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Vancouver Island RVing
Are you still working or do you have health issues that prevent you from packing up the RV and heading south this winter? Tired of winterizing the RV and trying to find a secure place to park it till the traditional spring camping season starts again? Did you know that on Vancouver Island there’s a growing number of people that use their RV’s for weekend and week-long mini vacations all winter? Once you consider the wide range of indoor and outdoor activities available, you might decide to do likewise.
Winter rates for camping and renting RV’s are a fraction of the summer rates. Picture your RV set up in a beautiful Island RV Park and escape to it all winter long. Think of it as a vacation cabin where you can just relax and take in the view or to finally try some of the fantastic recreation opportunities you’ve always been curious about.
Let me walk you through some possibilities you may not have thought about. There’s a reason the Island is sometimes called ‘the Mediterranean of Canada’. Don’t have an RV? One can be set up and waiting for you at the park of your choice.
Dress for Success:
They say there’s no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing! Indoors is indoors wherever you are – but if you want to play outside during the Island winter - mild or not, you need the right gear to be happy. Investing in some quality layers of fleece and Gor-Tex allows you to be warm, dry and comfy outdoors. You can’t have fun if you’re not comfy, and there’s more outdoor winter fun on the Island than humans should be allowed! I can tell you’re still skeptical. Okay, here’s a list of what Islanders and Snowbirds tell us are their favourite Island winter activities.
Island Regional Activities:
- Golf - from driving ranges and par 3 to amazing ocean front courses- endless choices.
- Cycling (road and mountain biking) - beginner to expert with available maps and enthusiast groups you can contact/join.
- Paddling - kayaking (ocean and river), dragon boats and outriggers - from beginner to expert with active user groups/clubs.
- Sailing - If you're in the Nanaimo area and are interested in crewing on a sailboat (yes, there is a winter series), there's a Facebook page to make contacts and make that happen.
- Scuba diving – Jacques Cousteau called it the best temperate water diving in the world- with visibility best in the winter. Very active dive community with boat and shore dives available, and classes.
- Downhill or cross country skiing/boarding/tubing/snowshoeing Mt. Washington Alpine Resort is our mini Whistler - rentals, lessons and lower midweek rates.
- Quads/motorcycling/snowmobiling – Vancouver Island's forestry history means endless miles of backroads!
- Hiking and Parks exploration – endless day trips to local and regional parks from gentle to extreme- lots of maps/user groups .
- Rock climbing - there are many climbing spots and indoor facilities to train/learn and an active user group.
- Caving – Vancouver Island has a sizeable percentage of Canada’s caves with an active user group.
- Birding – there’s a very active bird watching community all over the Island and weekly group bird walks.
- Wine tours- there are several wine regions on Vancouver Island itching to show off their products and properties.
- Car touring there are tons of parks/regions/commercial attractions to visit like - Christmas season at Butchart Gardens.
- Fishing (fresh and saltwater).
- Ocean day cruise to the West Coast out the famous Alberni Inlet aboard a freight/passenger boat. See the West Coast in a whole new way and perhaps see whales, orcas or bears along the way.
- Hunting
- Wildlife viewing (land and sea).
- Geocaching- there is a very active mid-island caching community and caches can be found everywhere you are - at all levels.
- West Coast storm watching
- West Coast surfing
- Disc Golf
Indoors:
- Harbour Living- an online events calendar that covers the Island and updated weekly- more stuff than you'll have time for!
- Bowling
- Movies
- Winter holiday activities
- Museums
- Curling
- Rec basketball/volleyball/floor hockey/soccer/dodgeball
- Parks & Rec Swimming/skating/fitness gyms/gymnasiums/aquatics/seniors and adult programs and classes.
- Rec hockey
- Elder College at Nanaimo's Vancouver Island University.
- Hockey (spectating)
- Yoga and fitness classes
- Dancing
- Theatre (live or movies)
- Concerts
- Restaurants
- Pubs
- Casino
- Island RV rental companies that will deliver and set up at the park of your choice.
Set up your rig at an Island RV park for days/weeks/months
Think of your RV as your ‘winter cabin’. For around $500/month, including hydro, you can leave your rig set up and waiting for you whenever you can get away for a week or three, or just a weekend. If you’re like us, getting out of the house can truly feel like a holiday, even if it’s close by, because at home you’re always reminded of chores and routines.
If you’re only able to get out for weekends, another option might be to leave your RV at a storage lot close to the RV Park you want to base yourself at. For example, our park has an RV storage business right next door, which charges $2/foot/month, with a $50/month minimum, and the owner lives onsite. Drive up in your car + drive the short way to the park = cheap and easy getaway.
Don’t have an RV? There’s many small independent RV rental companies on the Island who can have one of their well-maintained RV’s set up and waiting for you at the RV Park of your choice. Checking their winter rates came up with a range from $580-$700 week plus campsite fees. And these are large well-appointed trailers. Show up and enjoy! A list is included on the website listed at the end of this article.
The winter getaway RV idea can work even if you live in Alberta with a bit of planning- something like this: take an Island summer RV holiday but leave your rig at a secure Island storage lot. Then fly out for a week/month long winter escape. WestJet and Air Canada have daily flights to Calgary from Nanaimo/Comox/Victoria airports which makes it very convenient to access our Island playground from afar all year round. My golfing friends tell me they meet many Calgary golfers at their Island golf courses during the winter season! Then the following summer, your RV is already waiting for you to start the next chapter of your Island explorations.
Where to Start?
Every park has Snowbird groups that are typically very welcoming to help introduce you to what can be a fantastic new range of winter activities. Visit the webpage that has info links to all of the activities listed in this article at: http://tiny.cc/93qi5w.
This might just be the answer to your dream of a winter getaway (one that’s possible!) And it may be closer and less expensive than you think!