This year, many B.C. residents have decreased travel to the U.S.
However, vacations are still an important part of a balanced lifestyle. I recently travelled to the Cowichan Valley for a weekend and there is lots to see and do right in our own region.
The Cowichan Valley comprises a large area on Vancouver Island, but I mostly concentrated this trip on the southern part near Duncan.
It is easy to get to: a ferry ride from Tsawwassen and then a hour’s drive from either the Nanaimo or Victoria ferry dock.
The Cowichan Valley is hotbed for wine.
As I have stated in previous columns, the Cowichan Valley is now the most exciting breakout wine region in B.C.
Global warming and the injection of capital from bigger wine conglomerates has made the wines of the Cowichan Valley almost indistinguishable from the wines that were produced 10 years ago.
The two top wineries in this region are Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Unsworth Vineyards.
Both have been purchased by members of Jackson Family Wines, have new wineries and offer an incredible wine tasting experience.
See my reviews of my tastings at Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Unsworth Vineyards. They are producing some of the best B.C. Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Germanic clone varietals wines and most of their wines are under $30.
There are also many other wineries to try in the Cowichan Valley.
Some wineries in this region that you could also visit include Alderlea Vineyards, Averill Creek Vineyard, Cobble Hill Winery, Zanatta Winery, Cherry Point Estates Wines and Venturi-Schulz Vineyards.
Tourist desinations in the Cowichan Valley
A star attraction in this region is the Malahat Skywalk.
It was opened in the summer of 2021. The focal point of the Skywalk is the 10-storey Spiral Tower which provides you with breathtaking views of the Cowichan Valley.
But there is so much more than epic views. Before you get to the Spiral Tower, you walk along a path with driftwood animal sculptures and a 600-metre Treewalk that is 65 feet above the forest floor.
Once you get to the Spiral Tower, there is an Adventure Net at the top of the Spiral Tower and a 66-foot Spiral Slide that takes you from the top of the Spiral Tower to the ground.
Throughout your journey, there are many interactive games that will bring out the child in you.
On select days, they have special events like music, That Bubble Guy and The Raptors.
There is also a free shuttle bus from Victoria to the Skywalk. Check out my review of my visit to the Malahat Skywalk.
Another interesting tourist attraction to see is the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan.
Until Sept. 25, they have A Seat at the Table, which is a travelling exhibition from the Chinese Canadian Museum.
Another great weekend activity is the Duncan Farmers' Market, which is one of the oldest and largest farmers markets in B.C., featuring over 100 vendors during the summer months. The market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. year-round in downtown Duncan
Finally, there are lots of quaint bakeries and eateries to discover.
For casual eats, try True Grain Organic Craft Bakery or the Masthead Restaurant.
For an upscale dining experience with great views, I visited the Restaurant at Unsworth Vineyards. The advantage of this restaurant is that it is located at Unsworth Vineyards, so you can extend your wine-tasting experience.
In addition, they have back vintages of many Unsworth Vineyards wines and you can order wines by the glass or in a 500-ml carafe. See my review of this restaurant.
I haven’t even mentioned the Kinsol Trestle and the Cowichan Bay historic fishing village.
As you can see, there is plenty to do to fill up a weekend! So you can have a great action-filled weekend with lots of great wine and food and be back by Sunday to start your work week!
I found the Cowichan Tourism website very useful in planning my trip. They have an events calendar that tells you what is going on and have descriptions of all types of activities listed on their website.
The summer is not over so there is still time to visit the Cowichan Valley any weekend.
Cheers!
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in Richmond? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 To stay updated on Richmond news, sign up for our daily headline newsletter.
💬 Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
