Ucluelet, British Columbia: Taming the Wild West Coast with Delicious Cuisine, Hikes, Kayaking, and a Luxury Hotel

The west coast of Vancouver Island is known for rugged, hazardous conditions that ships once struggled to navigate. But in summer the winds and rain retreat, and the sun is the dominant theme.

Black Rock Oceanfront Resort After the relaxing ferry ride from Vancouver, B.C., and driving across Vancouver Island, we arrived at the hotel perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The breathtaking views are beyond description. It would be very easy to spend our entire three days enjoying the ocean views and not leave this idyllic setting. However, there is easy access to the Wild Pacific Trail from the hotel. There is a shipwreck at Big Beach, and access at the Brown’s Beach parking lot. Of course, if not staying at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, you can enjoy the views while dining at the Currents Restaurant or the casual Big Beach Lounge. The Outdoors Kayaking the Broken Group Islands with Hello Nature Adventures is a trip of a lifetime. After a 45-minute boat trip through the scenic Barclay Sound, you and the kayaks will be dropped off on one of about 100 small islands. This all-day tour is for beginners, and you will be guided through the calm channels between the islands. You will not be paddling all day; there are breaks, along with a catered lunch. Bike some 15.5 miles on the ʔapsčiikt̓ašii (pronounced ups-cheek ta-shee) multi-use pathway through the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Much of the trail is level, but there are parts, especially near Long Beach, that are steep. Thus, grabbing an e-bike at TbirdEbikes is a good plan. The trail starts here and goes north to Tofino. You weave in and out of the rainforest, and after about 10 miles there is a gradual descent into Long Beach. This is a great place to take a break, watch the surfers, and have a snack. Hiking the Lighthouse Loop is 1.6 miles, packed with views of the ocean waves slamming into the rocks. Don’t forget to do the hikes that are part of the Wild Pacific Trail, which are adjacent to Black Rock Oceanfront Resort. Great Food Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter is located in a charming yellow historic building. Chef Ian Riddick and his wife Heather Riddick bring vast experience, each with 25 years in the hospitality industry. They met while working at Whistler Resort. Besides the tasty breakfast offerings like the Classic Eggs Benny, they cater different events. We enjoyed their catered lunch that we had on our kayaking trip. Jiggers Fish and Chips is located across the street from Heartwood. You will see their food truck, and there will be a line of folks waiting to eat what many claim is the best and freshest fish and chips on Vancouver Island. Pluvio Restaurant + Rooms is next to Heartwood, and they offer a unique dining experience that the locals rave about. The Chef’s Tasting Menu is a five-plus-course dinner that uses the best local and seasonal ingredients. Shipwreck Pizza is closer to the waterfront. Originally owned by the Riddicks (of Heartwood), they trained Danielle and Paul to take the helm. Each pizza is made to order and cooked to perfection. We decided to take the pizza back to the resort to enjoy our last night, eating delicious pizza and soaking up the sights and sounds of the wild coastline. When You Go Black Rock Oceanfront Resort blackrockresort.com Wild Pacific Trail wildpacifictrail.com/map.html Hello Nature Adventureshellonature.ca/day-trips/full-day-broken-group-islands ʔapsčiikt̓ašiiparks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ/piste-pathway Pacific Rim National Park Reserve parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim

TbirdEbikestbirdebikes.com Long Beach gotofino.com/all-beaches-trails/long-beach-tofino-bc Lighthouse Loop wildpacifictrail.com/lighthouse.html Heartwood Food Kitchen Outfitter heartwoodfood.com Jiggers Fish and Chips facebook.com/p/Jiggers-Fish-Chips-100063837181389/ Pluvio Restaurant + Rooms pluvio.ca Shipwreck Pizza shipwreckpizza.com Ucluelet, B.C. discoverucluelet.com