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Travel Advisories

The Top Things To Do In Ucluelet This Summer

Stop by the Pacific Rim Visitor Centre as you arrive on the West Coast. There is a lot going on, from free guided interpretive walks on the Wild Pacific Trail to a speaker series on “The Wonders Of The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.” This summer in Ucluelet is going to vibrant!

 

 

What’s On

Sunday Market (All Summer) from 10am – 2pm. Make It, Bake It & Grow It! Come down to the Village Green (at the bottom of Main St across from the Ucluelet Aquarium) for our quaint local market.

This year, the Canada Day celebrations on July 1st will be infused with excitement. 2017 marks the 150th year since Confederation; Canada’s sesquicentennial. The town celebrates down on the Village Green with music, vendors, and more! Local restaurants are already planning their events for the big day. It is sure to be one of the most exciting Canada Day celebrations in recent memory.

Summer Fest (July) kicks off the festival circuit with two weeks of art, film, music, and dance.

Ukee Days (July), the annual celebration of the community, always draws a large crowd. Tents showcasing local businesses and artisans cover the field. Food trucks and beer gardens feed the patrons. Live music, logger sports, and an opening parade entertain visitors. Ukee Days is an unmissable, jam-packed weekend. What happens in Ukee, stays in Ukee!

Checkout our event calendar and discover more events in Ucluelet this summer!

Explore the Outdoors

Of all the things to do in Ucluelet, exploring the outdoors is an absolute must. Perched on the edge of the Pacific, Ucluelet has clean sea air, endless blue skies, and awe-inspiring vistas. Enjoy the summer in one of the most beautiful places on earth. In Ucluelet, there are outdoor activities abound.

Take a Hike

Hiking the renowned Wild Pacific Trail will provide unmatched oceanic panoramas. This trail ranks #1 on Vancouver Island for a good reason; at over 8km, the spectacular landscape varies, from high cliffs to ancient cedar groves (with some trees over 1000 years old!). The 45 – 60-minute Lighthouse Loop weaves through the forest and along craggy outcroppings. At its most dramatic, the path overlooks the Broken Group Islands to the south, over pristine coastlines and rocky shores. The Ancient Cedars & Rocky Bluffs section of the trail passes under the largest trees in the area, before emerging onto wild rocky bluffs. Down at the Artist Loops and Brown’s Beach, channel your inner artist as you watch the waves crash onto the coast from the Painter’s Perches.

The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve contains several beautiful trails. The pathways wind over boardwalks, along bogs, and into the heart of the rainforest. Sun-kissed beaches come alive with the thud of the ocean waves as they pummel into the sand.

Ride the Waves

Renowned worldwide as a surfing and paddle-boarding destination, the West Coast doesn’t disappoint. Visitors to the Ucluelet and Tofino can expect rolling waves, clear waters, and sandy beaches. Just 10 minutes from Ucluelet, water sports are king on Wickaninnish and Long Beach.

Surfing around Ucluelet is accessible to all levels, from seasoned pros to beginners. Surf shops in town offer rentals, lessons, and camps to acquaint visitors with the waves. Stand-up paddle boards provide the opportunity to float out onto calm harbours and shorelines. Twenty minutes from town, visitors can paddle on the glassy expanse of Kennedy Lake.
It’s no wonder they call Highway #4 ‘Canada’s Surf Highway

See It From The Sky

Far above the towering cedars, visitors can explore the pristine rainforest, blue waters, and snow-capped peaks by plane. Flightseeing opens a world of possibilities. Catch a glimpse of swimming whales to understand how large these mammals truly are. View the Barkley Sound from the sky, take a tour of the mountains to the east, or find a secluded beach. Many floatplane operators offer charters to take you where you want to go. The world of the West Coast is your oyster when you take to the skies.

Visitors can also take in a bird’s eye view while riding the thrilling zip line that hangs above the Kennedy River.

©Steve Wilkinson Photography

Take It All In

The sunsets out here are spectacular. Catch the last warm rays of the sun before it dips beneath the horizon at one of several vantage points. Head over to Amphitrite Point on the Wild Pacific Trail, and view the Pacific panorama as the sky darkens. Witness just how fast the sun disappears over the edge. Big Beach also offers a great spot to watch the sun go down. The West Coast sunset is one of Mother Nature’s finest shows. Sit back, relax, and take it all in.

Summer is full of excitement in Ucluelet. From vibrant culture to thriving ecosystems, summer here has something for everyone.

Come out and #DiscoverUcluelet

It’s most definitely time to get away to the coast, wouldn’t you agree?

Making the epic trek to Ucluelet, BC., no matter how you choose to get here, whether you are arriving via the wondrous drive along Highway 4, or by spectacular air to the Long Beach Airport, your journey to the west coast of Vancouver Island will no doubt have you feeling a mix of both excited and exhausted.

For those of you who really enjoy the cozy comforts of home while you are away, you will find yourself delightfully amazed by the fully-loaded Ucluelet accommodation options that are all decked out and awaiting you and your family, here in Ukee.

The idea of waking up to the sound of the lull of lapping waves and the delightful songs of the birds of the temperate rainforest, can make any traveler swoon for this place, but there’s this enticing option of also being able to shuffle to the kitchen, put on a pot of your favourite hot beverage, slip into your warm housecoat and soft slippers, and step out onto the balcony of your very own home-away-from-home.

There are quite a few Cabin and Cottage options available, but you will no doubt find one that fits your style perfectly. There is something here for every taste; whether you prefer to be beachside in the lap of luxury, or tucked away in the lush green of trees, there is a full-stocked space, already set-up and just waiting for your relaxation and enjoyment.

Typically, these accommodations include most of everything that you will need to live life just as you would on any other day, such as dishes and cutlery to cook in the kitchen, soaps and towels in the bathrooms, as well as bedrooms so comfortable that they invite you to stay an extra day, just so you can lounge around a little longer…

With so many choices of things to do in Ucluelet, you will be pleasantly surprised if Mother Nature decides to shower you with one of her very special days of precipitation. Rainy days make for a perfect time to stay right where you are and get your nose into a book, play cards with your friends, or watch a movie or two curled up on the couch with your loved ones.

When you have rented a Cabin or Cottage in Ucluelet, you might decide that you do not even want to leave, since you have everything that you need. If provisions are waning, you can always call for delivery from one of the local eateries, but if you’re someone who likes to plan things out in advance, your cupboards and fridge might already be chock full of snacks!

But let’s be honest, a little rainy weather certainly does not require that you stay inside – far from it! There are plenty of things to do on a rainy day in Ucluelet. We hope that you find a perfect place for you and your favourite people that you will love returning to year after year, because once is never enough.

August 2015 Interpretive Walks Calendar On the Wild Pacific Trail!

The Wild Pacific Trail Society, located in Ucluelet, British Columbia, introduced interactive Interpretive Walks to the Wild Pacific Trail hiking experience over the past summers and already thousands have discovered this wonderful wilderness exploration.

The fun and informative outdoor classroom opportunities happen on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10am and they are as engaging for adults as they are for the kids! Be sure to keep an eye out for special Interpretive Walks lead by the man who made the Wild Pacific Trail possible – Oyster Jim Martin!

The Summer Program is free of charge thanks to partnerships with funders such as the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, the Raincoast Education Society, the Ucluelet Aquarium and the District of Ucluelet.

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