Best B&B in Port Alberni is becoming the center for Slow Travel on Vancouver Island and it’s just what the world wants!

    I grew up in the Okanagan, in BC, Canada.  Our idea of travel at the time was getting into the car and heading out to the orchards in Kelowna and Penticton to get boxes of apples, peaches and cherries. Sometimes it was purchased roadside at the fruit stands and other times directly from the farmers. My brother and my sisters would chase each other around the cherry trees while my parents talked to the local Italian growers in the sweltering Okanagan sun. We’d go to Skaha beach after and go swimming, eat sunflower seeds and cherries and pile back into the car when the sun went down and head for home. It was just a day, so simple, local, and beneficial. It seems the whole world wants to turn back to the idea of simpler travel. They are calling it Slow Travel.

     Slow travel is about spending more time in fewer places. It’s about trading in your tightly packed travel itinerary for spontaneous moments and local immersion. Slow travel is about building local connections and being conscious about sustainability. More people are wanting a relaxing fun filled trip full of memories instead of a stress filled fast paced holiday that requires recovery afterwards. This kind of travel is easier on the pocketbook as you stay in one place for a longer period of time. It is also easier on the environment as travellers prefer biking and local transit to reduce the carbon footprint and support local economies.

     Vancouver Island is becoming the center for slow travel in Canada and Port Alberni is quickly becoming the hub of slow travel on Vancouver Island. But why is this happening in Port Alberni?

     Port Alberni is in the perfect geographical location for Slow Travel. This small city of 20,000 people is centrally located on Vancouver Island which means other locations on the Island are only 1-3 hours away. Port Alberni itself has hiking and fishing excursions that are close to the city center. Port Alberni has many options for lower priced accommodation like hotels, B&Bs, camping and a hostel.  There is a ferry (The Francis Barkley, operated by Lady Rose Marine Services) that can take you to desirable locations like Bamfeild and Uclulet for the day so that you don’t have to drive. The Ferry terminal itself is located on the Harbour Quay, a walk-able location from the downtown of the city. Port Alberni has a local farmers market for local farmers and artists and many local restaurants and breweries. Port Alberni is also only an hour away from Nanaimo and the BC Ferry terminal to and from Vancouver. Port Alberni is also only an hour and a half from Tofino so you can experience Tofino for the day and return to cheaper accomodation at night if you are driving.

   At Best B&B we have noticed the trend for tourists to stay in Port Alberni for several days, hike local trails or travel out of the city for the day, returning in the evening to have dinner and drinks at local eateries. They love that they don’t have to change locations to see Vancouver Island. They have reported to Best B&B that they love that Port Alberni is a smaller city, easy to navigate and that all the cafes, breweries and restaurants are only a minute away. They have also told us that they like that Port Alberni has an industrial past and authentic atmosphere.

     As people around the globe decide to gear down and travel with intention, Best B&B is waiting with open arms this fall to welcome you to a good night's sleep and a relaxing evening on the B&B deck overlooking the Inlet and all that Port Alberni has to offer.