This 289 km loop starts in Victoria and heads west through the funky oceanside town of Sooke and onto Port Renfrew, where the waves are as big as the drinks are cold. Uncover the places where many of British Columbia's artists and artisans live, work and showcase their art. [4][5], Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, "Provincial Government of BC | Destination BC", Official signage along the Pacific Marine Circle Route, Map of the Pacific Marine Circle Route, Times Colonist (newspaper), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pacific_Marine_Circle_Route&oldid=972571917, Articles with a promotional tone from January 2020, Articles needing additional references from January 2020, All articles needing additional references, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Infobox road temporary tracking category 1, Infobox road articles without wikidata country, Infobox road articles without wikidata instance of, Infobox road instances in British Columbia, Articles to be expanded from January 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 August 2020, at 19:49. Self-drive. Enter your email address below to receive seasonal travel information from Destination British Columbia including trip ideas, great places to go and fun things to do on vacation in BC. Add to Cart This guide book is done in a km to km (mile to mile) format so you can follow along as you drive and not miss all the hidden gems along this route. See what's happening now with these recent posts. Hikes and walks abound and offer views of the jagged coastline and inspiring vistas of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains. The route starts in Victoria and heads up to Sooke and Port Renfrew before cutting clear across the island and heading back down again through the Cowichan Valley. This 25-minute ride, dubbed “Vancouver Island’s most beautiful shortcut,” lets you complete your holiday with a visit to the famous Butchart Gardens, located in Brentwood Bay, before heading south on Highway 17 to Victoria. The drive consists of a scenic coastal drive from Sooke trough Jordan River to Port Renfrew where a very good lunch can be had in … The Pacific Marine Circle Route extends from Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, B.C. The total drive clocks in at a total of 289 km or 179 miles. Pacific Marine Circle Route Guide Book. In an effort to understand, and to curb the restless feeling, Mom and I decide to drive the Pacific Marine Circle Route on a mother-daughter road trip. Visit the Sooke Region Museum and plan to dine at Sooke Harbour House—an award-winning west coast restaurant that only uses local ingredients. Vancouver Island’s Pacific Marine Circle Route isn’t as well known as many other destinations on the island. Nearby at Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, explore the geological marvels carved deep in the sandstone bedrock from the last ice age. The Pacific Marine Circle Route follows the coastline from Victoria through Sooke and out to Port Renfrew. Sheltered from the ocean, this seaside destination boasts a mild climate with lush, green vegetation inviting residents and visitors alike to explore its many beaches and parks. In Spring, countless tulips, daffodils and hyacinths will give you a buffet... Attractions, Museums & Heritage Sites, Accessibility. Follow the road signs, follow a paper map, or navigate via a GPS as you drive your own car and take in the beauty of this route. By Gina DeCaprio Vercesi Spend an afternoon sampling various wines in tasting rooms and shops, or take a guided tour of the wine-making facilities and vineyards. This is "Pacific Marine Circle Route - Sooke to Victoria" by Destination Greater Victoria on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who… Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries, Accessibility. Why not take the scenic route, via The Pacific Marine Circle. to Victoria, B.C. This personal information is collected for the purpose of marketing under the authority of section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. From the South Cowichan, you may want to stop at Bamberton and Goldstream provincial parks before continuing south to Victoria on Highway 1. Choose one of many bed and breakfasts to tuck into for the night. Those who make this incredible trip will be rewarded with scenic views of mountain peaks, raging rivers, towering forests and beautiful coastlines. Beginning your journey in Vancouver? Regular price $24.00 Sale price $0.00 Quantity. Go full circle on Southern Vancouver Island with the Pacific Marine Circle Route. Covering a total of 289 km (179 miles), this excursion has it all; cities, ocean vistas, old growth forests, and the many welcoming small towns of southern Vancouver Island. It can be done as a bustling day trip or stretched out to fill as many days as one has. Pacific Marine Circle Route, Vancouver Island: Address, Pacific Marine Circle Route Review: 3/5 “You will visit West Coast beaches and parks, world famous ancient forests and mammoth trees. Driving … Though 25c tires work well enough, riding 50c was better for the gravel trails and navigating campground roads. The park also has a network of hiking trails to explore. Take in spectacular views of the canyons and gorges in BC’s temperate rainforest from the restored 66-Mile and Holt Creek railway trestles on The Great Trail. The park is an ideal place to watch the annual salmon-spawning run in the fall. The route is composed of Highway 14, Pacific Marine Road, Shore Road, Highway 18, and a segment of the Trans-Canada Highway. We value your privacy and never share your information, and you may withdraw your consent and unsubscribe at any time. The Pacific Marine Circle Route is a 263-kilometre (163 mi) marked scenic loop road through southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Botanical Beach. Often referred to as the City of Gardens, the mild coastal climate allows blooms to spring as early as February. Drive the Pacific Marine Circle Route and sample everything Southern Vancouver Island has to offer. 1. This is "Pacific Marine Circle Route - Sidney to Cowichan Bay" by Destination Greater Victoria on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people… Here are six short road trips from Vancouver that can be done on a single tank of gas. Treat yourself to high tea at the ivy-covered Fairmont Empress hotel, built in 1908. At just under 300 kilometres, the Pacific Marine Circle route suits our purposes perfectly. The route is only about 260km long and can be driven in one day, but since there is so much to see along the way, many people prefer to take a few days. Driving is really the best and often the only way to see the Pacific Marine Circle Route.The province of British Columbia has an excellent network of roads and highways with well-posted signages that will ensure your road trip is seamless and hassle-free. Take a dip in the water, explore the lake by boat or canoe, or cast out a fishing line. Pacific Marine Circle Route The Pacific Marine Circle Route encompasses the stunning variety of scenery that southern Vancouver Island offers. The Pacific Marine Circle Route is definitely something that locals and visitors all should do and we at Ocean River are excited to start working to offer a packaged tour of the full west coast experience along this route. Join us at Cowichan Bay Kayaking and Adventure Centre for a tour of the Cowichan Estuary in kayaks or canoes. Head north via Highway 1, and then travel west along Highway 14 to Sooke. The ruggedness of the west coast is arguably at its most beautiful and raw in winter, and driving the Pacific Marine Circle Route on Vancouver Island is a fine way to take it in. Join over 2 Million Adventurers Already Connected. Enjoy the fruits of the Cowichan at many wineries. Encounter farmland and forest, wine and wilderness along Vancouver Island's Pacific Marine Circle Route. Tag: Pacific Marine Circle Route 10 Reasons Why You Should NOT Live On “The Island” Botanical Beach. You will have to put up with fresh, clean air and a constant breeze. Scenic Marine Route: Pacific Marine Circle Route (this is different from the Scenic Marine Route) - See 722 traveller reviews, 199 candid photos, and great deals for Victoria, Canada, at … Emma’s mom, Mary Jane, visits the petroglyphs in East Sooke Park. Those that want to leave the shore can book a whale watching tour to see the ocean’s most majestic creatures. There are city bus tours or horse-drawn carriages readily available, as well as new and historic shopping districts featuring antiques, arts and crafts, art galleries, malls and markets. The Pacific Marine Circle Route is a driving tour from Victoria to Sooke, to Port Renfrew, Lake Cowichan, Duncan and back to Victoria. Questions about the collection or use of this information can be directed to Chief Financial Officer, 12th Floor, 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8, Canada. Take a relaxing train ride on a historic locomotive as it winds its way over a wooden trestle and around the museum grounds. The quiet ambience of the island relaxes visitors with views of quiet parks and ocean-side towns. PACIFIC MARINE CIRCLE ROUTE – SAMPLE ITINERARY The Pacific Marine Circle Route is a scenic 270 km (170 mi) loop that winds through temperate rainforest, along rugged coastline, past totem poles, vineyards and lush farmland into the heart of British Columbia’s capital city, Victoria. In Duncan, take a self-guided Totem Tour Walk before visiting the traditional buildings at the Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre where carvers practise their trade. People are very neighbourly and approachable here. sea routes weather routing voyage planning vessels ships ports shipyards bunker consumption tide stations Calculate distances - nautical miles or kilometers for seagoing ships and vessels . This museum educates visitors about British Columbia's large and historic logging industry. [2][1], The Pacific Marine Circle Route was established by the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture with the promise of an increase in tourist travel in southern Vancouver Island. Squamish, Pemberton, Bowen Island, Fraser Canyon, Hwy 7, Fraser Valley. The route is composed of Highway 14, Pacific Marine Road, Shore Road, Highway 18, and a segment of the Trans-Canada Highway. Travel southeast to the city of Duncan, to sip and savour from the wineries and farms surrounding the town. This coast to coast journey on Vancouver Island offers panoramic views of the Juan de Fuca, Haro and Georgia straits as well as the Saanich Peninsula. A drive for the city-slicker and nature enthusiast alike, the Pacific Marine Circle Route will take you from urban sprawl to the wild west coast and back again. La Pacific Marine Circle Route relie certains des meilleurs paysages côtiers de l’île de Vancouver à des merveilles naturelles de l’intérieur des terres souvent négligées, à une journée de route de Victoria, en Colombie-Britannique. This time we decided to follow the route counterclockwise and started out through Goldstream, the Malahat lookout points and stopped in Duncan at Garage cafe for coffee and cinnamon buns. Pacific Marine Circle Route This coast to coast journey on Vancouver Island offers panoramic views of the Juan de Fuca, Haro and Georgia straits as well as the Saanich Peninsula. Duncan is also home to the BC Forest Discovery Centre, which showcases BC’s logging and steam-related history through interactive exhibits and live ecosystems displays. The 185-mile loop is a scenic route through southern Vancouver Island, and neither of us has driven it in its entirety. Dubbed as “the ultimate road trip – west coast style,” the Pacific Marine Circle Route is a Check out the videos below and plan your journey, not your destination. Pulling out of Sooke, I’m reminded again of how easy it is to escape our downtown lifestyle. 3. This one to five day road loop takes you from rugged coastal trails, to beaches, tranquil lakes, rolling vineyards, restaurants and delightful places to stay. Recommend going counter-clockwise for cyclists along the Pacific Marine Circle Route (the suggested driving route goes in reverse), for this busy weekend especially we were nearly always going the opposite direction of most travelers and that helped avoid most traffic. The Pacific Marine Circle Tour is a short 290 km (170 mi) journey along Vancouver Island’s coasts, and offers beautiful views of the Juan De Fuca, Haro, and Georgia straights. The perfect one-day drive, the Pacific Marine Circle Route takes you through West Coast beaches and parks and ancient old-growth forests. With stops in Sooke and lunch in Port Renfrew, and some sightseeing along the way, the drive will take a full 9am - 5:30pm day. There are several hiking trails in the area, including a one-hour loop covering both sides of the Cowichan River in Cowichan River Provincial Park. Pacific Marine Circle Route This Easter weekend we decided to take a day trip from Victoria BC around the Pacific Marine Circle Route from Victoria BC. This scenic stretch of highway is also known as Malahat Drive. The Pacific Marine Circle Route is a scenic 296 km (184 mi) loop that winds through temperate rainforest, along rugged coastline, past totem poles, vineyards and lush farmland into the heart of Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city. The Pacific Marine Circle Route is a loop road trip that starts and ends in Victoria on Southern Vancouver Island. Created by the people who live on/near the route. 6 were here. Begin your journey in Victoria, BC’s capital city, with a tour of the Parliament Buildings. Sunset in Port Renfrew . Regarded as a Cond Nast Readers' Choice and Gold List hotel, and honoured with the Travel + Leisure distinction as a top Canadian hotel, the... Come enjoy our breathtaking 22 ha (55 acres) of gardens year around. Our Instagrammer of the week, @ryanfloodphoto, shares seven of his favourite photos taken between Victoria and Port Renfrew. Enjoy gorgeous scenery as you visit some of Vancouver Island's unique coastal communities. [3] It is one of British Columbia's 12 Circle Routes scattered throughout the province. north westerly to Port Renfrew and easterly to Lake Cowichan and on to Duncan where it joins up withhighway 1, where you could drive north again towards the BC ferry terminals in Nanaimo. Where to stop, stay, eat, what to see and do. Parks & Wilderness Areas, Storm Watching, Campgrounds & RV Parks. Check out some of the vacation packages offered by BC Ferries. Fishing enthusiasts can enjoy catch-and-release fishing along the Sooke River, an important spawning river for coho and chinook salmon. Take a day or more to enjoy the many stunning beaches, quaint cafes and sweeping … Merridale is a delicious destination in Cowichan an apple orchard, craft cider house, small batch distillery, and wedding/event venue. Home › Pacific Marine Circle Route Guide Book. Continue to Port Renfrew, home of both the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail and the historic West Coast Trail. Along Cowichan Lake, Vancouver Island’s second largest lake, campgrounds dot the shoreline. (If you didn’t know, Vancouver Island is a large island on the west coast of British Columbia, and is one of Canada’s most beautiful islands.) The perfect one day drive. © 2021 – Destination BC Corp. All rights reserved. Between Jordan River and Port Renfrew, signs will guide you to campgrounds and the entry points for hikes along the 47-km/29-mi Juan de Fuca Marine Trail—good for day hikers and overnight trekkers alike. The Pacific Marine Circle Route is a 263-kilometre (163 mi) marked scenic loop road through southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Tour plan for the Pacific Marine Circle Route. Alternatively, board a BC Ferries vessel at Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay. One of the highlights of the trail is Botanical Beach, where tidal pools full of colourful sea life are always display. SeaRoutes is a professional tool for route and distance calculation, voyage planning of seagoing vessels. Pacific Marine Circle Route | Super, Natural BC Pacific Marine Circle Route 1 to 3 days, 289.08 km (179.63 mi) This coast to coast journey on Vancouver Island offers panoramic views of the Juan de Fuca, Haro and Georgia straits as well as the Saanich Peninsula. Join us for... Spas & Wellness, Hotels, Resorts & Wilderness Lodges. A road with varied landscapes, stops and views, the loop is a popular trek amongst driving enthusiasts. Port Renfrew is an ideal base to book a trip for salt or freshwater trips, available year round. Learn more. “Super, Natural British Columbia”, “Super, Natural”, “Hello BC” and “Visitor Centre” and all associated logos/trade-marks are trade-marks or Official Marks of Destination BC Corp. Victoria's Inner Harbour marina with the Parliament Buildings | Reuben Krabbe, Juan de Fuca Trail, Port Renfrew | @matttracy, Search Hello BC for activities, events, places and more. Telephone (778) 572-5251. Prefer fishing? All non-essential travel into, out of, and around BC should be avoided. You will waste your precious time spending hours walking on beaches and checking out tidal pools. A new rider's journey on iconic BC highways. See our Privacy Policy for details on the storage of personal information outside of Canada. En route, make time to stop at East Sooke Regional Park for bird watching. 2. Enjoy a quieter way of life while visiting spectacular provincial parks, pastoral landscapes and wineries. Frequented by motorcyclists, cyclists, day travelers and adventurers, this route allows you to lasso the entire portion of southern Vancouver Island into a single epic road trip. Head south on Highway 1 into the South Cowichan communities of Cobble Hill—home of BC’s first cidery—and then to Mill Bay. Pacific Marine Circle Route If you’d like to encircle the entire portion of southern Vancouver Island in a single road trip, consider exploring the popular Pacific Marine Circle Route. Pacific Marine Circle Route. With the beach pull outs, broad ocean views and a leg that takes you past some of the most majestic old-growth forest on Vancouver Island Drive from Port Renfrew to the quaint community of Lake Cowichan. Following a Highway 97 road trip route takes you through the Okanagan, along the Gold Rush Trail, and then even becomes the Alaska Highway. Dip in the sandstone bedrock from the south Cowichan, you may want to at! Trip for salt or freshwater trips, available year round the places many... A single tank of gas known as many days as one has, available year round Coast beaches and and... 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