Introducing North Vancouver Island
South-islanders will chuckle and tell you, ‘There’s nothing up there worth seeing, ’ while locals here will respond, ‘They would say that, wouldn’t they?’ Parochial rivalries aside, what this giant region covering nearly half the island lacks in towns, infrastructure and population, it more than makes up for in rugged natural beauty. If your trip to BC is all about encountering the untamed wilderness close up, this is the place for you. Despite the remoteness, some areas are remarkably accessible to hardy hikers, especially with the long-awaited arrival of the North Coast Trail.
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Spotting black bear feasting on road-side berries soon becomes commonplace up here, but you’ll also appreciate many of the quirky locals who color the region: northerners have a hardy, independent streak that marks them out from the down-island softies living south of Campbell River.
For further information on the region, contact Tourism North Vancouver Island (250-949-9094, 800-903-6660; www.vinva.bc.ca).
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
