British Columbia's captivating coastal towns

It’s not hard to find quaint, quirky towns on the ocean in British Columbia, a province with nearly 26,000 kilometres of Pacific coastline, some 40,000 islands, and distinctive laid-back West Coast culture. Each one has its own style and vibe, of course. These top towns will surprise and delight you — and undoubtedly make you want to stay longer.

Tofino: Best boho beach town on the edge of wilderness

Population: 2,000

Claim to fame: North America’s best surf town, according to Outside magazine

Try: The local seaweed beer and lingcod tacos 

Why: Cocoon and play in the ocean

If there’s one favourite coastal town everyone raves about, it’s Tofino on Vancouver Island’s wild West Coast*. It’s hard to beat the combo of expansive sandy shores (see: Long Beach), strong rip currents for primo wave riding, Tolkien-esque ancient cedar forest dripping in velvety emerald mosses and lichens, the casual upstart style, and bohemian spirit. This popular town is cute, filled with funky food trucks and stained glass artists, and the surrounding Clayoquot Sound environs, untouched and untamed. Hike, watch for whales, and learn how to surf. Join pilgrims in winter who watch dramatic storms blast across the churning Pacific. Be sure to check out the nature-themed arts scene rooted in First Nations culture. *There’s also quieter Ucluelet, just 25 miles south, with all the same perks, but more rugged landscapes and much lesser known.

*There’s also quieter Ucluelet, just 25 miles south, with all the same perks, but more rugged landscapes and much lesser known.

Steveston: Best urban accessible

Population: 25,000

Claim to fame: An ideal way to learn about Pacific Canada’s history through beautifully-preserved National Historic Sites.

Try: Sea urchin at the wharf

Why: Cycle the dikes and see an authentic fishing village

Once the area’s biggest fishing port and salmon cannery back in the 1800s powered by Japanese immigrants, seaside village Steveston, though officially part of Richmond now, still feels true to its roots. At the mouth of the Fraser River, it’s within easy reach of metro Vancouver, but with all the small-town allure of a maritime community. Pick up fresh-off-the-boat prawns, halibut, crab, and salmon on the docks; stroll the historic village, marina with more than 600 fishing boats (Canada’s largest fleet), and shipyards; and learn more at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, a National Historic Site.

Cowichan Bay: Best locavore haven

Population: 2,500

Claim to fame: North America’s first Cittaslow community

Try: Fresh bread at True Grain, Old World inspired European bakery using local ingredients

Why: Get into sustainable living with the movement’s pioneers

Step into the slow lane in sleepy Cowichan Bay, a hamlet of floating residences and houses on stilts clustered around a cheery pier. Artists, craftsmen, and family farmers have reinvented the historic buildings of this former 1850s Hudson’s Bay fort near Duncan on southern Vancouver Island, making it an idyllic stop for foodies in search of artisan cheese, boutique wine, and organic, stone milled bread. It’s also a lovely spot to visit via boat—or drive in, stay at a B&B, and sea kayak the Cowichan Bay Estuary, looking out a variety of bird species including the Great Blue Heron and Trumpeter Swans.

Prince Rupert: Best wildlife viewing

Population: 12,500

Claim to fame: Huge, picturesque harbour

Try: Visit local artists and artisan in Cow Bay and grab a locally-brewed beer at Wheelhouse Brewing Company.

Why: Hike, fish, and explore nature

Don’t be surprised if you see grizzlies fishing on the shore, humpbacks swimming off the coast, and deer trotting along the sidewalk in downtown Prince Rupert, a proudly working class port town. This is your launch pad for outdoor adventure and wildlife observation on BC’s remote northwest coast, just shy of the Alaska border. On Kaien Island, Prince Rupert is connected to the mainland by a bridge and often shrouded in mist. That’s thanks to its commanding outlook over the Skeena River and fjord, mountain, and rainforest setting, which means lots of rainbows, too. Meet the down-to-earth, hardworking folks, delve into First Nations heritage at the longhouse-style Museum of Northern BC, and look for bears or whales on a local wildlife tour.

Powell River: Best artsy-outdoors combo

Population: 13,000

Claim to fame: Reinvented historic paper mill company town

Try: Hiking a section of the Sunshine Coast Trail

Why: See art and meet the crafters

Forward-thinking creatives realized a decade-plus ago that Powell River was poised to be the next “it” spot and moved in to transform the place, once the globe’s largest newsprint pulp and paper mill town. The result is a trendy townsite of young eccentrics—big on arts, open-air markets, and festivals—situated at the top of the Sunshine Coast, a laid-back retiree community of forest, mountains, and sandy shores. Sightsee from the water, sea kayak around nearby islands Savary and Cortes, mountain bike on over 100 kilometres of trails, and scuba dive. Then peruse the landmark industrial buildings now filled with colorful galleries, studios, shops, and cafés, and sample the craft suds at Belgian-style Townsite Brewing.