Stunning B.C. destination named one of the best alternatives to U.S. national parks
The busy summer travel season has arrived, and British Columbians frequenting Pacific Rim National Park Reserve may soon see more visitors than usual.
That’s because the New York Times has just named the popular B.C. destination as one of five spectacular Canadian parks to visit this summer.
The New York Times created a list of Canadian national parks that make great alternatives to their American counterparts for outdoor enthusiasts worried about how budget and staffing cuts are impacting parks in the United States
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“For national park lovers, the recent staff and budget cuts to the U.S. National Park Service threaten to bring long admission lines, shuttered campgrounds and overflowing garbage cans,” wrote the New York Times.
“If you’re seeking to avoid the potential chaos, there’s a set of parallel parks just north of the border, in Canada’s park system.”
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve was named as the best alternative for Washington’s Olympic National Park.
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Located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a haven for surfers, kayakers, and those who love the great outdoors. The park is divided into three regions: Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail.
Several outdoor activities found in the reserve were highlighted by the Times, including beachcombing, hiking, exploring tide pools, and surfing.
Beloved by locals and tourists alike, Pacific Rim draws more than a million visitors annually.
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Pacific Rim National Park Reserve has received several recent accolades, including being one of the reasons why Vancouver Island is listed as one of Lonely Planet’s 15 best places to visit in Canada.
Travel + Leisure also crowned Tofino as one of the most beautiful places in the country, in no small part due to Pacific Rim’s outdoor paradise.
“You’ll also find several stunning stretches of sand, including the nearly 10-mile-long Long Beach,” wrote Travel + Leisure. “Part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, this wide sandy beach is nothing short of show-stopping—if you’re lucky, you may even spot grey whales from the shore.”