Bustinwheels Travels for Adventure

Vancouver Island

What to see and do on Vancouver Island:

Visit Butchart Gardens which displays seasonal flowers, trees and is spectacularly beautiful all year round. Truly a landmark of the island.

Definitely go dolphin and whale watching and your chances to see a killer whale are better than winning the lottery.

For hiking and outdoor adventures in the parks visit the following: McMillan, Little Qualicom, and Pacific Rim Parks, visit the website at this LINK. Kayaking and whale watching is a popular thing to do, visit and make reservations in advance at this site LINK.

Don't miss out on visiting the town of Coombs and get to the Old Country Market just to look a the goats on the roof...yes, that's what I wrote..."Goats on the Roof"

For an amazing sunset, drive to Nanoose Bay and witness the most beautiful sunset you've ever seen in your life! Also, daily, you can walk up to 1/2 mile out across the bay when the tide goes out and by sunset, the tide comes back in. It's a sight to see! Spend the day there.

Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, is a historic, Victorian-era Scottish Baronial mansion. A great place to visit and I would combine it with your visit to Butchart Gardens.

A drive across the island to Tofino is a must. This is the Pacific Coast side where most surfers hang out and the town itself has some very unique artsy shop and boutiques. Your bound to find a unique gift for that special someone, such as yourself.

Money in Canada:
The monetary system in Canada is based on dollars and cents, as in the United States. Due to monetary exchange rates, there is a fluctuating difference in value between the Canadian dollar and the American dollar. Although US Dollars are generally accepted in Canada at the current rate of exchange, it is always best to change your money at a recognized financial institution, bank, or a foreign currency exchange outlet, where you will receive the prevailing exchange rate.

Visa, Master Card, American Express and Travelers Cheques are widely accepted in Canada. Most U.S. credit cards are honored in Canada. Any charge to a credit card will reflect the applicable exchange rate.

To check current exchange rates on-line, go to www.xe.com

Wi-fi, Internet and cell service:
The main issue of being out of cell phone range is when driving from one town to the next. The longest you will likely be out of range is two hours (unless you are heading somewhere really off the beaten path).

On the drive to Tofino you may be out of cell coverage for 90 to 120 minutes from shortly after you leave Port Alberni until you get close to Ucluelet and Tofino. The same if you are heading to the north end of the island, you are out of cell range from just north of Campbell River until close to the turn off to Telegraph Cove - so another 2 hours max.

Niagra Falls and Toronto

Niagara Falls, city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara, southeastern Ontario, Canada, a port on the Niagara River opposite Niagara Falls, New York. The city overlooks the Horseshoe, or Canadian, Falls cataract of Niagara Falls; the crescent-shaped cataract is 54 M (177 ft) high and carries nine times more water than its United States counterpart. Niagara Falls is an enormously popular tourist destination, and it also serves as a major source of electricity for Ontario. The Niagara River flows at approximately 35 miles/hour (56.3 kilometers/hour) - in other words, a must see!

Toronto is the most populated city in the Province of Ontario. It's full of art, theaters, and is very metropolitan. Some things to do in this metro city are: Visit the Ripley's Aquarium, Royal Ontario Museum, CN Tower, Toronto Music Garden, St. Lawrence Market, and visit a tavern. You can catch some great music and theater in the wonderful city. Remember to purchase tickets in advance.