Walk the "footprints" and view the world's largest outdoor gallery of murals revealing the history and mystique of Chemainus.
There are 37 bigger than life murals to view as well as many sculptures by notable artists.

Join a group for a tour by train or take a romantic horse drawn carriage ride.

Listen to history come alive, stories, music and sound effects of a by-gone era on an audio walking tour of the Chemainus murals.

Watch the ships loading lumber from the WaterWheel Park viewpoint or take a mill tour to learn about one of BC's foremost industies.

Stroll the beach at Kin Park, skip stones or take a dip in the ocean. Relax and watch the boats go by.

You'll find great trout fishing, fresh water swimming, tennis and picnic grounds at Fuller Lake.

Explore Askew Park with its meandering creek, old growth forest and an eagle's nest.

Experience professional live theatre at the Chemainus Theatre Festival with entertainment for all ages. Enjoy a buffet lunch or dinner in the Playbill Dining Room before the performance and visit the Gallery Gift Shop showcasing over 100 BC artists.

Antique malls and unique shops scattered around town have treasures waiting to be discovered.

Go scuba diving and explore BC's newest artificial reef, the Xihwu Reef (pronounced key'quot) a decommissioned Boeing 737 Aircraft just off Kin Beach.

History buffs will enjoy the Chemainus Valley Museum where artifacts and archives document the area's history.

Play a round of golf at Mount Brenton Golf Course, an 18-hole course that brags it's the "friendliest" golf course in BC.

Visit and walk 'round the Peace Pole, one of only 50 in Canada. The presence of a Peace Pole announces this is a special place dedicated to Peace on Earth.

The name "Chemainus" comes from the native shaman and prophet "Tsa-meeun-is" (Broken Chest). Legend says that the man survived a massive wound in his chest to become a powerful chief. His people took his name to identify their community.

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

Forestry Museum: At the BC Forest Discovery Centre , a stroll around the site will quickly transform one into an exciting, educational experience. Since its official opening as a public museum in 1965, the collection of logging and steam related artifacts has grown, an array of buildings and exhibits have been constructed.   L et one of their historic trains take you on a tour around the 100-acre wooded site.  See one of the first prefabricated buildings, and ride over a trestle bridge. 

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 .

Content on this page provided courtesy of Lynne Landygo at A SMALL WORLD BED & BREAKFAST