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A woolly mammoth, cultural artefacts from around the world, natural history displays and room after room of things you never expected to find in the Cowichan Valley. The Hand of Man Museum near Duncan is one of those wonderfully unusual travel stops where curiosity takes over and you just have to go inside.
Just outside Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park feels remarkably far removed from city life. Ancient Douglas firs, moss-covered forest trails, waterfalls and one of Vancouver Island’s famous salmon runs make this the kind of place where a quick roadside stop can very easily turn into several hours of exploring.
There are easier ways to admire the scenery on Vancouver Island, but where’s the fun in that? The Malahat SkyWalk takes you through the treetops and around a soaring spiral tower to incredible views over the surrounding mountains, islands and waterways. And when you’ve finished admiring the scenery? You can take the slide back down.
Just south of Duncan, a jumble of old buildings, little shops and curious pieces of Vancouver Island history sits beside the Trans-Canada Highway. Whippletree Junction is quirky, unexpected and exactly the sort of place that makes me pull over just to see what’s there.
Forget chips, chocolate bars and questionable vending-machine sandwiches. Hidden away at a little farm in the Cowichan Valley is a machine dispensing something considerably more exciting: artisan cheese. Naturally, we had to investigate.
Vancouver Island might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of Canadian wine, but the Cowichan Valley has quietly become a destination worth raising a glass to. From sweeping vineyard views and elegant tasting rooms to intimate family-run wineries, here are five Cowichan Valley wineries worth adding to your Vancouver Island travels.
What looks like a small town in the Cowichan Valley turns out to be one of the most fascinating outdoor art galleries in Canada. A walk through Duncan reveals towering totems, Indigenous stories, local history, and a deeper connection to the land than most visitors expect. If you slow down and look up, every pole has a story to tell.
For our flight to Japan, I decided to splurge on WestJet Business Class. What I got was far more than a bigger seat. Between the private lie-flat pod, premium dining, Herschel amenity kit, and the best sleep I’ve ever had on a plane, it completely changed the way I think about long-haul travel. Unfortunately, I may have ruined economy class forever.
For our final day in Japan, we tackled both Tokyo DisneySea and Disneyland in a single whirlwind adventure. While DisneySea impressed with its stunning scenery and one-of-a-kind attractions, it was Disneyland that won my heart, bringing back memories of visiting as a student decades ago. One thing’s for certain: if you’re attempting both parks in one day, have a strategy… and buy the skip-the-line passes. Your feet will thank you later.
After saying goodbye to the mountains of Hakone, we returned to Tokyo for the final chapter of our three-week Japan adventure. A reunion with my host sister at Tokyo Station, the return of our long-lost suitcase, and a relaxing evening at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel set the stage for one last epic day: Tokyo DisneySea and Disneyland.