5 reasons to add this unknown B.C. tourism destination to your bucket list

B.C. is known for its beauty and jaw-dropping, world-renowned sites, like Tofino, Whistler, and the Okanagan Valley. But one emerging B.C. tourism destination might surprise you: Campbell River. 

Located about halfway up Vancouver Island — just under a two-hour drive from Nanaimo (or just under an hour from Vancouver if you take Harbour Air’s new flight) — Campbell River is known as the “salmon capital of the world” (and even offers unique experiences like snorkelling with salmon). 

But even though I’m B.C. born and raised, and have visited Vancouver Island more times than I can count, I hadn’t spent much time thinking about Campbell River. At most, it’s been a city I’ve passed through on the way to another B.C. tourism destination, like San Josef Bay or Strathcona Provincial Park.

Earlier this summer, though, this changed: I was invited to Campbell River to witness how this Vancouver Island city is becoming an emerging B.C. tourist destination, just as remarkable as the other sites I’ve seen across the province. 

Think: ocean, mountains, and access to outstanding natural phenomena, all while having the opportunity to simultaneously relax with high-end accommodation, good food, and the quiet comfort of a small town. I spent nearly three days in the city, and I can officially give you five reasons why you might want to add a trip to Campbell River to your B.C. bucket list.

Top-tier access to nature

If you don’t want to pick between the ocean and mountains, then Campbell River is the right place for you. The city is about a 40-minute drive from Strathcona Provincial Park, which is over 250,000 acres of rugged wilderness with mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and plenty of hiking options. And if you want to stay closer to town and access some milder hikes, Elk Falls Park is just two kilometres away from Campbell River’s downtown. It has some low-effort and high-reward options, including an easy walking path that takes you to a 25-metre waterfall and a 60-metre suspension bridge. 

If you’re an ocean lover, Campbell River has access to some real treats for you. I joined Campbell River Whale Watching for a tour, and it was far from your average excursion on the ocean (if any excursion on the ocean is ever average). We suited up in large, baggy red suits (our personal flotation devices for the trip that helped us keep warm while cruising over 16°C ocean water), then jetted out in a bright red Zodiac on the Discovery Passage, cruising towards the Coast Mountains. 

After an hour and 15 minutes, we arrived at a spectacular site called Jimmy Judd, where we witnessed what’s called a bald eagle “feeding frenzy.” In the spring and summer, pressure from the tidal currents forces hake fish to the surface, bursting their swim bladders and instantly killing them. Their dead bodies then float to the surface of the water, making an easy meal. Bald eagles know about this feast, and that’s what we were there to see. There were hundreds of eagles perched in trees, soaring above, and swooping down to grab a fish. We also spotted a few sea lions who were out to take advantage of the moment. On the return boat ride home to Campbell River, we were even lucky enough to spot two humpback whales, swimming side-by-side.

Comfortable and elevated accommodation

As someone who either sleeps on the ground when I travel (I love camping) or has stayed in my fair share of small-town accommodations, I’m used to pretty basic motel rooms where the most exciting amenity is the TV.

Campbell River, however, has a lovely, woman-owned hotel called Naturally Pacific Resort. It provides high-end accommodations at far more affordable prices than what you’d find at other major B.C. tourism destinations. My room was spacious, had a comfortable king-size bed, and a view out onto the resort’s 18-hole golf course. It itself was relaxing enough to lounge in, but I also had access to a 25-metre pool, hot tub, sauna, spa, and garden terrace. We also got a tour of the grounds, which includes a 22,500-square-foot garden (and, yes, they use the food in-house) and a chance to try out the Velocity Driving Range.

A great place to relax and unwind

If you have come to love the practice of hot and cold exposure as I have, then you’ll have to add the Island Floating Sauna to your Campbell River itinerary. True to its name, the sauna is literally floating on water, with a view of the harbour and Quadra Island (and a BC Ferry vessel transiting back and forth from island to island). 

It features a wood-stove heated sauna, a cold plunge pool filled with ocean water, and a relaxing sun deck to lounge on between hot and cold cycles. We were also treated to an essential oil ritual, where drops of essential oil were dropped on the stove, and the scented air was fanned on us.

But you don’t even have to leave Naturally Pacific Resort for some rest and relaxation time. 

The resort has an on-site spa called Immersion Spa + Wellness, which offers a number of high-end treatments. However, if you want to enjoy the high-end spa experience without the price tag, you can book a session in the spa’s mineral pool, which is infused with magnesium, sodium, and potassium, which the hotel says is anti-inflammatory and soothes muscles. It also has water therapy showers, which have different water pressures, temperatures, lights, and scents. Before and after you access the pool, you can sit in a quiet lounge and enjoy a hot or cool refreshment.

A diverse food scene

As a vegetarian, travelling to small towns can be a hit-or-miss experience — my friends and family might be dining on steak and fries, and I’m just dining on… well, fries. I knew that Campbell River was home to some good eats, but I was still pleasantly surprised by the vegetarian options available. 

Naturally Pacific Resort is home to Carve Kitchen + Meatery, which (if the name doesn’t give it away) features a number of meat-forward dishes. But it still has a unique vegetarian offering on the menu: a cabbage roll stuffed with tofu, shiitake, and broccoli. We also finished the meal with a dark chocolate tart and a mouthwatering banoffee pie. If this didn’t make my sweet tooth happy enough, we stopped at Carve for breakfast as well, where I tried the PB&J pancakes (fluffy and decadent) and banana bread French toast.

Off the resort, Campbell River has plenty of dining options. We stopped at Freya, a bright purple Nordic bakery right in the heart of downtown that sells delightful sweet and savoury croissants and other treats. Then there’s Beach Fire Brewing, another great restaurant that has that classic small-town feel with a plethora of hearty food options and a wide assortment of refreshing beers.

Mattone Italian Kitchen is truly a delight, with a large outdoor patio overlooking the ocean and rich, flavourful food, like focaccia and butternut squash ravioli. We also stopped for a whisky tasting at Shelter Point Distillery, which I would recommend you visit even if you’re not a whisky connoisseur — learning the art and science (and patience) that goes into making a bottle of whisky is fascinating.

On-route to other can’t-miss Vancouver Island destinations

This might have been my first time in Campbell River (and perhaps the most in-style, given that I flew in and got to soak up a bird’s-eye view of the clear blue ocean, mountain ranges, and swaths of forests), but, as I mentioned at the beginning, this was far from my first time visiting Vancouver Island. 

If you’re planning an Island trip (and you really should consider it), Campbell River would make a great addition to the itinerary if you want to explore the North Island. You could spend a few days in the city, take a day to explore Quadra Island (I’ve never been, so I’ll have to check it out next time), then venture further north and visit Cape Scott Provincial Park (if your vehicle can handle over 60 kilometres of rough, gravel roads). Another option could be a camping trip in Strathcona Provincial Park, followed by a couple of nights at Naturally Pacific Resort as a wonderful way to freshen up.

Destination Campbell River also recommends that you check out Black Creek, Gold River, Oyster River, Sayward, the Nootka Sound, and Zeballos. Personally, I’ve never been to any of these locations — so maybe they’ll be part of my next Campbell River trip.

This author was hosted by Destination Campbell River, Naturally Pacific Resort, and Harbour Air.