Vancouver Island is such a beautiful place, it is hard to believe I only have a few weeks left before I am living on the mainland for the first time.
I have a huge love of nature, and love being anywhere near a body of water. Hiking, going for a run near the ocean, long walks, camping, I love it all.
Some of my favourite places:
This is Elk Lake in Victoria. It is located off of Highway 17 and Sayward. It is gorgeous, has some pretty beaches, a child's playground, and you can walk or run all the way around it. There is a 10km run you can do around Elk Lake which is also connected to Beaver Lake. It's very serene and is a gorgeous place to be on a hot day.
This is the trestle at Goldstream Park. It is 20 minutes or so outside of Victoria, you get there following Highway 1 toward Nanaimo. You can hike all around, see beautiful waterfalls, and if you hike up above the waterfall eventually you get here. The train does not run any more so there is no fear of getting stuck in a Stand By Me moment while crossing. If you are afraid of heights I would not recommend walking across because there is half a foot gaps between the wood slabs, and it is over a 150 foot drop to the bottom. It is complete with incredible views, and amazingly fresh air.
This amazing view is from Durrance Lake. It is located off of West Saanich Road, a few minutes away from the popular Red Barn Market. It is a rather small lake, with a dock, trails, and no real "beach" but there are separate areas that are suitable for setting up your stuff with friends. That feature I think is kind of nice because you don't have to worry about the beach getting packed with everyone and their 6 kids and dog.
This amazing view is not from Victoria, but rather French Beach which is located just outside of Shirley, BC. It is approximately an hour and a bit outside of Victoria, and it is well worth the drive. I could sit here all day listening to the waves crashing into the thousands of rocks that create this gorgeous beach. The waves here are much larger and more aggressive than in Victoria, and it's a beautiful thing to watch. There are camping grounds, hiking trails, beaches, and a very large parking lot which makes for easy accommodation.
These are some of my favourite places to visit with friends for some hiking, or by myself when I just need to sit, gather my thoughts, and reflect on life.
What are some of your favourite places?
Kelsey
Note: All photos taken by me with an iPhone5S.
