Chemainus is a charming seaside village on Vancouver Island -- Entertaining, relaxing and tranquil.
 It's a favorite destination for families, for art lovers and for those that are just looking to explore. 
 Being centrally located on Vancouver Island, you can   cozy up in your favorite bed & breakfast and enjoy the many sites and activities in Chemainus and the surrounding area.
***   Make Chemainus your destination...one night is not enough!  ***

Scuba Diving:  Explore BC's newest artificial reef, the Xihwu Reef (pronounced key'quot), the World's only  Boeing 737 Aircraft dive site, located just off Kin Beach in Chemainus.  The  Aircraft is a Boeing 737-200 with a 93 foot wingspan and is 100 feet long.  The name Xihwu Reef  was given to the site out of respect for the red Sea Urchin which would have lived in abundance in the area in the past. Gus Modest, of Cowichan, carved the Sea Urchin which is installed on the nose of the sunken aircraft.

Hang Gliding:  Anyone can fly like a bird, side by side with an experienced instructor, landing softly on wheels in an open meadow.  Contact  Steve Parson, HPAC Certified Instructor, offering tandem flights from Mt. Prevost in Duncan and Mt. Bruce on Saltspring Island. 

Food, music and more!  Experience the Dancing Bean Cafe.  This licensed cafe offers a variety of freshly roasted and specialty coffees, teas, iced cappucinos, lunches and fabulous desserts in a relaxing atmosphere.  Dinner served on theatre nights.  Enjoy live music on select nights. Open Mic Songwriter's night on the first Saturday of each month.

Farmer's Market:  Every Saturday you will find a bustling farmer’s market in the Duncan Town Square, offering a wide selection of fresh produce in season, crafts, specialty foods and cheeses, and local entertainment, all from the Cowichan Valley. This is one of the largest farmer’s markets on Vancouver Island, and proudly represents the strong agricultural roots of the region.

First Nations Experience:  Quw’utsun Cultural and Conference Centre offers all guests an authentic First Nations Experience - Interpretive Tours, Traditional Art Work and Native Food. See and learn traditions still practiced today

Trout Hatchery:  The Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery  facility stocks approximately 150 lakes and streams on Vancouver Island and surrounding islands in Region 1 (Vancouver Island) annually.  These include urban lakes (which are stocked multiple times per year), remote access lakes, and coastal streams and rivers.  Visitors welcome.

Freshwater Eco-Centre:  The Freshwater Eco-Centre is an extensive interpretative facility with over 30 displays depicting wild fish conservation, fisheries habitat protection and fisheries management practices. The EcoCentre is located adjacent to the hatchery and receives approximately 20,000 visitors a year.  2006 - We are getting ready for the Learn to Fish programs and other fun activities for the spring and summer.

Wine tours:  Cherry Point Vineyards - The winery is open seven days a week for educational tastings April - December 10 am to 5 pm / January - March 10am to 4pm. The Bistro is open April through December. Come and enjoy the exquisite vineyard views, fresh local ingredients, innovative West Coast inspired cuisine, great Island wine and unmatched service.

Hiking and Walking in Cowichan:  The Cowichan Valley countryside offers a number of memorable hiking experiences, for all levels of hikers. In addition to the trails found here, including the Trans Canada Trail and the Cowichan River Corridor, the provincial parks offer many great options to get away from it all and let nature have its way.  From peaceful, easy walks to more strenuous, rugged climbs, the parks & beaches of Cowichan have something for every outdoor enthusiast.

Hiking and Walking Trails:  Holland Creek Trail system is suited for all ages and abilities and is accessible from many different parking lots and trailheads.  Each access point leads to a grade of trail each with its own difficulty level from the easy walk to the vertical climb.  Each parking lot offers the hiker a difference view and experience.  The trails are marked as either wheelchair accessible, mild walking, moderate hiking trail to difficult hiking conditions.

Provincial Park:  Chemainus River Provincial Park lies within the traditional territories of the Nanaimo First Nation, the Chemainus First Nation, the Cowichan Indian Band and the Cowichan Tribes. Traditional uses include fishing, berry picking and bark stripping. The remnants of an old railway grade in the park is also of historic importance.  Surrounded by a buffer of mature, second-growth forest, Chemainus River Park is home to Roosevelt elk, who use the river as a corridor, and black bears, cougars and wolves, who forage along the riverbanks. The river is home to coho salmon and steelhead. Found in the river above Copper Canyon, the steelhead are a spring “race” with a summer run. Since all steelhead are stopped at the canyon, the deep pools of the upper river are ideally suited to the production of steelhead. The river also has numerous sensitive ecosystems related to the floodplain and riparian vegetation.

RETURN TO HOME PAGE

And reserve a room in one of our memorable Bed & Breakfast Homes