2019 Cowichan Visitor Guide WelCoMes yOu waRmLY Inside front cover - full page ad Ride. Paddle. VISIT: TOURISMCOWICHAN.COM Hike. Visitor Services: Inside Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre 2896 Drinkwater Rd 04 MAP: 15 Farm Fresh 27 On the 1-888-303-3337/250-746-4636 Cowichan Water [email protected] Communities 17 Sweet Relax. Somethings 29 Saying “I Do” Chemainus Visitor Centre 07 Sip + Savour Waterwheel Park 19 Hiking 31 Music CHEMAINUS • CROFTON • MAPLE BAY • GENOA BAY 102-9799 Waterwheel Crescent | 250- 246-3944 09 Ahoy! + Biking + Theatre [email protected] 11 Cowichan 21 Arts 33 Living Cowichan Lake District Visitor Centre Harvest + Culture History 125 South Shore Rd | 250-749-3244 13 Shop 23 10 Best 35 MAP: [email protected] Cowichan Experiences Getting Here Ladysmith Visitor Centre 33 Roberts St | 250-245-2112 36 MAP: Sip, Savour [email protected] + Stay South Cowichan Tourist Info Booth 2720 Mill Bay Rd (Mill Bay Shopping Centre) 39 Best Days in Cowichan 250-743-5500 [email protected] The official © 2019 Cowichan Visitor Guide is published by the Tourism Cowichan Society. Copywriting: Nigel Yonge. Design: Alice Young. Signature photography: Henhouse Photo Co. No part of this publication may be reproduced without consent from the publisher. Printed in British Columbia. The Explore Super, Natural British Columbia tile is a trade-mark of Destination BC Corp., used under license. Photos: Kurt Knock WelCome tO the waRm LAnD Situated less than an hour north of Victoria, British Columbia, Cowichan is a region that’s as renowned for its natural beauty and breadth of activities as it is for its culture and friendly locals. Cowichan consists of a vast belt that extends all the way across southern Vancouver Island and features a kaleidoscope of vistas, villages and opportunities for adventure. As Canada’s only Maritime-Mediterranean climatic zone, the region is well known for its agricultural bounty and, more recently, its sheer number of internationally acclaimed craft beverage producers. Cowichan’s temperate climate also allows for all kinds of year-round outdoor fun like beachcombing, kayaking, hiking, fishing and more. But that’s just the beginning. In the next few pages, we’re going to introduce you to a Pacific paradise that’s still largely undiscovered, yet so accessible. Welcome! Fireside feast on the shores of Cowichan Lake 2 | tourismCowichan.com CHEMAINUS LAKE COWICHAN Once a thriving fishing, The Town of Lake Cowichan To mining and forestry hub, is home to the 34-kilometre the town of Chemainus long body of fresh water Vancouver reinvented itself in the called Cowichan Lake. 1980s by capturing its Central to the region, it history in a series of large, has considerable history, cOmmuniTieS striking murals painted on and is a paradise all its own. Located on Southern Vancouver Island, Cowichan the walls of the town. MALAHAT and all its surrounding communities is tucked midway Nanaimo COBBLE HILL The spectacular Malahat between Victoria to the south and Nanaimo to the North of Shawnigan Lake Highway and its namesake is the rolling farmland that mountain is the gateway to north. Getting smack dab in the middle of it all is comprises the community Cowichan from the south. less than an hour’s scenic drive from either city. of Cobble Hill. Within 2 kilometres of the centre MAPLE BAY of town, you’ll find a Located 10 minutes east number of wineries and of Duncan, Maple Bay is a wonderful spot for Valdes Island B.C.’s first estate cidery. Yellow Point beachcombing, swimming, S o COWICHAN BAY sailing, fishing, rowing u t Once a bustling fishing and scuba diving. There h Oyster Bay village, Cowichan Bay N are great dining options a Thetis Island remains one of the most n Ladysmith here too. aim scenic pearls of the region. o Ri The community now boasts MILL BAY ve Ladysmith r Visitor Saltair Penelakut Island renowned eateries, boutiques, Mill Bay is a quiet seaside Centre Chemainus eco-tours and more. community that has Visitor Centre grown in leaps and bounds. CROFTON Ch Chemainus Nowhere is that more em a Crofton not only looks apparent than at the in us directly across to Salt Spring R Mill Bay Marina, home to i ve Island, but is home to the a top-notch waterfront Youbou r ferry that will take you bistro and yacht moorage. there. Make sure you stroll the Seawalk that begins OYSTER BAY Crofton near the Old School Oyster Bay is located just Gordon Bay House Museum. north of Ladysmith, and is Provincial Park Maple Bay Salt Spring home to the newly-opened Lake Cowichan Island DUNCAN aycuse Rive Regional Microtel Inn & Suites. C r Honeymoon Bay Cowichan 8 Duncan is Cowichan’s Cowichan Visitor Centre Lake Cowichan River Duncan Genoa largest community. SALTAIR District Provincial Park Bay Make sure you visit the Nestled between Visitor C Centre o original city centre just Ladysmith to the north wich er an River west of the highway, and Chemainus to the iv Cowichan R Bay south, Saltair is another n where you’ll discover art o d galleries, bistros, clothing one of Cowichan’s idyllic r o shops and more. seaside communities. G Cobble Hill GENOA BAY SHAWNIGAN LAKE Mill Located south along Genoa Located just west of Shawnigan Bay K Bay Road is the hamlet of Mill Bay is Shawnigan Lake, o ksi Lake Genoa Bay. Once a sawmill a popular place for canoeing, lah River Cheewhat River South Bamberton town, Genoa Bay is now rowing, swimming and fishing. Cowichan Provincial Tourist Park home to a large marina and It’s also the gateway to the Info an outstanding restaurant. world-famous 144-foot Booth high Kinsol Trestle. HONEYMOON BAY Honeymoon Bay is YELLOWPOINT Malahat located on the west side Cowichan’s northernmost of Cowichan Lake and is community: a rugged, Port Renfrew surrounded by mountains beautiful location that and forests. Make sure to features long and winding include it in your trip to the country roads, various DISTANCE IN KILOMETRES TO CENTRAL COWICHAN town of Lake Cowichan. parks and beachfront accommodation. From Vancouver 132 From Seattle 232 LADYSMITH BRITISH From Victoria 60 From Calgary 1,100 Founded at the turn of the YOUBOU CANADA COLUMBIA century, this quaint town’s Youbou is a community From Tofino 256 From Edmonton 1,290 Victoria downtown core is home to situated 10 minutes north From Nanaimo 50 From New York 4,200 a variety of shops, boutiques, of the town of Lake bookstores, antique dealers Cowichan. Stop at Arbutus and more eateries than you Park –a wonderful place can shake a stick at. to swim and picnic. Sooke SIP + SAVOUR Experience unparalleled food 1 and drink here in Cowichan. Legendary Canadian foodie James Barber once referred SIp, SavOuR to Cowichan as “Canada’s Provence,” and if you come here with an appetite, you’ll discover why. Indeed, AnD spOiL Cowichan is home to an extraordinary number of wineries, cideries, lavender farms, cheese makers, bakeries, fish- YOuRseLVEs mongers, organic growers and other artisanal producers of food and drink. Cowichan is also home to several excellent craft breweries and distilleries, one of which is also B.C.’s first estate cidery. Yes, we cater to teetotalers too 2 3 – just north of Duncan, you’ll discover Canada’s only tea farm. Not only do we grow world-class food and drink, we prepare and serve it with panache too. Fine dining restaurants abound, and many of the wineries, cideries and distilleries have their own bistros and tasting rooms. 1 Wood-fired pizza at Prima Strada 2 Local seasonal fare at Unsworth Vineyards 3 Waiting to sip at Stillhead Distillery Dining al fresco at the Old Firehouse Wine Bar 6 | tourismCowichan.com tourismCowichan.com | 7 AHOY! Ahoy! Cowichan 1 welcomes one and all. The magnificent Cowichan coastline and its many surrounding islets, harbours, secluded bays (and lakes) are dotted with dozens of well-provisioned places to tie 2 up, refresh and refuel—both you and your craft. Many marinas have pubs and fine dining restaurants, which have become destinations for both boaters and the public SAiL iNtO at large. Notable stops include the Mill Bay Marina (home to Bridgemans Bistro), Pier 66 Marina, Dungeness Marina and Bluenose Marina in Cowichan Bay, Maple Bay 3 THe MystiC Marina (home to Shipyard Restaurant & Pub), Genoa Bay Marina (home to Genoa Bay Café), Ladysmith Marina (home to a maritime museum) and Cowichan Lake Marina. Sail into the mystic here and enjoy. 1 Ladysmith Marina 4 2 Cowichan Lake Marina 3 Bridgemans Bistro, Mill Bay Marina EVERYWHERE 4 Genoa Bay Café, Genoa Bay Marina Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre • Artifacts and archival photographs • Classic wooden boats and dugout canoes • Model ships • Outboard motor collection • Active boat restoration • Children’s boat building booth • Home of the Cowichan Wooden Boat Society MOOR AT Open 7 days a week | Admission by donation THE HEART Ladysmith 250.746.4955 | classicboats.org OF IT ALL. North Saanich Pedder Bay Oak Bay Ladysmith Marina is the explorer’s dream base. There’s quick access to the beautiful Cowichan Valley, Wooden Boat & Maritime Museum as well as the spectacular cruising grounds of the Gulf Islands. Children’s Boatbuilding Booth Whether you’re visiting for a few days, need moorage for Traditional Lapstrake Boatbuilding Courses a month, a year, or even a boathouse, we’ve got your dock. Heritage Marine Ways 34th Annual Wooden Boat 250 245 4521 | 901 Gladden Road | ladysmithmarina.com Festival July 6 & 7 Another Open 7 days a week | May - September magical evening Admission by Donation in Cowichan Bay 8 | tourismCowichan.com tourismCowichan.com | 9 COWICHAN HARVEST 1 There’s a harvest year-round in Cowichan.