The Best of Tofino

Tofino is one of our favourite destinations in BC. Ryan has been multiple times and now I can say I’ve had two glorious vacations there. And I will keep going back. We actually visited Tofino on our very first trip with Jack and it was perfect. He was a rockstar on his first flight, first road trip and first visit to the ocean. In fact, this particular location is a great option for families looking to get a bit of everything. Wanna know why?

Tofino is the perfect destination ANYTIME and for ANYONE:

there’s no bad season to go and there’s always a lot to do
it’s incredibly peaceful and relaxing for those that want to do absolutely nothing
the sea and scenery is stunning
the town is adorable with everything you could ask for
it isn’t overrun with people like other spots in BC/Alberta

Where should you stay?!

We have done two different scenarios now. The first trip we stayed outside of the town, right on the beach. This go around, with having toddler aged and more children in tow, we opted to stay right in town to make it a little easier on ourselves. I found this adorable AirBnb called the Tidewater House and booked it right away. There are so many beautiful places to stay in Tofino but here are a few reasons I would highly recommend this particular location when travelling with kids:

The location is within walking distance to everything in Tofino, so no hauling kids in and out of car seats to go do something
The house is right next to a wicked playground!
The space is comfortable, clean and cozy. The bathroom is nice and large – a tub for the kiddos, and a washer/dryer allowed us to get some laundry done (toddlers go through clothing too fast!)
There are NO stairs inside – so baby proofing is easy. The owners provided a high chair and a pack ‘n play so we didn’t need to worry about bringing more items. Less stress is always appreciated and not having to consider those extra aspects was great
The deck is lovely and huge, with spectacular views of the town and bay. A little rough underfoot but that was manageable.
It is really reasonably priced, especially when you split the cost between two families (it had two spacious bedrooms for us and a great bunk bed room for the kiddos).

What to do with a young a family?

Have a beach day or just simply walk one of the many beautiful beaches. My faves are Cox Bay, and Chesterman’s Beach, but this time we went to Long Beach and it was stunning. The ocean is pretty cold, so swimming is more of a in the middle of summer only thing but there are definitely other beach activities you could try with your family! We busted out the sand toys and a kite and it was so much fun!
Go for a hike or trail walk. There are so many to choose from and all the maps are great at describing each one so you can make the right decision for your family. You’re in the middle of a rainforest and then all of a sudden on the side of a cliff or on a beach…how can you not love that! Go out and explore!
Head out fishing or whale watching. I would suggest trying to go on a day that isn’t too windy so the kids aren’t bopping around everywhere but the water activities are great for families.
Bike along the beach or the paved path into town. We rented bikes in town and got a chariot for the kids and went down for some ice cream and then found a spot to park by the beach. Loved it!
Stroll in town and stop in at the quaint boutique shops! A stop at the playground is fun for the kids too…at that same spot there is a tennis court and bike park too.
Eat, eat, eat! Our favourite spot is the Wolf in the Fog for dinner and then Tacofino food truck for basically any meal lol. Sobo is really kid friendly with a little play space outside. Shelter has a great patio spot and good chowder on a colder day. Then of course Sushi at Tough City, Ice House Oyster Bar. The food is great!