Life is Cooler in Tofino

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Our week in Tofino was the perfect kind of magic – wide open beaches, towering rainforests, crashing Pacific waves, and a quiet, unhurried pace that instantly fills you back up. We absolutely loved our time there – equal parts rest, adventure, and pure connection with nature!

Mike and I by the roaring fire drinking wine outside of airbnb.

Beautiful Tofino

We just returned from the most incredible week in Tofino, British Columbia – and if you have never been, it is unlike anywhere else we have ever visited! We arrived in style via seaplane from Vancouver, which set the tone for the whole adventure.

Tofino is a small surf town on the remote west coast of Vancouver Island, surrounded by rainforest, rugged beaches, and some seriously incredible scenery. It’s the kind of place where life slows down, everyone seems to be outside, and you can’t help but relax.

We spent our days riding bikes, exploring the little town, eating great food, watching surfers tackle the chilly Pacific waves, attempting a little surfing ourselves (well – Mike did!), and taking in all the natural beauty around us. We even spotted a couple of bears in the distance! Tofino was the perfect place to unplug, breathe in the cool ocean air, and enjoy a week of simple adventures.

Sue and Mike on the beach with our toes in the sand.

Sea Plane to Tofino

One of the most unforgettable parts of our Tofino trip was how we got there – a scenic seaplane flight with Harbour Air from Vancouver. We were absolutely blown away by the stunning aerial views of the Pacific coastline, the islands, and the rugged beauty of Vancouver Island from above. It was a short flight but a breathtaking experience we won’t ever forget. Bucket list item checked!

Sue and Mike's selfie inside of the small aircraft.
A photo of the airplane starting to take off.
A view of the lakes in the mountains from the airplane.
Another view from the sea plane showing the beautiful countryside.

Airbnb

We stayed in the most charming little tiny home through Airbnb called Cedarwood Cove, and it was perfect for our Tofino adventure! Nestled close to the beaches and surrounded by the lush rainforest, it was cozy, quiet, and completely magical. And the wildlife viewing was an unexpected bonus – we spotted a couple of bears in the distance right from our little slice of paradise. It doesn’t get much better than that!

One of our favorite evenings was the simplest one. We built a fire at our Airbnb, put together a charcuterie board, poured a couple of glasses of wine, and called it dinner – all while bundled up in our winter pajamas (note my grinch pj pants). 😂 It was cozy, relaxing, WARM, and the perfect way to end a day of exploring Tofino.

The bed at the airbnb.
View of the airbnb showing the marshy dock area.
Mike bundled up looking through binoculars watching a bear.
Sue posing in the backyard of airbnb.
Mike looking for bears from the back side of airbnb.
A view of the fire Mike built by airbnb.

Bike Riding

Our first week was spent in Tofino, and we had so much fun exploring on our Airbnb’s complimentary bikes. These weren’t fancy e-bikes like we had in Vancouver—they were old-school cruisers with foot brakes and a personality of their own! 😂 We rode part of the Pacific Rim Trail on two occasions, but most of our rides were casual adventures into town, along the beaches, and out to dinner each evening, soaking in the incredible coastal views along the way.

One evening, what started as a beautiful ride home quickly turned into a memorable one when a cool mist rolled in off the ocean and the temperature dropped fast. By the time we made it back to our Airbnb, we were cold, damp, and laughing the whole way. It was all part of the Tofino experience!

Mike and I doing a selfie on the bike path.
Sue on the bike path riding in the forest.
The bikes on the beautiful PCR bike path.
Mike on the bike path outside of Tofino BC.
Sue and Mike riding bikes on the beach in Tofino.

Surfing

No trip to Tofino would be complete without giving surfing a try! Our Airbnb included free wetsuits (a must, because the Pacific Ocean is cold), so Mike strapped his surfboard to his bike and pedaled to the beach looking like he knew exactly what he was doing. 😄 Catching a wave? Not this time. But he had a blast giving it a shot (and what bravery, right?!), and watching him ride the trails with a surfboard attached to his bike was a memory I’ll never forget.

Mike riding a bike with in wetsuit with the surfboard attached to bike.
Mike heading into surf with his surfboard.
Mike wading into the ocean.
Mike after trying to surfe on Chesterman's Beach.

Delicious Food

For such a small town, Tofino has an impressive food scene. Fresh seafood is the star of the menu just about everywhere you go, with fish tacos, chowder, oysters, and salmon showing up on many local menus. You’ll also find cozy cafés, bakeries, food trucks, and restaurants ranging from casual to upscale – all with the laid-back, welcoming vibe that makes Tofino so special. If I had to choose, the salmon bowls from Shelter and the fish tacos from Wildside Grill would be my favorites!

  • Coffee – Tofitian Cafe & Bakery (delicious pastries, breakfast sands), Harbourview Coffeehouse
  • Gelato and homemade chocolate
  • Common Loaf Bake Shop – sandwiches
  • Shelter – (next to the marina) we had delicious salmon bowls and a bloody mary
  • The Point – our fancy anniversary dinner
  • Tacofino – fresh fish tacos
  • The Shed – poke bowl and salmon bowl
  • The Schooner Restaurant – seafood chowder, halibut, and seafood curry (plus a brownie)
  • Wildside Grill – delicious food to-go – green salad, fish tacos, and chowder
  • Ombre – pasta, delicious espresso martinis, and tiramisu
Mike and Sue at The Shed.
Sue in front of the Tacofino food truck.
  • Side view of two bloody marys with olives and green beans.
  • A slice of tiramisu at Ombre.
  • A pic of our gelato treats in front of a tree.
  • Mike's seafood curry with greens and clams at Schooners.
  • A plate of halibut with rice and veggies.
  • A bowl of seafood chowder at Schooner's.
  • Our beers at Tofino brewery.
  • Mike bring us beers at the brewery.
  • Our coffees and pastries from Tofician Coffee.
  • The pasties in the coffee shop.
  • Mike's poke bowl at The Shed.
  • Us drinking beers on the beach one day.
  • Our fish tacos at Tacofino.
  • Mike's salmon and kale bowl at The Shelter.
  • A pic of brownie with ice cream and caramel.

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