My TripAdvisor Review No.520: Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Beautiful Banff, UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Banff National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, together with the other national and provincial parks that form the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. There are beautiful mountain landscapes to explore with tall peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, canyons, limestone caves and fossil beds. There is a lot of wildlife in the forested regions which include Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, Wolves, Cougars, Wolverine, Red Fox, Weasel, River Otter, Coyote, Elk, Moose, Deer, Mountain Goat, Bighorn Sheep and many other smaller animals like Beaver, Squirrel and Chipmunks.

We took a guided coach tour and first visited the photogenic lakes; Emerald, Louise and Moraine stopping the night in Banff town. Next day we visited Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and drove up to the Columbia Icefields and Jasper National Park via the Icefields Parkway, which is supposedly one of the most scenic motorways in the world, and justifiably so. The scenery on both sides of this Highway No. 93 was spectacular with snow capped peaks even in summer, and many sparkling lakes and waterways glinting between the tall trees in unique shades of blue, green and indigo.

It was a truly memorable trip in which we picked up a canvas of beautiful landscape paintings that will forever remain etched in our minds as long as we live.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.519: Harbour Pizza Factory, Ucluelet, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Surprisingly Good.

We ordered a 12 inch vegetarian pizza, and a spaghetti with tomato sauce and a slice of toasted bread and both the dishes were surprisingly good and freshly baked. The medium size pizza was made of thick dough but well baked and more than sufficient for the two of us, and all the ingredients, spinach, green peppers, onion, olives and Parmesan cheese were fresh and tasty.

We had a leisurely sit-in dinner and the master chef was very friendly and jovial. Prices were reasonable and we had to pay before we were served. We would love to visit again if we return to Ucluelet. They do deliver to your hotel room as well.

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Date of visit: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.518: Jiggers, Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, Canada.

Great Comfort Food.

Jiggers was located just across the road from where we were staying, Ukee Peninsula Motel, so we had to just cross the road and place our order. The first time we ordered Fried Halibut and a Vegan Burger and gobbled it down as we were getting late for our whale watching tour. It was later we realized that the Fish and Chips served with a tartar sauce, ketchup and coleslaw, was very tasty, filling and crunchy and indeed a great comfort food.

The next day we decided to order from Jiggers by choice, relax in our room and have a leisurely lazy lunch. We had a beer, an apple cider and an iced tea with Cod Fish and Chips and ordered two pieces of fish in the plate which works out cheaper per piece, and a Vegan Burger. We really enjoyed our meal.

Jiggers operate their kitchen from a truck and you can have your meal either on outdoor tables, under their picnic umbrellas, or take it to their indoor restaurant, next to the truck, if it is raining. Of course we took ours over to our hotel room across the street, as a takeaway. It is a self-service eatery. The place is popular even with the locals and regulars. However, they only accept cash as the form of payment, no cards.

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Date of visit: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.517: Reflecting Spirit Gallery, Ucluelet, Vanc-Island.

Native Art.

We walked in to this art gallery to browse and pass our time while our clothes were being washed in the coin laundromat in the same shopping plaza, but the paintings and sculptures were so good that we could not tear our eyes away from them. Most of the paintings and carvings were done by the local artisans and the First Nations craftsmen.

Being from overseas most of the paintings, carvings and glassware were too big to take back with us in an airplane. We had to settle for the smaller stuff like key-chains, magnets, bookmarks and trinkets to give away as gifts. And sorry, it just does not feel right to take pictures inside an art gallery.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.516: Cameron Ocean Adventures, Ucluelet, Vanc-Island.

A Whale Of A Time With Lynette And Caleb.

Cameron Ocean Adventures organize one of the most amazing Whale Watching tours on the west coast of Vancouver Island at Ucluelet. We booked the tour online about a couple of hours before it sailed from the Whisky Landing dock, just behind the Ucluelet Aquarium at 3 pm. Lynette, the skipper, and Caleb, expert mariner and owner of the vessel ‘Nootka Princess’ introduced themselves to us and the ten other adventurers, which included four kids aged 5 to 12.

We had to don our life jackets and were given the safety drill before sailing towards the Broken Group Islands due east of Ucluelet. The scenery of the small forested islands and rocks in the open Pacific Ocean kept us mesmerized, and none of us wanted to get into the warmth of the covered cabin which remained largely empty most of the time. Most of us had brought some eatables and drinking water which we left in the cabin until we felt hungry or thirsty.

Initially we saw some cormorants and bald eagles perched on the tree tops of the small islands. We even saw a sea otter floating on its back and observing us just as we were observing him. Finally after sailing on the choppy ocean for more than an hour Lynette spotted a Humpback spouting at some distance. We were all excited as most of us were seeing a whale for the first time. We followed it for almost half an hour trying our best to synchronize our camera clicks with the whale’s flips.

Finally ‘Moby Dick’ got tired of entertaining us and we went ahead to some rocks where Caleb pointed out a group of grunting and squabbling sea lions. Some of them were swimming quite close to us and peering out of the water at us.

After almost 4 hours out on the waters braving the chilly and choppy waves we were back in Ucluelet at 7 pm. We all had a whale of time and were sad to say good-bye to our captain and guides, Lynette and Caleb, who had opened our eyes to the beauty of the wild and wonderful coast of British Columbia.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.515: Pacific Rim National Park, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Wild And Wonderful.

The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve consists of 3 units stretching from Tofino, the northern end, to Port Renfrew at the southern end, on Vancouver Island. These 3 units are:
1) The Long Beach Unit located between the beach towns of Tofino and Ucluelet,
2) The Broken Group Islands located in Barkley Sound and accessible only by boat, and
3) The West Coast Trail stretching for 75 km from Pachena Bay to Port Renfrew. Only experienced trekkers should attempt this trail.

We got to explore the Broken Group of Islands when we joined one of the Whale Watching tour operators in Ucluelet. We were taken across the small islands in Barkley Sound, towards the south-east of Ucluelet, and saw the spectacular views of these islands covered by a small forest of trees, and rocks with a lot of kelp floating around. Finally the captain of the motorised boat spotted a humpback whale which we followed for quite a while as it kept spouting and breaking the surface of the water every few minutes. We even saw a group of grunting and squabbling sea lions on a rocky island, a sea otter floating on it’s back in the water, and some sea eagles perched up on tall trees of some of the islands.

Likewise, a walk along the Long Beach near Tofino and along the West Coast Trail must be as mesmerizing for the incredible coastline scenery with the temperate rain-forests of the islands meeting the ever turbulent waters of the Pacific Ocean. Keep your eyes open to spot some of the wonderful aquatic and terrestrial fauna like whales, orcas, dolphins, wolves, bears, cougars, and myriads of smaller creatures along the shore.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.514: Amphitrite Point Lighthouse, Ucluelet, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Charming Little Lighthouse.

The short and squat lighthouse having a height of barely 20 feet is strategically located at the south western tip of the coastal town of Ucluelet on Vancouver Island. The building is painted white and the light tower is bright red giving it a very charming look. It gives an impression of a loyal and lonely sentinel guarding the rugged coastline against the savage onslaught of the merciless Waves of the mighty Pacific. It is appropriately named ‘Amphitrite’, a Greek mythological character who was a sea Goddess and wife of Poseidon, and who could keep the sea calm and provide safe passage through the storms.

We walked to the lighthouse by following the Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet Lighthouse Loop, which is a beautiful forest trail hugging the coastline at the south end of Ucluelet. It is a 2.6 km circular walking trail with spectacular scenery, and the lighthouse is located at the midpoint of the trail, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. To the left we could see the small wooded islands of the Broken Group in the Barkley Sound, and to the right is the open ocean. One can also take a short direct walk from the parking lot if one is short of time, but then you would miss the spectacular views along the trail. There are many informative sign boards and a number of benches on the trail to relax and enjoy the breath taking views.

One cannot enter inside the lighthouse which is still in operation, though now it is fully automated. Earlier it used to be manned by the Canadian Coast Guard.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.513: Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet, Vanc-Island, Canada.

A Walk On The Wild Side Of The Pacific.

This is one of the best wild walking trails on Vancouver Island. The trail is in two parts; The Ancient Cedars Loop Trail in North Ucluelet, and The Ucluelet Lighthouse Loop in the south. The latter starts near the southern end of Peninsula Road, and covers a circular path called the Lighthouse Loop. The lighthouse is located at the Amphitrite Point. The length of the circular trail is about 2 km and it is a largely flat trail without too many undulations if you stick to the trail. It is risky to try to go down to the rocky shorelines as the thrashing waves are quite unpredictable.

We walked the gravel covered trail in about an hour and a half, stopping at many places to admire the spectacular views and marvel at the incredible scenery of the wooded islands of the Broken Group towards the east, and the wide open ocean towards the west. There was a slight drizzle and this made the scenery more enchanting. The dense forest had a variety of trees, some tall and straight and some were bent and twisted into weird shapes by the gusty winds from the ocean. There were many protruding viewing points and benches to sit along the trail.

The trail has been maintained very well. There are sign boards at regular intervals tracing back the history and culture of the region. We were wondering where a certain plaintive wailing sound was coming from, till we read a sign board explaining that it was the sound from a Whistle Buoy which has guided mariners into Ucluelet harbour in stormy weather since 1905.

There is a car park at the start of the trail, and public washrooms near the parking area.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.512: Ukee Peninsula Motel, Ucluelet, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Ukee Peninsula Motel: Good Lodgings With A Big Parking Lot.

First things first, this motel is now known as ‘Ukee Peninsula Motel’ and is now well managed by a friendly Korean family. There is no in house restaurant but there are plenty of eateries and restaurants within walking distance on the Peninsula Road where this motel is located. Like any motel this one too has a big parking lot, which it shares with the Japanese restaurant ‘Sake Sushi’ next door.

The room we booked had two queen sized beds which was adequate for the three of us. The room was spacious and had a floor carpet. There was a microwave oven, coffee maker, a mini fridge, a flat-screen TV, dining table and chairs, and an open clothes rack with hangers. There was individual heating in the room and bathroom. The bathroom had a bathtub with running hot water and was well provided with soap, shampoo, moisturiser and toilet paper. There was free individual wi-fi for each room.

There was a shopping complex next door with a restaurant, a café, an art gallery, a post office and a coin operated laundromat. In short we had a very comfortable stay at Ukee Peninsula Motel since it is so conveniently located, and at a reasonable price compared to other properties in Tofino and Ucluelet.

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Date of stay: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.511: Harbourfront Walkway, Nanaimo, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Long Walk With Splendid Views.

This is one of the best harbourfront walkways on Vancouver Island. It starts near the Nanaimo Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and the ‘Beefeater’s Chop House and Grill’ restaurant and stretches almost 5 kilometres up to the Vancouver Island Military Museum near the Gabriola Island Ferry Terminal, with a few short breaks in between.

There are splendid views of the harbour front with marinas, seaplane bases, yacht clubs, restaurants, pubs and coffee shops along the way. We had a very interesting evening walk here in Nanaimo before going to the Zougla Restaurant, at the end of Brechin Road, for dinner.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.510: Zougla Restaurant, Nanaimo, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Good Greek And Mediterranean Food.

Zougla is a classy restaurant for lovers of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. It is located about 1 km from the Departure Bay Ferry Terminal in Nanaimo. They have a good compound for parking and a very comfortable dining area, including some tables outside in the veranda. The lady serving our table was friendly and efficient and would enquire every so often if we were being well served.

We ordered a Salmon Filet and a Greek Salad. The vegetables in the salad were topped with oregano, feta cheese, green olives extra virgin olive oil, while the salmon was a whole wild BC sockeye fish topped with lemon herb sauce and served with rice and vegetables.

There is a great variety of dishes in the menu including vegetarian and vegan options. They have a good selection of spirits and wines, and also serve coffee. The prices were on the higher side but we quite enjoyed our dining experience.

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Date of visit: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.509: Cafe Guido, Port Hardy, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Good For Coffee.

Café Guido is located in downtown Port Hardy opposite the Port Hardy Museum. It is a good café for coffee but there was not much to choose from in the Vegan or Vegetarian breakfast options. Most of the paninis, pizzas and quiches were non vegetarian. The only vegetarian breakfast option I could find was a Sienna, which was a cheese sandwich with some chopped vegetables in it. I also tried the Apple Cake and it was OK. Prices were on the high side.

However, they have a nice bookshop in the basement with a good collection of books related to the local history, geography and culture of Vancouver Island. Gift items were also available.

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Date of visit: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.508: Carrot Park, Port Hardy, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Welcome To Port Hardy!

You will see the giant signboard ‘Welcome To Port Hardy’ at the Carrot Park, and it offers a photo opportunity to all visitors to this northernmost town of Vancouver Island. There is an unique monument of a half-eaten carrot here reminding residents and visitors of the years of effort to persuade the Provincial Government to extend its road network to the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

It is located in the heart of downtown Port Hardy and there is a waterfront walkway that provides more than a quarter mile of promenade with lovely views of the harbour and the open sea. There is a beautiful lawn and children’s playground and a public washroom nearby. The Port Hardy Visitor Information Centre is also located here. There is a totem and a monument dedicated to the servicemen of the nation. There are also several informative signboards giving information about the wildlife that live around here like orcas, wolves, bears and salmon fish.

It is a good place to visit in Port Hardy, specially if you have driven down the island’s Highway No. 19. This is where the highway terminates.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.507: Subway, Port Hardy, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Vegetarian Options.

Subway is one of the few eateries in Port Hardy where you can go vegetarian. It is also one of the few places in this town which opens early in the morning at 8 am. The outlet is located in Thunderbird Mall in downtown Prince Rupert at the junction of Granville Street and Rupert Street.

So while returning from my morning walk after visiting the harbour and downtown attractions I decided to pick up a footlong veggie Sub and carry it back to our hotel room to have a healthy breakfast. You can dine in too.

I was happy to meet and get good service from the friendly Punjabi lady from my own country. Prices are also very reasonable. Non Veg Subs, Pizzas, and Sandwiches are also available, as well as cold drinks. Six inch Subway options are also available.

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Date of visit: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.506: Glen Lyon Restaurant & Pub, Port Hardy, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Slow Service.

This restaurant belongs to the Glen Lyon Inn where we were staying in Port Hardy. We went down to the restaurant and pub for dinner but regretted it. We were five members in our group, but we could not be accommodated on one table because there was already a big group having a party in the centre of the restaurant with four tables joined together. We got seating on two separate tables. The service was also very slow and we had to wait for over 45 minutes to be served.

That said, however the food was good and we enjoyed the Halibut Fish and Chips with Coleslaw Salad and Tartar sauce. The prices were a bit on the higher side. The view from the restaurant of the waterfront and the seaplane base was wonderful and kept us glued to the glass windows while waiting for the food. The quaint restaurant is housed in a round building on two levels, with two entrances, one from the hotel and the other by ascending a wooden staircase from outside.

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Date of visit: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.505: Beaver Harbour Park (Storey's Beach), Port Hardy, Vanc-Island.

Lovely Beach For A Family Picnic.

This beach park is also known as Storey’s Beach. The sand here is nice and fine though somewhat dark coloured. The Beaver Harbour Park has a beautiful green lawn laid out with picnic benches. There is a covered shed with benches where a family can gather for a party, and a washroom and an open wash basin where one can wash one’s feet and dirty utensils. Some driftwood separates the park from the beach.

The water was pretty cold but nice and calm and we saw a lot of brave kids enjoying splashing around. Some had brought their surf boards along. The water is crystal clear and there are small round stones and shells which kids can play around with. The sea here is good for boating and kayaking as well.

After some splashing in the cold water we settled down on one of the sunny picnic tables with our spread, with the kids running around in the huge lawn. All of us had a great time. The summer sun brought the warmth back into our bodies, despite the cool winds from the ocean.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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