brian caissie photo gale-force winds and thundering waves , as well as a drying space at the aprèsstorm Driftwood Café , and a fireplace in — and sea view from — every room .
Those wild Pacific Ocean waves also prompted a surfing craze at Mystic Beach in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park , near Victoria on the Island ’ s southern tip . A 2.5-kilometre ( 1.5-mile ) hike through mossy rainforest and across a suspension bridge ends at a dramatic , bluff-lined beach with caves , a rock arch and a magical waterfall plummeting right to the sand , perfect for a post-surfing shower .
Other BC beaches are almost tropical , with glittering turquoise waters and white sand . Tribune Bay on Hornby Island in the Gulf Islands , accessible from Vancouver Island ’ s east coast , is nicknamed “ Little Hawaii .” In summer , it ’ s sun-warmed to balmy temperatures , and only a five-minute walk to the island ’ s funky village .
Another beach has — believe it or not — the warmest water north of Mexico . Savary Island , off the Sunshine Coast northwest of Vancouver , requires a short water taxi trip from the town of Lund . Foot passengers only , but take a bike or a kayak to explore the kilometre-wide (. 6 mile-wide ) and 7.5 kilometre-long
( 4.6 mile-long ) island with its forest roads , sand dunes , and meadows . Often you ’ ll have one of dozens of crystal-clear aquamarine beaches to yourself .
Beaches are so ubiquitous in BC you even find them in Vancouver proper . English Bay in the West End , Jericho Beach near UBC and Ambleside in West Vancouver are among the most alluring .
There are also hidden gems in Greater Vancouver . Crescent Beach , an hour south of the city near the Washington State border , is a cottage-country neighborhood and quaint village where restaurants and cafes are just steps from the surf . Amid the waft of salt water and
38 explore : NW | The Official Magazine for kenmore air | Spring 2017