Port Renfrew, British Columbia – Spring Break Destination for an Active Family

Unpredictable seas have given Port Renfrew the dubious title ‘Graveyard of the Pacific’.

Shrouded in mystery, known as the Graveyard of the Pacific, Port Renfrew on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia’s West Coast Trail is a destination that draws people from around the world.  Unstable seas and mossy rainforest canopies, home to some of the world’s largest trees, make for scenery contrasts that take your breath away.  The West Coast Trail which ends in the town of Port Renfrew, a place  just now seeing a bit of a tourism boom, was built in 1907. It draws thousands of hikers to endure it’s multi-day journey each year.   With all of this nature and small-town charm, Port Renfrew makes a perfect destination for a family with both energy to spare and a desire to get away from it all.

Pacheedaht Beach

To get to Pacheedaht Beach from the cabins, you take a staircase down to the waterfront which leads you along a 15 minute walk along the water to this beach.  A great place to hang out with kids for a few hours and even take a picnic.  We chose to go in March (the low season) and there were very few people in the nearby cabins and no one on the beach.  

Relaxed and recharged after a few days in scenic Port Renfrew. Ready to take on the rest of the school year and the tough challenges that pre-school and elementary can throw your way!

What To Do Near Port Renfrew

Botany Beach

It is worth checking out the tide tables before you venture here as there are warnings of “rogue waves” that should be respected.  These beaches are about a 15 minute drive from Port Renfrew itself.  The trails down to the beaches are really quite good and our 3 year old had no problems, but it is a fair bit of a walk. Definitely not a trip for someone who has mobility issues, and a child carrier would be an asset for tired little feet.  The Botany Beach has large rocks to climb and a great deal of broken shells in a myriad of beautiful colours.

Botanical Beach

Further along is the Botanical Beach named for it’s many tide pools created in the rocks that are home to many different sea creatures.  The children loved to search for tiny fish, starfish, anemones, sea cucumbers, barnacles, mussels etc.

 Where We Stayed

Rod’s Roost-Handsome Dan’s Wild Coast Guest Cottage 

Each cabin is equipped with the necessities (stove, fridge, microwave, kettle, dishes, hot shower, etc.).  They also have free wifi, and dvd players. These cabins are modern, some sleeping upwards of 7 people, and some of them allow pets.  The cabins overlooking the water are still under construction at the time of this entry.  The cabin we chose was Rod’s Roost rented  through Handsome Dan’s Wild Coast Guest Cottage

West Coast smells, sights and sounds make the perfect backdrop for a spring break to remember.

This cabin was perfect for us in that it had a deck out front that latched so our puppy and preschooler could not escape into the woods.  In the back of the cabin, there was a small deck with a BBQ and fire-pit for the all important marshmallow roast.

The location of these cabins is very good as it is a very short stroll down to an excellent café called Tomi’s, which serves up delicious breakfasts, lunches, and makes amazing specialty coffees in case you didn’t feel like bringing every meal in the cooler with you for your holiday.

There is nothing better than a stroll from the cabin down to Tomi’s for a coffee on your way to what a cabin owner called  “the small beach” – formally known as Pacheedaht Beach.  For some reason I tend to hold on to a food memory of the places I’ve visited, and can still taste the addictive carrot, flax muffins and amazing cookies from Tomi’s.  It is just such a treat after a hike down to the beach with the kids.

Other activities in the area include visits to French and China Beaches, fishing (charter boats available in the Port Renfrew area), exploring the Avatar Grove which is the home of the enormous Douglas Firs and Red Cedar trees.  Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to visit the Avatar Grove this time around, but it will be on our list for next time.  As well as devouring what has been called “the best fish and chips ever” at the Coastal Kitchen (not open until mid April).