Visiting UNIQUE Beaches on Vancouver Island! (Sombrio Beach, Mystic Beach, & Botanical Beach!)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ส.ค. 2024
- The Juan de Fuca Trail is a 47km wilderness trail that runs along the coastline between Jordan River and Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island. While it’s a popular trail for backpacking, it’s also a great place to do some day hikes and experience it’s beautiful beaches!
We spent a couple days exploring three different beaches along parts of this trail, each with very unique features, plus visited a couple local businesses, and every spot made us fall more in love with this island. ❤️
🔗Links
Watch our other Canada videos: • Canada
See all of our camera & hiking gear: adventuresofaplusk.com/gear/
⌚Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:38 Coffee at Cold Shoulder Cafe
01:07 Hiking to a hidden waterfall at Sombrio Beach
04:58 Seeing sea life at Botanical Beach
07:43 Camping at Jordan River Regional Park
08:48 Breakfast at Shirley Delicious
10:50 Waterfall, swing, & caves at Mystic Beach
📍Locations in this vlog
Cold Shoulder Cafe: goo.gl/maps/2UoE8vQHfR2CR8WW6
Sombrio Beach: www.alltrails.com/trail/canad...
Botanical Beach: www.alltrails.com/trail/canad...
Jordan River Regional Park: goo.gl/maps/kbVCdBfXUozbuYMg6
Shirley Delicious: goo.gl/maps/FgiL7fKHzQe5ZpJq9
Mystic Beach: www.alltrails.com/trail/canad...
__________
📷 See ALL of our gear: adventuresofaplusk.com/gear/
🚐 Our Van Life products: adventuresofaplusk.com/blog/v...
💻 Follow us on social media!
Instagram / adventuresofaplusk
Facebook: / adventuresofaplusk
Pinterest: / adventuresofaplusk
🌎 See everywhere we have been + view our blogs and travel guides:
adventuresofaplusk.com/
__________
👋🏼 About us
Hi y’all! We’re Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) living on the road in our self-converted sprinter van! You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (we're a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature.
We help travelers spend less time (and stress!) planning their trip and more time enjoying it! Our detailed travel guides, TH-cam videos, and travel resources share the must-visit local eats, popular and off the beaten path sights, and tons of tips to make planning your next adventure a whole lot easier.
Note: We’ve linked a handful of items so you can see exactly which products we take with us. Full disclosure--if you click on these links and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too!
As the sign at Cold Shoulder said, don't be a jerk and trash this area! PLEASE follow Leave No Trace principles: lnt.org/why/7-principles/
Follow our Journey to Alaska: th-cam.com/play/PLZKRTK1yCEM5UxLKP3MI17m-syJkqYABj.html
Our camera + hiking gear: adventuresofaplusk.com/gear/
I'm blessed to call Victoria home; Mystic Beach is not to be missed.
Beautiful scenery, hikes, beaches and food! What more could you want? Awesome upload guys, have fun!
These are a few of our favorite things! Thanks! 🙂
The island is just loaded with beauty and adventure.
You got that right!
We can't wait to visit all these places you two have been! Thank you so much!
I love tide pools! The waterfalls are so beautiful!😍
It was a fun little scavenger hunt at the tide pools!
Loved all the wonderful creatures shown in the tide pools. Looking forward to Victoria.
The tide pools were a real treat!
Great video! We are just back to Ontario after spending the winter on Vancouver Island. So much to explore! Great trip down memory lane for us. Wish we were back!
Yes there is tons to do! We could spend a long time there and never get tired of it! Thanks and thanks for watching!
Live in WA and have been to Victoria but never realized the rest of the island was so rustic with tons of cool places. Thanks for the amazing preview.
The whole island is a dream! Thanks for watching!
I live on the island and don't want to be anywhere else in the world! Come up and explore! 👍🏼🇺🇸🤓🇨🇦👍🏼
I definitely stopped by all those coffee shop too. Great videography on the sea life ponds, never seen water that clear. And until now, I've never seen two grown adults enjoy themselves riding a swing. Tomorrow , I have an easy outdoor adventure day myself.. Have fun.
We had a ton of fun 😂
I love Vancouver Island 💕❤️. I have visited it several times and have wonderful memories.
We love it too! We can’t wait to go back!
Yayyy returning from a 24 day vacation and lots of new A+K videos!
Wahoo!
Wow how beautiful was that beach with all the sea critters. Loved the beach with the swing and waterfall.
There are some spectacular beaches on the island!
Many many years ago on the southern Oregon coast, we'd go down to the tide pools at night with our flashlights, we'd see little octopuses, little eels, things ud never see during the day! Was surprised no starfish where u were, many along Oregon coast! Thanks for your adventures, fun to follow, God bless
We can’t wait to go back one day and look again! Thanks!
The west coast of BC starfish populations started in a mass die off in 2014, due to a disease called sea star wasting syndrome. The disease almost seems like starfish leprosy of sorts…white lesions and decaying tissue. They have been making a slow comeback in the last years but populations are still quite low.
I am seriously loving this section of your trip to Alaska! Everything is so beautiful. I love all the different kinds of plants growing next to each other....and the beach rocks...and the waterfalls... and the climate...and Kona's muddy feet! lol When you head back down the coast, stop in Cannon Beach, Oregon. There are a lot of huge colorful sea stars that hang out on the main monolith!
Vancouver Island was so fun and beautiful! We had an awesome time! We are so excited to visit Cannon Beach again. I don’t know if we’ll make it on our return trip this time, but we’ll be going back one day for sure!
What beautiful sea life. Just all the different colors were amazing. Those beaches had so much to offer! ❣️
We really want to see more tide pools! It’s a pretty low effort way to see really cool sea life!
Beach and forest so close! Best of both worlds!
Woohoo! ❤️
Surely Vancouver Island can't be this amazing.
I can't wait to visit this part of Canada. 🇨🇦 Thanks for the awesome videos showing places most of us have never seen. I always worry about Kona's precious little paws on the suspension bridges. 🐾 I'm sure she's fine...just the dog lover in me being overly observant. ☺️Glad you all having a safe and fun-filled adventure.
Kona seems to do okay on the bridges. She never seems bothered, thankfully! She used to hate bridges, but now doesn’t mind them as much!
Thanks for watching!
Beautiful!! so interesting that just several hundred miles away we're in a desert and drought, to see a virtual rain forest!!! love your channel
It’s pretty wild! Thanks for watching!
Awesome island and beaches and waterfalls. Thanks for sharing with us 😊
We are happy and thankful to share! Thanks for watching!
Got my coffee, got me some breakfast snacks, pulled up a seat and.....it was over. So i had to enjoy the beach, splash in the waterfall, sit on the swing and look for some starships and ammones all over again. All the while i was sipping my coffee, digin on my snacks, stretched out on me new office chair and swinging on that bridge. Yee-Haa! Let's get on our way to Victoria. Beautiful! Well done!! Always wondered what lived in those holes in the rocks🙂
That sounds like a good morning to us!!! Victoria is next up! 😍🤪
OMG, you guys are having so much fun! Such a unique waterfall in a cave & on the beach! The botanical beach is my favorite part, I love tide pools!!! This beach has like thousands of them. I feel you’re on an treasure island, gorgeous sceneries and wonderful food, oh, plus all the great campsites…. Okay, I’m officially very very jealous
It does feel like a treasure island! We had such a fun time. There is so much to see and do on Vancouver Island. We could never get bored there!
Amazing places. Perhaps our next journey next summer :)
Great job!!!
Beautiful scenery and that first waterfall is so unique. And the other one by the beach is so cool.you can just shower right after swimming. Nice! Stay safe ✌
You could! If it wasn’t so cold I would have!
WOW!! Such a beautiful area to explore. Thanks!! Until next time... Travel safe.
❤️❤️
So magical and so beautiful!! Loved ever beach and waterfall you visited!! Thanks again for your great video!!
Yes it was! We’re happy to share! Thanks again for watching
That waterfall area looks incredible with all the moss and high rock walls!! What a unique area.. the beach, the white capped peaks.. all gorgeous. Canada has been top of my list, and now I’m adding this exact spot to the itinerary! Love yalls energy in every video.. So fun to watch!
We loved every bit of Vancouver Island and all of Canada really! Wait til you see BC and the Yukon! The vastness and wildlife were incredible! Thanks, Ashley!
Beaches Beaches Beaches!! 🌊❤️ Yes Kona you are so brave to cross that suspension bridge mom has to carry me across those. Chestermans beach in Tofino has tons of starfish you can see at low tide we’re sorry you missed it 😔 you’ll just have to come again!
Kona used to be so sketched out by bridges, but she’s warmed up to them lately. As long as she can’t see toooo far down!
Ok good to know! We’ll definitely be back!
“I just can’t wipe the smile off my face!”….. yep! Vancouver Island ‘ll do that to you!! 😍. Great videos- thank you!
We love Vancouver Island! ❤️❤️
That waterfall is my favorite so far! Botanical Beach is so unique and beautiful so many things to see in nature!!! That water at Mystic Beach is just wow!!! And dance us out y'all!
Yes that was 3 fun and unique beaches! There’s so much to see and do! 💃🕺
Absolutely Beautiful 😃 The waterfalls and beach and creeks are my kinda vacation.Loved every bit of the video.Cant wait for the next video, thanks for sharing your travels💗
They were so beautiful and so much fun! Thanks and thanks for watching!
Those tidepools were awesome-reminds me of Hawaii.
You guys have smashed Vancouver Island! It’s been so fun to watch you exploring all that it has to offer! The beaches on the coast there are amazing and so different from the Torino/Ukee area. Can’t wait for the rest of this trip and Alaska! Keep up the great work guys!
There is so much to see and do there. Of course we haven’t scratched the surface, but we’ll be back to scratch a little more! We’re so pumped to share more of the journey!
I love all the beaches view and absolutely love the little coffee shop/shack in the wood that is right up my alley 😇😇😇
We thought the coffee shop was super cute and cool also!
The hidden waterfalls...wow!!!! It almost doesn't seem real because it is so unique and beautiful!
We totally agree! You don’t see that often so it’s very special to see!
Woot woot!!! Well this vlog was as much fun as I thought it would be! I loved the beaches and all the unique features especially the waterfalls! It’s a good thing supper is almost ready cause your food looked so delicious! You guys always find the best places to eat! I was so happy to hear the word “pillowy” return to the vlog! Ok gotta go…supper is ready! You’re the best!
Oh my goodness!!! That gorge is phenomenal. So many interesting sites on that beach, too. Great hikes!
Heck ya! Thanks and thanks for watching!
What an awesome spot to show off your moves! That was a beautifully, FUN watch. XO
Love the Joy you are sharing on the swings. thanks for the pick me up today.
The swing was too much fun! We’re happy to help!
Loved the food & coffee!! lol. Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing with us!
Thanks and thanks for watching!
Y’all always make me drool with all your delicious looking meals! All these beaches looked beautiful!! Also, love a good Nemo reference 😂
Food is one of our favorite things! We love Finding Nemo!
I was just thinking of you guys! & here’s an upload! 😃 This looks like so much fun! 😊
It was a ton of fun! Thank you so much for watching!
Gosh was that beautiful! Loved the in swing, tidepools, the food (it was “surely delicious” looking…that made me smile!), hearing and seeing you two so excited and seeing Konie Bear! Great video! Keep traveling safe!
This was a really fun video to make! The beaches were beautiful and fun and the food was surely delicious! 😋
Wow! Beautiful sights! I really enjoy your videos...so well done! PS: Hi Kona!
Thank you so much! Kona says hi!
You 2 did an incredible job on this vlog. The places you selected to visit and your filming was fabulous.
Thank you so much! 💙❤️
Hello Adventurers😊😊😊, I love seeing y'all walking on suspension bridges...AWESOME! Seeing that waterfall crashing on the beach was really cool too. OUTSTANDING VIDEO👍👍👍! Now it's on to Victoria😊😊😊😊.
That waterfall would be perfect for a rinse off after swimming in the ocean! Although you’d need it to be a 100° day to be able to stand the cold ocean and the cold waterfall! 🥶. Thanks, Al!
so glad to you guys came to Canada, to BC, to Vancouver Island, we call it our home.
We had a fantastic time! Thanks for watching!
Seeing Olympic Peninsula from Vancouver Island side was absolutely epic! This Vancouver Island series is amazing and cannot wait to see your videos of Alaska :)
Ya we thought that was pretty cool too! Thanks and thanks for watching!
Strange and unique waterfall; loved it; I’m on pins and needles for the next installment 😍😎😎👌👌👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks! ❤️💙👍 we’re excited to share the next one!
Thanks again for a beautiful video. I love seeing places I wouldn't be able to see.
We’re thankful and happy to share!
Loving the adventures! The water fall was awesome!
Both of those waterfalls were a ton of fun!
The bfast place looked gr8. Awesome video. Thanks for sharing and the fun dance at the end :)
It was Shirley delicious! 😂
Wow beautiful place the water fall was awesome.
It was so beautiful and fun!
My husband and I have been watching you both for some time. It feels like we're right there with you! We went on a road trip( we live in South Jersey) to South Dakota and had a blast! We went last fall and went to many places in your video. This fall we're going on another road trip to Maine and New Hampshire. Checked out your videos on that and made notes so we can visit those spots you did!!!! Love watching you guys and Kona too 💕🐾
That makes us happy to hear y’all had a great trip and we were able to help with it!
Be sure to check out our website as well. We have lots of written content on there and we can be much more detailed and include more tips and recommendations!
Thank you so much for watching!
@@AdventuresofAplusK Thank you!
I love your video so cool!!! I hope you guys are having a great time!
Thanks, Joel!
What a cool hike! The colors along the beach were colorful and vibrant. So pretty! Y’all’s dance moves at the end were top notch 😂
😂 thanks guys!
Great vid! I love those "lazy" exploring days, especially if it involves water, hikes, and especially cheddar cheese. Awesome combination on todays adventures. And time to fire up some Finding Nemo!!!
This was a very fun and mostly relaxing video to make! Finding Nemo is a classic and never gets old
Another great Vid. Keep knocking it out of the park.
🏏⚾️💨🏟
Thank you!
Very nice video. Well done. Thanks for visiting our playground. next time you come up, I would start in downtown Victoria lots to do then do a hike up Mount Doug and then drive 20 minutes out of town to Goldstream park. There is a tunnel underneath the highway and you can see a nice waterfall there called Angel Falls. if you’re in summer, I would go up to Lake Cowichan and do the lake Cowichan tube run beautiful clear water, very warm nice leisurely float.
Beautiful tide pools. Love your videos.
❤️💙
I really love your videos. So gorgeous!!! Thank you 😊😊😊☺️
Thank you and thanks for watching, Kathy!
LOVE watching your videos! such beautiful places! been watching you since you were in Pismo Beach, CA. Bless you on your way.
Thanks for following along!
I agree with Adam when I say “WOW!”…Sombrio Beach hidden waterfall, tide pools @ Botanical Beach, Mystic Beach swing & McKay like falls! 😱😱😱 Kona conquering that suspension bridge!👊🏼The eagle & the mink!😳Adam’s delicious sandwich!😛 Chuckled at both your comments about pronunciation of anemone! 🤣 This video had it all & the photography & editing was perfection!💯❤️❤️❤️
So much wildlife and beautiful beaches! 😍😍
We are happy you 2 are enjoying are tiny little Vancouver Island you guys going up to PortHardy way . Hope the weather is good for you guys :) .
No we aren’t going to Port Hardy. Campbell River is as far north as we had time to go on this trip. We chose to hit up the hot spots we had been wanting to visit for a long time. Hopefully we can go next time we’re on the island.
We had a great time on the island and can’t wait to come back!
I’m really enjoying your trip to Alaska!!! Stay safe you guys😊
Thank you!
Really enjoying your coverage of Vancouver Island--and I live here!!
That’s so awesome! Thanks and thanks for watching!
@@AdventuresofAplusK And I was with you every step of the way as you walked the trail to Sombrio Beach. Sixty years ago one of my Boy Scout colleagues was able to find part of the old trail. Then for many weekends we all joined in and made the trail passable and the beach accessible. Now part of the parks system, the trail has undergone many changes and improvements which makes it possible for thousands to enjoy this splendid area. Best wishes as you continue on your wonderful journey.
Love this video,great sharing my friend
Thanks and thanks for watching!
Oh my gosh you guys!! So beautiful!! The anemonies are beautiful and I don't know, growing up over there we always said, The Strait of Juan de Fuca (Fewka). That might be wrong or if you say it fast, that's what comes out, I don't know. Love ALL the beaches and however you want to pronounce it is fine. lol!
Ya we have never been sure on that pronunciation even after our 3 years living in Seattle. We’ve messed up a few place names on the island. With Spanish names and places we default to the Spanish pronunciation if we aren’t 100% sure.
These beaches were so much fun!
I'm from Vancouver Island in Canada and absolutely loved this episode as it brought back so many memories...thank you for sharing your adventure with us my friends...you got a new subscriber out of me! Watching from the Cowichan Valley. Cheers, Kimmers and Jerbs. 👍🏼🇺🇸🔥🔪🔥🇨🇦👍🏼
We’re so happy and thankful to share! Thanks for watching!
@@AdventuresofAplusK if you ever come back to the island and want a very epic spot on the island, go to Cape Scott...its the most northern tip and has the most amazing beach and has a lighthouse community and is my most favorite part of the island! Hope your adventure stays safe and blessed! Cheers, Kimmers and Jerbs 👍🏼🇺🇸🇨🇦👍🏼
And yet another Great Video
❤️❤️
Awesome video guys! I loved that first beach with the hidden waterfall. So beautiful! Gotta work on that pronunciation Adam, you got this!!! Lol Great video guys! Thanks for showing us all of the areas around Vancouver Island. I had no idea! I only visited Victoria so I am looking forward to your next video as well!
That is a tricky word for me! 🤣 These beaches were so unique and lovely!
We’re excited to share the Victoria adventure soon!
I live in Cordova Bay near the ocean which is 15 minutes north of Victoria and I know how lucky I am. The beaches you featured in this fabulous video are a mere 90 minutes away. I wouldn’t live anywhere else. Thanks for the presentation.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We wouldn’t mind living there either! You have a wonderful playground to explore! Thanks and thanks for watching!
Our favourite part of the island… still a bit undiscovered unlike Tofino which we also love but way more touristy!
It seemed like that to us too!
Beauty spots! We are in the process of selling our sailboat and get into a truck and camper set up to explore the island. Great video👍
Awesome! Vancouver Island is 👌👍! Thanks for watching!
very nice 👌 👍 👏
as always, be careful and stay safe 🙏
❤️❤️
I live on Vancouver Island. Sorry you guys are getting so much bad weather. This has been one of the coolest, most dull springs I have seen in my over 40 years here.
We’ve had a lot of wet weather since getting to the PNW back in April. Which is to be expected I suppose! Any sunshine was a treat!
Just found your channel and we are really enjoying it. Great content! Happy travels!
Thank you so much and thanks for watching!
You guys did so well spotting all of that life in the rock pools. I never see as much as what you did, and in 100% agreement with you over the colours. The mink was really cool too. I really like Mystic Beach, the waterfall onto it was gorgeous and the swing was very cool - on my last trip I found a beach with a really similar looking swing and it's a fun and quirky touch! Excited to see Victoria is next. I'd assumed you'd skipped it as you seemed to be heading north. I definitely need to head further north to these beaches when I make it back out there 😍
We have been really excited to explore tide pools lately! We’re happy we were finally able to get to one. They can be tricky with tides, weather, and trying to fit it in with all the other stuff we try to do. It was fun scavenging around looking for stuff!
Yes we saved Victoria for last because we came onto the island in Nanaimo and were doing a lot more north and then left from close to Victoria
The Mystic Beach waterfall, will also carve out a gorge that retreats from the beach, just like Sombrio. At Mystic one gets to see how this process starts.
My wife Teresa and I love your videos. Your photography is top notch, great shots, color, lighting, just everything. The videos are well edited. And you guys are too cute with the sayings. I loved “Cornbread and pancakes had a baby” 😂. Keep up the good work. Enjoying your trip.
Thank you so much! We have a lot of fun out there and we’re happy it shows!
We ❤ the Big Island and our Gulf Islands
Another awesome adventure. The tide pools were great. If you run into more tide pools try capturing video by immersing your GoPro to create an under water views. Thanks for sharing! 😀👍
That would be a cool perspective! Thanks for watching, Lynn!
Beautiful scenery. The video editing is superb. I'm taking notes. lol Don't worry Adam, I can pronounce anemone either. You guys are having too much fun. Thanks for sharing.
That’s a tough one for me for some reason! 😂
WoW Amazing 😍🙏🏼👍
Thanks!
When you are back in Oregon go to the beach in Bandon. The sea stacks there usually are covered with orange and purple starfish. You can get up close at low tide!
Thanks for the tip! Hopefully on our next trip we’ll have a bit better weather than last time! 😅
How much time you you guys spend editing your videos? They are always amazing. Always enjoy going Long with you on your adventures!
The editing part takes usually between 8-16 hours depending on how long the video is. Thanks and thanks for watching!
Shirley Delicious rocks!
To see starfish in multiple colors, the next time you go to the Oregon coast, go to Fogarty Beach, which is north of DePoe Bay. I went there once and saw hundreds. It was amazing!
Oh that would be awesome! We’ll have to check that out next time we’re on the coast! Thanks and thanks for watching!
wow amazing! also,
you’re famous! i was just watching this with my mom and she said she saw you on our local TV!
Oh wow! What program did she see this on?
We’re in Victoria now. City is gorgeous. Can’t wait to see your video on Victoria.
We love Victoria! We hope you are or did enjoy it!
Hook ‘em!
If you remember Duncan you could have driven towards Cowichan lake then via back roads drove to Port Renfrew which is just a short drive to Jordan River instead of going down towards Victoria, Another way would be from Port Albernie via back roads to Cowichan lake then to Port Renfrew
thanks A+K
The wildlife was cool.
Yes it was! We caught a lot of wildlife in Canada!
Keep Canada beautiful and PLEASE follow Leave No Trace principles: lnt.org/why/7-principles/
Follow our Journey to Alaska: th-cam.com/play/PLZKRTK1yCEM5UxLKP3MI17m-syJkqYABj.html
Our camera + hiking gear: adventuresofaplusk.com/gear/
That stretch your on catches a lot of Canadians off guard when they discover they are getting charged American services on their cell phones , it goes from I believe Jordan river to just before Sooke , there is no cell coverage for most Canadian call phones the American coverage takes over
if you like waterfalls check out the trent...my personal fav. swimming, cliff diving, steep rope hiking trail, dog friendly, free and only a 10 min walk directly from the the northbound highway Comox Valley. southbound takes up to 45 mins
Sounds like a ton of fun! Thanks for watching and for the rec!
no problemo
It's rare to see Sombrio so empty. My daughter and I hiked from China beach to Sombrio last summer and it was packed...I mean PACKED.
We felt pretty lucky being there with only a handful of others!
@@AdventuresofAplusK Enjoy Victoria! If you're still there, try Pagliacci's Italian...great food!
When you get to AK go to Lowell Point in Seward at low tide you’ll definitely see some starfish! Also make sure to calibrate your drone before flying, we almost lost ours because the compass was not calibrated to the area 😅
We’ll add that to our list! Thanks!
That is my biggest fear! 😰
So much fun, waterfalls, swings, beautiful views. Can't beat it. Question: you guys shoot in 60fps or 24?
Those beaches were so fun!
We film 24 for our normal footage and 120 for slomo