Friday, November 14, 2008

Tide Pool Heaven - Botanical Beach

It takes approximately 2 hours to get to Port Renfrew from Victoria and then another 15 minutes to drive to Botanical Beach. When you get to the end of the road as you pass through town you will hit a stop sign. Turn right and you go to the government dock. Turn left and you go to Botanical Beach. There is pay parking at the park. Then you have about 20 minutes of a walk to the beach, but oh is it worth it. This is my second favourite spot on Vancouver Island. It is mystical and serene. The surf always seems to be on the move. At low tides (spring tides) a shelf of the ocean gets exposed and you can see tide pools everywhere. You just never know what you might find in those tide pools. One visit we found an octopus in about 4 inches of water. You have to check the tide charts if you are going. In the spring the low tides are at reasonable times of the day. Try to be on the beach an hour before and a hour after low tide. Always watch the waves to see what they are doing and how high they are striking the rocks. Be careful or you might get swept off the rocks. This is well worth a visit.

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