'The best part of a vacation is in the planning, but the most exciting is the getting there.' So said my much traveled aunt who was also the one to encourage me to explore the Pacific north-west in the first place, and as far as visiting Vancouver Island is concerned, she is quite correct.



Being a large island, so close to the mainland, the one hour and forty minute luxury ferry ride is like a mini- cruise, through the scenic Gulf Islands, at camera length from Orca Whales, Dolphins and the occasional eagle looking for a fish lunch. Not only that but after docking at Saanich, on the Island, you are only a thirty minute drive away from downtown Victoria, the British Columbia capital.

Take a scenic ferry from the British Columbian mainland at two points, or from Seattle in the Pacific north-west of the U.S., or travel on the Washington ferry service to Sidney, any one of which is an adventure, as you find your way through the San Juan or Gulf islands. If you want speed, try the Victoria Clipper catamaran from Seattle.

If that's not adventurous enough for you, why not try arriving in Vancouver Island by sea-plane? These float-planes have daily schedules from various locations, including Vancouver and Seattle and most land in the Victoria City harbor. Yes, believe it or not, every year more than 300 000 passengers to the island, arrive by float-plane, many of them into the Victoria Harbor. Well not actually into the harbor but the landing is on the water in the harbor and the access right to downtown Victoria, in front of the parliament buildings. You can't do that in many capital cities!

Okay, still not convinced, then how about arriving by a whale watching and Eco-tour speed boat? You can do that from downtown Vancouver, where it leaves at 8 am in the morning and takes you on an Eco-tour of the gulf islands before arriving in downtown Victoria on Vancouver Island. You can also link up with a bus tour from here, and they will take you back to your hotel in Vancouver in the evening by speed boat, if you so desire.

You see, getting to Vancouver Island is a major part of the attraction so make it part of your travel plans. Whether you sail in, kayak in, take a bike, car or bus on a ferry, use a float plane or speedy whale watching craft, you get to enjoy the added bonus of exotic scenery, pristine wilderness, marine life and quality tourist facilities even before you arrive. Getting there is more than half the fun!

Of course you could always fly into Victoria airport, but where's the fun in that, as my aunt always used to say. She actually said a lot of things, but this time she was right.