Tofino’s a destination that has something for everyone, so our little town on the West Coast of Canada is the perfect place for a Family Day Vacation.
For all their loveliness, sometimes the Christmas “Holidays” can burn you out more than working your full-time job. So when Family Day rolls around on the third Monday of every February (that’s when most provinces celebrate it), that extra day off really hits the spot.
This year, Family Day falls on February 19th, 2024 and let me tell you: Long Beach Lodge Resort is here for it. In honour of this glorious holiday, we’ve assembled a non-exhaustive list of activities for you and yours to enjoy while you’re here.
Rainforest Loop
It doesn’t matter if it’s your first or 30th time walking through there, The Rainforest Loop never fails to amaze. There are two one-kilometre (0.6 mile) loops on either side of the Pacific Rim Highway and they’re both equally impressive, but in their own magical ways.
The trails follow a remarkable network of boardwalks that take you through living forests in various stages of growth, including a couple stands of undisturbed old growth.
Be sure to stop, close your eyes and listen to the sounds of a thriving ecosystem. Keep in mind that there are quite a few stairs and that the boardwalks can be slick in the wintertime. And yes the trails are dog-friendly, but be sure to leash up your beast.
The Rainforest Loop is about a 20-minute drive south of the lodge, towards Ucluelet, and each loop takes about an hour.
Check out other hikes in the Pacific Rim National Park here.
Take a Surf Lesson
A family that surfs together, stays together. Book a private lesson for just you and the kids, and one of our fabulous instructors will cater to the ability level of everyone in the lesson.
Mom and Dad can catch the bigger waves out back while the kids ride the smaller ones closer to the beach. Or maybe it’ll be the other way around. Either way, what better way to spend time with your loved ones than watching one another catch waves at Cox Bay, one of Canada’s premiere surf breaks.
Tidal Pool Safari
Exploring the tidal pools is a quintessential Tofino activity. And on the right day, the whole family can find a bounty of oceanic creatures just minutes from the lodge. For tidal pool exploration, you need a low tide (under one metre) and a smaller surf day. The surf forecast is still a ways out, but the tide forecast for February 19th calls for low tide at 3:54 p.m. And it’s nice and low: 0.7 metres, or roughly 3 ft. Those are good numbers!
If you walk north from the lodge on Cox Bay and aim for the caves and fissures that the low tide has uncovered within the rocky headland, you’ll find a colorful array of sea stars, sea anemones, urchins, slugs, crabs and other intertidal goodness.
And the sun doesn’t set until 5:50 p.m. so you have a couple hours to explore.
If you’re unsure about the surf forecast before you head out, the crew at Surf Club can let you know whether or not the pools will be clear of incoming waves.
Happy Hour in The Great Room
Alright, Happy Hour is from 3–5 p.m. So you’ll have to be strategic if you want to wrap up your day with delicious cocktails, hot chocolates and West Coast-inspired cuisine in our beautiful Great Room.
Luckily, everything on this list (except for The Rainforest Loop) happens right here on Cox Bay, so you can do it all. The Great Room is one of Tofino’s top spots to watch the sunset, so plan accordingly (Sunset’s at 5:50 p.m.)!
Also, we’d be remiss at this point to not suggest dinner in The Great Room as well. Our culinary crew has curated a winter-inspired menu that celebrates our stormy, rugged coastline. And starting in February, two can dine on a delicious three-course meal for $99 on weekdays.
Call 250.725.2442 (local) or 1.877.844.7873 to reserve.
