The call to multi-day coastal hikes and mountaintops slows down as fall arrives. Instead, you’re invited to make Vancouver Island North the destination for your fall retreat to recharge after the buzz of summer. A season to seek (re)connection—to the North Island’s communities, nature’s rhythms, and Indigenous culture. 
Enjoy the delights of peaceful, picturesque walking routes, museums and artistic spaces rich in history and storytelling, and independent nature-centric hotels, resorts, and lodges.
Relax into nature’s nourishment
Time in nature has a wealth of proven benefits—from lowering stress to boosting our immune system. Vancouver Island North is renowned for epic hiking trails, but there are also plenty of less challenging routes and accessible pathways that are perfect for fall wanderings and trying your hand at forest bathing. Pause on the Marble River Trail or Nahwitti River Trail and take note of what you can smell, see, and hear. Admire the comings and goings of birdlife in the Quatse River Estuary. Take a seat on the shoreline at Bere Point Regional Park, Storey’s Beach, or San Josef Bay and let the salty air wash over you.
For an unforgettable, immersive experience, stay at Farewell Harbour Lodge—a water taxi away from Alder Bay RV Park near Telegraph Cove—which offers 4 to 7 day packages until the end of October. Their “Berry Balm” wellness experience includes a sauna and hot tub with breathtaking views across the bays and islands of Broughton Archipelago and the mystical Great Bear Rainforest. You might even get lucky and see a whale or two!
Back on Vancouver Island, cultivate your own wellness retreat by combining a quiet getaway with a few deeply rejuvenating hours of bodywork. Mindful Massage and Healing offers classic treatments like Swedish massage, hot stone massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, and Reiki. Their permanent space is in Port Hardy, but they’ll also travel to clients in Quatsino, Port McNeill, and Coal Harbour. A public swimming pool and fitness classes are available at the Port Hardy Recreation Centre.
Quiet getaways amongst the North Island’s rugged beauty
Where you stay is just as important as what you get up to in Vancouver Island North when the goal is rest and rejuvenation. Stay in accommodation that marries the amenities of our community hubs with unparalleled access to the rugged beauty of Vancouver Island North, from oceanfront hotels to cabins tucked into the treeline.
Hotel 19 has recently opened in the heart of Port Hardy, with ocean views from every room and the scenic waterfront walkway just across the street. The quiet of Indigenous-owned Cluxewe Resort—nestled on 61 acres—will mean you wake up to birdsong, plus you’ll have quick access to beach walks. Meanwhile, staying in one of Vancouver Island North’s B&Bs means you’ll have the unique opportunity of getting to know the locals better, while enjoying the comforts of a homestyle stay.
Deepen your understanding of culture and place
Getting to know those who have called these lands and waters home for millenia—the Kwakwakaʼwakw people—is also encouraged to expand your knowledge and move through the region with respect. Deepen your connection and understanding at the U’mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay. Also in Alert Bay, Culture Shock is a gallery and store that showcases First Nation cultural traditions of carving, jewellery making, and other art forms.
Back in Port Hardy, Kwa’lilas Hotel is far more than just a place to rest your head. Dine on local fare that combines West Coast dishes with Indigenous flavours. Take in the carefully curated selection of artworks and the history that adorn the walls of the hotel and its eateries.
Take home a memento of the North Island’s magic
When it’s time to leave the magic of the North Island, you can take a tangible piece of it home to conjure the feeling of your time here. Find unique paintings, photography, ceramics, and woodworks inspired by the quiet roads, majestic scenery, and wildlife of the region in the Telegraph Cove Art Gallery, Copper & Kelp Market, and the West Coast Community Craft Shop. Peruse books that unearth the incredible stories of solitude, adventure, and science from across Vancouver Island North and our nearby islands at the Book Nook and The Book Shelf. And why not gather a few extra special, locally-made North Island gifts for loved ones to get ahead on some eco-conscious holiday shopping while you’re here? Step out on the North Island Art Tour to discover makers in their private studios and more galleries.