A Week of Sea Air and Simplicity in Tofino
Happy Monday, ladies. I’m finally catching my breath after a full few weeks and wanted to share a bit about our trip to Tofino. If you haven’t been, it’s tucked out on the far west edge of Vancouver Island, where the forest meets the Pacific and everything feels a little wilder.
Tofino is one of those places that feels slightly unreal in the best way. Every time I go, I wonder why the rest of the world isn’t rushing there… then I remember the single winding road in and realize that’s exactly why it stays charming. It’s part surf town, part rainforest, part place-you-think-you-dreamed-up. We’ve gone for years, and somehow it gets under my skin in the best possible way.
We stayed right on McKenzie Beach, where the waves practically tuck you in at night. The weather was spectacular for fall…sunny, crisp, and filled with that golden light that makes you forget it rains there 300 days a year. We spent our days walking the beaches, exploring the rainforest trails, and generally pretending we were the outdoorsy type.
HOKAS / LEATHER GLOVES /
One morning, my husband and I went whale watching, which sounds terribly serene and National Geographic-worthy. In reality, we spent most of the time flying across the water at full throttle, hanging on to our hats while scanning the horizon. We didn’t see many whales, but we definitely saw a lot of ocean…very quickly.
Meals were simple but wonderful. The Shelter restaurant was delicious, and Tacofino, as always, hit the spot. Tofino isn’t the place for fancy dinners; it’s the place for cozy sweaters, salty hair, and simple food that tastes better because you’ve spent the day in the sea air. It’s also the kind of town where everyone wears gum boots…not that I own gum boots. I did, however, buy rain gear for a planned kayak trip, but once we saw the 15-knot winds, we wisely postponed.
The highlight of the week was wandering through the rainforest on a beautiful raised walkway, surrounded by towering trees, birdsong, and sunlight filtering through the canopy. I’ve been in a lot of forests, but nothing like this! There was such stillness in the air that it made you slow down and breathe a little deeper. It’s hard to put into words, but it felt like nature was giving us all a gentle reset.
Another highlight (and a much noisier one) was watching my daughter take a surfing lesson. She got absolutely pummeled by waves but just kept popping back up with a grin. It reminded me of my own surf lesson years ago that ended with me gracefully retiring from the sport forever. I’ve since discovered I’m much better at supporting surfers from the shore, preferably with a hot coffee in hand.
Evenings were blissfully simple with bonfires on the beach, early bedtimes, and the kind of deep sleep that only happens after a day of sea air and no schedule. We knit by the fire, sipped wine on the patio, and listened to the waves.
And because we’re us, we naturally found a bit of shopping to do. My daughter and I both fell for the same black maxi sweater skirt. It’s a perfect, packable find, and we decided to twin without shame.
It was one of those weeks that feeds your soul. There was no rush, minimal makeup, no alarms, just us, the ocean, and the luxury of slowing down.
Something about that mix of ocean, forest, and quiet seems to reset me every time. It makes me wonder where you go when you need that same kind of breathing room. And if you’ve ever wandered through Tofino yourself, tell me what stayed with you.
Oh that sounds wonderful, Jennifer. So good for the soul. I loved your description and felt like I could have been there too. Total joy and to share with loved ones is the best. Bless you and I hope you’ll go back many times!
Jennifer, this sounds like an absolutely wonderful place to spend a week! So happy you were able to decompress. And I look forward to seeing you style the black maxi skirt, since I have one that I’ve worn once and should wear more.
Have a great week!
I wore it once with a simple sweater and I’ll be wearing it again this week!
Tofino sounds heavenly!
Good Morning Jennifer. Beautiful and thanks for sharing. My good friend and I end up with some of the same clothes due to shopping together at the Nordstrom sale in July. I’m going to incorporate “twin without shame” in my vocabulary. Love it.
Tofino is a gem….love the sound of your getaway! Pure Bliss :-))
Would love to see that skirt and the brand…I could use a black knit skirt….
Glad you were able to relax in that beautiful setting.
Your trip sounds absolutely wonderful, Jennifer. We recently vacationed on the coast of Maine in a similar fashion. It was so quiet by the sea and we had no schedule except to get up and do whatever we pleased. Those kinds of resets are what we all need to keep going! So happy you could enjoy that too with your family. The holidays are upon us, so I’m happy you’re rested. Have a great day, friend!
Thanks Laura
On the other side of the country, a few days on Cape Cod, especially in the fall or winter, can achieve the same relaxing vibe.
Yes, marvellous! Tried Salt Spring Island or Victoria yet?
Both are favorites we’ve visited many times. So beautiful
What a wonderful place! Do beautiful!! Our happy place is our cottage on a beautiful lake in Michigan . We spend about 5 months there. Is isn’t always peaceful but it is perfect for us. Loved the pic of you and Kevin. You are lije Mutt and Jeff- just like my husband and me. Have a good week!!
Lol we do. He’s so tall
Being an east coast girl, I’ve never heard of Tofino, but it sure looks spectacular! So glad you enjoyed your down time; we all need that to refresh and recharge!
Great Pics!!!!!!!
Tofino sounds like heaven! I’d never heard of it before, probably because I’ve never been anywhere near there Pacific NW😢
This sounds like someplace I would love! My favorite place is a small beach island off the coast of North Carolina that can only be reached by ferry. No cars (other than necessary service vehicles) are allowed. Everyone travels by golf cart or bicycle. There are no hotels on the island. There are a couple of inns and only houses or condos otherwise. The outer areas are beach, the inner areas are forest or swamp. We go just before or after the high season so there are few others there when we are there. I’m sure it gets busier in the summer time , but still not at all like the tourist trap beaches not far away! It is a serene island with no frills, only a few restaurants and a few shops. It’s just magical!
It sounds fabulous!
Lovely post – putting aside the fashion bits, that first picture is just wonderful and you are truly blessed.
Have a lovely day!
I was in Torino in the early 2000’s and loved it as you described. Serene, calming and beautiful.
What flew back from Torino to Ontario with me? A huge yellow Labrador I found on the side of the road. The humane society said to fly him home with me, so I did.😊
What a great dog Harry was!
Love your styling help- xo
Oh wow! That is wonderful!!
You have such a way with words, I love reading your blog.
Our outer Cape cod is like that but much colder right now I think. How wonderful for you Jennifer! The perfect pre Holidays getaway.
Sounds like the perfect getaway! Would love to see a picture of the knit maxi skirts you and your daughter bought.
I’ll be sure to get some
This would be my perfect vacation! I have never heard of this place- thank you for sharing!
Simply lovely. So glad you got to rest and unwind with loved ones.