Guidebook for Duncan North Cowichan
Sightseeing
Duncan, City of totems.....
Known for its collection of First Nations totem poles; follow the painted footsteps around the cute little town.
Nice little town with a town square and old railway station converted into a museum. Quaint shops and good restaurants.
Wonderful country market on Saturdays.
The local town of Duncan is about a 12 minute drive from here...just about everything you might need to buy, groceries and gas etc. available on the Trans Canada highway intersection.
But don't forget to go to the real downtown Duncan a few blocks further for small, more interesting shops around the site of the old railway station.
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Duncan
Duncan, City of totems.....
Known for its collection of First Nations totem poles; follow the painted footsteps around the cute little town.
Nice little town with a town square and old railway station converted into a museum. Quaint shops and good restaurants.
Wonderful country market on Saturdays.
The local town of Duncan is about a 12 minute drive from here...just about everything you might need to buy, groceries and gas etc. available on the Trans Canada highway intersection.
But don't forget to go to the real downtown Duncan a few blocks further for small, more interesting shops around the site of the old railway station.
Iconic old wooden railway trestle bridge high above the Koksilah River.
A 15 minute walk along the old rail bed trail to the curved bridge.
Walk across and look down to the rushing river below, and then go down the pathway to the river, take a picnic lunch and hike along the trail. Swim on a nice day!
About a 25 minute drive from our house.
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Kinsol Trestle
2869 Glen Eagles RdIconic old wooden railway trestle bridge high above the Koksilah River.
A 15 minute walk along the old rail bed trail to the curved bridge.
Walk across and look down to the rushing river below, and then go down the pathway to the river, take a picnic lunch and hike along the trail. Swim on a nice day!
About a 25 minute drive from our house.
15 minutes drive to the next bay, Cowichan Bay has restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, restaurants and a museum on a wharf out in the bay.
A historic centre for salmon fishing and boating and native culture. Little well known shops...Hillary's Cheese and True Grain Bakery.
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Cowichan Bay
15 minutes drive to the next bay, Cowichan Bay has restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, restaurants and a museum on a wharf out in the bay.
A historic centre for salmon fishing and boating and native culture. Little well known shops...Hillary's Cheese and True Grain Bakery.
The Little Town that Did!
In order to counteract the business collapse of the local sawmill, locals decided to rejuvenate the town by having artists paint murals on the old town buildings.
The little town became a tourist destination with arts and craft and gift shops. Well worth a side trip while you are here.
There's a lovely theatre that puts on excellent productions.
At one time Linda had a little gift shop in the old heritage bank building in the centre.
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Chemainus
The Little Town that Did!
In order to counteract the business collapse of the local sawmill, locals decided to rejuvenate the town by having artists paint murals on the old town buildings.
The little town became a tourist destination with arts and craft and gift shops. Well worth a side trip while you are here.
There's a lovely theatre that puts on excellent productions.
At one time Linda had a little gift shop in the old heritage bank building in the centre.
World famous Butchart Gardens can be reached by driving down towards Victoria (over the Malahat Mountain) and the up the Saanich Peninsula...about 70 minutes from here. Another option is to take the little ferry from Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay, so that you can avoid the Malahat, where there is quite a bit of road construction happening.
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Butchart Gardens
World famous Butchart Gardens can be reached by driving down towards Victoria (over the Malahat Mountain) and the up the Saanich Peninsula...about 70 minutes from here. Another option is to take the little ferry from Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay, so that you can avoid the Malahat, where there is quite a bit of road construction happening.
The little ferry from Crofton to Vesuvius on Salt Spring Island is super busy on Saturday market day. 11 minutes from our house to the ferry terminal, and a 20 minute trip across (you only pay for one way, return is free), and a short drive to the market down by the water in picturesque Ganges. Another ferry at the South of the Island, will take you to Victoria if you'd like to do a circle tour. The largest of the Gulf Islands between Vancouver Island and the rest of Canada, Salt Spring Island was known as a haven for the "alternative" crowd, but is now popular with millionaires looking for a little rural peace!
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Salt Spring Island
The little ferry from Crofton to Vesuvius on Salt Spring Island is super busy on Saturday market day. 11 minutes from our house to the ferry terminal, and a 20 minute trip across (you only pay for one way, return is free), and a short drive to the market down by the water in picturesque Ganges. Another ferry at the South of the Island, will take you to Victoria if you'd like to do a circle tour. The largest of the Gulf Islands between Vancouver Island and the rest of Canada, Salt Spring Island was known as a haven for the "alternative" crowd, but is now popular with millionaires looking for a little rural peace!
If you have time to drive to Nanaimo (1 hour) and beyond (another 1/2 hour), a visit to Coombs Country Market with its "Goats on the Roof" is a fun day out.
You can combine this trip with a visit to Cathedral Grove, a park with some of the largest old growth Cedar and Douglas Fir trees in Canada. On the way back, maybe a visit to the wonderful beach at Parksville, or the little town of Qualicum Beach.
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Coombs Emporium
2300 Alberni HwyIf you have time to drive to Nanaimo (1 hour) and beyond (another 1/2 hour), a visit to Coombs Country Market with its "Goats on the Roof" is a fun day out.
You can combine this trip with a visit to Cathedral Grove, a park with some of the largest old growth Cedar and Douglas Fir trees in Canada. On the way back, maybe a visit to the wonderful beach at Parksville, or the little town of Qualicum Beach.
Recently voted by Conde Nast as the second best small city in the world, Victoria is a one hour drive from Maple Bay.
British Columbia's capital city with its Parliament Buildings and the historic Empress Hotel on the inner harbour. So much to see and do....China Town, little tug boat tours around the harbour, excellent museum and lovely Beacon Hill Park.
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Victoria
Recently voted by Conde Nast as the second best small city in the world, Victoria is a one hour drive from Maple Bay.
British Columbia's capital city with its Parliament Buildings and the historic Empress Hotel on the inner harbour. So much to see and do....China Town, little tug boat tours around the harbour, excellent museum and lovely Beacon Hill Park.
Entertainment & Activities
The wonderful museum, The Hand of Man, is right in Maple Bay.
It is the most wonderful collection of artifacts you could hope to find anywhere. Check out its website...
We think it belongs in New York or London!
The eclectic and always interesting Duncan Showroom has live entertainment just about every day of the year.....rock bands, poetry readings, belly dancing shows, folk music etc.
This is where we put on our monthly Argentine Tango dance.
Right downtown on Station Street.
Duncan Showroom
133 Station StThe eclectic and always interesting Duncan Showroom has live entertainment just about every day of the year.....rock bands, poetry readings, belly dancing shows, folk music etc.
This is where we put on our monthly Argentine Tango dance.
Right downtown on Station Street.
Right in Maple Bay....rent a kayak or paddle board and explore the calm waters of Maple Bay....see if you can see our house from the sea!
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Wilderness Kayaking Co
6683 Beaumont AveRight in Maple Bay....rent a kayak or paddle board and explore the calm waters of Maple Bay....see if you can see our house from the sea!
Gently float down the Cowichan River from Lake Cowichan and have a shuttle bus bring you back for lunch at Jake's on the Lake for lunch and a beer!
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Lake Cowichan River Tubing
109 S Shore RdGently float down the Cowichan River from Lake Cowichan and have a shuttle bus bring you back for lunch at Jake's on the Lake for lunch and a beer!
A local couple have set up a pretty little teafarm, where the only Canadian grown tea is harvested.
Have tea and cakes and look at the arty pottery made at the house. 10 minutes from here.
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Westholme Tea Farm
8350 Richards TrailA local couple have set up a pretty little teafarm, where the only Canadian grown tea is harvested.
Have tea and cakes and look at the arty pottery made at the house. 10 minutes from here.
One of the many wineries in the Cowichan Valley....wine tasting and lunches on a patio at the vineyard.
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Cherry Point Estate Wines
840 Cherry Point RdOne of the many wineries in the Cowichan Valley....wine tasting and lunches on a patio at the vineyard.
Food Scene
5 minute drive from our house, a pub and a restaurant.
At the Maple Bay marina at Bird's Eye Cove. Outdoor patio with a view of the sailboats and house boats.
Excellent varied menu and friendly service.
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Shipyard Restaurant & Pub
6145 Genoa Bay Rd5 minute drive from our house, a pub and a restaurant.
At the Maple Bay marina at Bird's Eye Cove. Outdoor patio with a view of the sailboats and house boats.
Excellent varied menu and friendly service.
Wide selection of food and in house brewed beer.
Reliably friendly and right downtown.
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Craig Street Brew Pub
25 Craig StWide selection of food and in house brewed beer.
Reliably friendly and right downtown.
Operating on Saturday and Sunday, this farm bakery and small winery is only a few minutes drive from here. A patio looking down on the vineyard is a lovely place to have a light lunch.
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Saison Market
7575 Mays RdOperating on Saturday and Sunday, this farm bakery and small winery is only a few minutes drive from here. A patio looking down on the vineyard is a lovely place to have a light lunch.
Drinks & Nightlife
A short walk from our house....after driving all day it's nice to stroll down to the pub on Maple Bay beach and enjoy some of the items on the Scottish menu. I like the Fat Tug beer!
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The Lion Rampant Scottish Pub
6777 Beaumont AveA short walk from our house....after driving all day it's nice to stroll down to the pub on Maple Bay beach and enjoy some of the items on the Scottish menu. I like the Fat Tug beer!
Parks & Nature
Reliable and very friendly whale watching trips from the village of Cowichan Bay.
Trips in a zodiac boat to visit the resident and transient pods of Orca whales, and all the other sea life of seals, otters and bald eagles that might appear.
Very popular so a reservation is recommended.
We have known the owner since he was a baby, so our guests get a 10% discount...just mention our names!
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Ocean Ecoventures Whale Watching
1721 Cowichan Bay RdReliable and very friendly whale watching trips from the village of Cowichan Bay.
Trips in a zodiac boat to visit the resident and transient pods of Orca whales, and all the other sea life of seals, otters and bald eagles that might appear.
Very popular so a reservation is recommended.
We have known the owner since he was a baby, so our guests get a 10% discount...just mention our names!
Right behind our house is a network of trails through parkland, with views of the sea chanel between Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island. If you are ambitious you can hike along the water to the next little town of Crofton.
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Maple Mountain
Right behind our house is a network of trails through parkland, with views of the sea chanel between Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island. If you are ambitious you can hike along the water to the next little town of Crofton.
Another local hiking mountain a few minutes from our house.
Hike up to the memorial cross and look down the valley towards Cowichan Bay and Victoria.
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Mount Tzouhalem
Another local hiking mountain a few minutes from our house.
Hike up to the memorial cross and look down the valley towards Cowichan Bay and Victoria.
A few minutes from our house, rescued and rehabilitated raptors (eagles, hawks and owls) can be seen flying free and up close in their housing.
Local experts demonstrate and talk about the individual birds. Very laid back and inexpensive experience.
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Stillehavets Nordvestlige Rovfugle
1877 Herd RdA few minutes from our house, rescued and rehabilitated raptors (eagles, hawks and owls) can be seen flying free and up close in their housing.
Local experts demonstrate and talk about the individual birds. Very laid back and inexpensive experience.
Arts & Culture
Chemainus Theatre Festival
9574 Bare Point RdA great little theatre with excellent productions.