing your hair everywhere, it’s time to cozy up in your accommodation, treat yourself at the spa, enjoy delicious options for replenishing for the next adventure and prepare to head out exploring interesting shops to round out your trip.

The average Canadian spends up to 11 hours a day in front of a screen, and we’re grateful you’re spending some of that time reading this. But storm watching is not something you can understand by watching a video or experiencing through someone else’s pictures or posts. You need to go to a place where you can stand on a path in the wind and near the waves, feeling the vibrations travel under your feet as every wave hits the rocky coastline. Every so often, you need to feel the power of something that has gone on forever. You need to let nature blow right through your soul and into your wildest dreams.

What’s your idea of wild? Is it the nearby park where you know every trail by heart but are still grateful for having nature so close at hand? Or is it unimaginably remote: the fjord of an uninhabited arctic island or a thick and unmapped jungle?

Some wild places are every day; others are once in a lifetime. To be honest, we’re kind of in the middle. Hardly at the ends of the earth, yet even the drive here is an adventure on its own—across Island mountain ranges, beside lakes and rivers, and through old-growth forests. When you get to Ucluelet, you will know you have reached the wild.

To your back, the hushed and ancient rainforests rise to cloud-topped hills. On the shore, past thundering waves, you soon realize there’s not much but whitecaps and marine wildlife between you and Japan. 

Ucluelet is here to feed your soul and body with delicious meals, comfy pillows and cozy beds. And as much as we all enjoy facing nature head-on, that doesn’t mean we have to leave the local galleries or shops empty-handed.

There is a time for crowds when the energy of lots of people wakes you up like a double espresso—when it’s fun to be going where everyone else is going. We call this time “summer.” But when crowds have fled, and the roads have cleared, the odds are much greater that you will find yourself in solitude on a beach or a trail. We call this time “now.”

If you’re a strictly-summertime visitor, now is the time to experience another thing that makes Ucluelet authentically wild: the weather. As we like to say, ‘We can get four seasons in one day!’ Blue sky for days are nice, but our fall and winter weather is a cliffhanger: no one knows what will happen next, and you can’t wait to find out. 

So whether wild means familiar or forbidding, you’ll find your very own wild whenever you make time to visit us. And in this season where the crowds go quieter, the weather gets louder; there’s never been a better time. Your craving for nature will be fed in countless ways—every time you return.

If we want to protect  the things we love about the places we visit, we need to change the way we travel. Happily, this isn’t hard. Luckily, a lot of our loyal visitors have already been doing this for decades. Best of all, it’s easy to remember how: 

Leave no trace

If you enjoy the unspoiled beauty of Ucluelet, that’s because a lot of people have tried hard not to spoil it. Be an unspoiler. Bringing disposable, single-use, wrapping, or packaging? Please don’t. The only thing you should throw away is the idea that there is a place called “away.” Pretend we have no garbage cans. If you see someone else has left a mess, tell yourself you’re cleaning it up for your next visit.

Respect the locals

All of them. For the animals and plants, treat them as kind hosts whose home you’re graciously being allowed to visit. Admire and enjoy them safely, from a distance. Leave the shells and flowers alone: don’t shoplift from mother nature. And for the people who call Ucluelet home, treat them like the friends you hope will always invite you back to their place. If you do, they will.

Book ahead

We all  love the freedom of last-minute plans or no plans at all, but we hate it when we don’t get to do what we want. A small town like Ucluelet fills up quickly, and even when there really isn’t room for more people, it doesn’t ever feel downtown crowded. So if you really want to see Ucluelet in the summer, you’ll need to be less spontaneous: please book ahead.

And if you can’t find just the right place for you and your group on the dates you were hoping for here this summer, remember: there are three other seasons every year. They may have a little less sunshine, but there’s just as much to see and do. Beat the rush: book now!

All we ask is that you treat Ucluelet like what it is: a small, friendly place between ocean and forest. We know why you love it here, and with your help, we can keep it that way. You’ll always be welcome to visit as often as you’d like. That will never change.

For more suggestions on how to love it like a local, meet our very own Salty, the Sea Otter. He’s got a lot to say. See you soon!

As the winter storms subside, and our ancient sea-dwelling cousins return to these waters for a while, it’s your turn for a small migration. Going out on the water to watch the whales – or sea lions or sea otters – is a way to see a world mostly spared from human touch. From a safe and respectful distance, we can be completely fascinated by these animals – even as they are perfectly indifferent to us.

There may be no easier way to see wild animals where they belong than from a whale watching boat. If you insist on hiking for hours or paddling long stretches to earn a glimpse of wildlife, you can. But if your stay is short, or you’re unsure of your knees or arms, then a walk to the dock will be the first steps to changing the way you look at your planet. The sight of these creatures, unafraid and unthreatening and in their home, will stay with you long after you’ve returned to yours.

Between March and May, nearly 20,000 grey whales move from their breeding grounds near the Baja Peninsula to their feeding grounds in the Arctic. To celebrate this season, the Pacific Rim Whale Festival takes place in early Spring and offers marine life education, First Nations cultural workshops, and more.

Back onshore, Spring is impatient and eager to show you something new in every direction: new plants sprouting from the forest floor, new buds and flowers, new signs of life in the birds’ nests and bear dens. This a sensitive and fragile time for all young, living things. Please be quietly respectful as you visit and admire them.

And please remember that any day in Ucluelet can bring any or all of the four seasons, so be prepared by packing layers! In any weather there are fun things to do here. A rainy day visit to the Ucluelet Aquarium is a perfect way to learn more about the local waters, even if you’re not out on them.

When we stand safely along the trails and platforms in a winter storm, well wrapped against the wind, why are we so drawn to chaos? Could it simply be the power of the storm, like the visceral force of standing in front of the speakers at a live show or at the edge of a Formula One racetrack? Or is it that we feel our own strength as we steady ourselves against the gale, the energy rising through our feet, restoring us as we stand our ground?

It could be the endless motion: the trees swaying steadily, the sea erupting like a geyser or a Vegas fountain, explosions of saltwater fireworks, each wave showing off its best moves over the rocks like kids in a skate park. In time, though, the rhythm becomes clear: it isn’t chaos at all. Like everything in life, the uproar will rise and fall with each season, and however fierce, in time be nearly forgotten. Like the rocks and the seagulls, we will get through it and be ready when it comes again.

And after some time watching the wind and waves at work, you will feel it reshape you, too: stress washed away, stale thoughts blown out to sea, new room made for fresh ideas. All that energy and rhythm and sound gradually, but inevitably, will restore you. Want proof? Science says the steady crash of waves will leave you awash in negative ions and pink noise, bringing you calm, restoring your creativity, even inducing a calm meditative state. You can look it up online, but please don’t. Stormwatching is the antidote for screen time. Forget about the status of your batteries: it’s time for your soul to be recharged.

Before you head our way and into the wind and rain, be sure to book a place to rest your head, curl up next to cozy fire and reserve your well-earned meals. Everything tastes better, and everyone sleeps better after storm watching: part of the fun is planning your rewards.

Storm watching is the ocean’s chance to show its rhythmic and raw power, but it can be unpredictable and no friend to the careless. We want you to have positive memories, so please stay on the paths, viewing platforms and off the rocks. By all means, admire the waves hurling against the lighthouse, but do it from a safe distance — you never want to find yourself caught between the waves and the lighthouse. If you’re out for a stroll on the beach, go at a low tide, watching for potential waves and loose debris moving around.  Log jumping is not an activity we encourage.

Finally, even though it doesn’t typically snow in Ucluelet, the road conditions can change suddenly because of the high elevation at this time of year. Avoid surprises by checking Highway 4 conditions on DriveBC before leaving home.

Sea Anemones (ah-nem-uh-nees) were named after Anemone flowers, a family of lovely, terrestrial flowers found around much of the world. Looking at colourful Sea Anemones swaying in the ocean current, one can see why they were compared to a garden full of beautiful flowers. However, unlike their namesake, Sea Anemones are in fact fearsome, carnivorous animals! Animals that can move and swim and will use their stinging tentacles to fight each other, stun their prey, and even swallow fish whole. While not all Sea Anemones are fearsome fighters, there are more than you might think and they are not to be messed with.

Sea Anemones are tubular, soft-bodied animals with a flat base that holds them to a surface and a central mouth on top that is surrounded by iconic tentacles. They are found throughout the world’s oceans and are members of the phylum Cnidaria, a group of animals that utilize specialized stinging cells to capture prey, which also includes jellyfish and corals. An anemone’s stinging cells, called nematocysts, are found throughout the body but are primarily used in their tentacles as a hunting tool and defence mechanism. Each tentacle is equipped with thousands of nematocysts that contain a tiny, coiled, harpoon-like structure which is ejected upon contact with prey, piercing their skin and pulling them into their mouth. Luckily, most anemones don’t have large enough stinging cells to affect humans, but there are some to be wary of. If you have ever touched a small anemone, the sticky feeling you may have felt is caused by those tiny harpoons as the anemone tries to eat your finger.

Walking through the intertidal zone you may see a number of anemones that are common here on the coast of BC. We have several species that showcase some of the amazing features of anemones, from symbiotic relationships with algae to reproduction via cloning. A common and easily recognizable anemone is the k’inłimc or Green Surf Anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica). This brilliant green anemone loves to grow in high energy areas of the intertidal zone. Crashing waves and surging water give this anemone a lot of opportunities to catch food in its tentacles. Green Surf Anemones will eat anything that they can catch including seaweed, fish, mussels, and crabs. Green Surf Anemones also have an interesting symbiotic relationship with microalgae that live within their tentacles – the algae is protected within the tentacles and in exchange provides some extra nutrients to the anemone, as well as adding to its green colouration. Other anemone species use symbiotic relationships with fish and crabs (some tropical anemones and clownfish being a famous example!) offering protection in exchange for food scraps.

Another common species in our waters is the Giant Plumose Anemone (Metridium farcimen or Metridium giganteum) commonly found growing on rocks, docks, and pilings. They are easily recognized by their white or brown tubular bodies and their white, feathery looking tentacles that help them feed on microscopic plankton floating by. These anemones are some of the tallest in the world, measuring in at over 1 m tall but can quickly pull in their tentacles and deflate into a flattened mushroom-like mass for protection. Plumose anemones reproduce sexually, releasing eggs and sperm into the water to be fertilized. Other species of anemones in the area, such as Pink Tipped Anemones (Anthopleura elegantissima) or Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica) reproduce asexually by cloning themselves. They will split in two or bud a new individual off their body leading to large aggregations and colonies of genetically identical individuals. There is even one species called the Beadlet Anemone (Actinia equina) found off the coast of the UK that is viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young (spitting them out of their mouth) after internal fertilization.

But what about those fighting, stinging, fish-eating anemones. Well, we have those here too. Fishing-eating Anemones, or Rose Anemones (Urticina piscivora), are large solitary anemones growing up to 30 cm tall and 30 cm wide that live in the subtidal region. Their tentacles pack a much more powerful sting that can damage human skin and ensnare whole fish. These red and pink coloured anemones prey on fish, shrimps and other invertebrates and will devour them whole, spitting out shells and other waste when they’re finished.

In some species, when individual anemones move too close to each other, someone usually gets upset. This can spark battles as the anemones unleash secondary defence tentacles and engage in some seriously slow and seriously intense fighting. Their thicker, club-like secondary tentacles will emerge from beneath their main tentacles and begin slowly attacking their rival anemone. The flight can be long as they compete for a good spot on the seafloor, and unfortunately, sometimes both anemones lose if they sustain too much damage.

So, it turns out anemones are more than just a bunch of tentacles. What many people think are pretty plants are actually slow-moving carnivores with a hunger for fish. They clone themselves, maneuver around rocks, fight for territory, and eat everything from microscopic plankton to unsuspecting crabs and fish. Don’t underestimate these fish-eating flowers of the sea.