Travel Blog RecommendationsIf you're looking for the holiday of a lifetime, then look no further than Vancouver Island – a worthwhile stop on any itinerary, and quite possibly the best break you'll ever take... in more ways than one! Like many young international travellers, I got my first taste of Canada in British Columbia thanks to a working holiday visa, and headed out with the hoards to try and find a job on the Whistler-Blackcomb ski fields. I enjoyed my time there, don't get me wrong, but I found that I much preferred to spend my weekends back in Vancouver visiting friends that I had made before the ski season started. I was also hooked on hitch-hiking by this stage, and I could boast a proud acquaintance with almost every turn and curve in the road – as well as a considerable amount of time spent in Squamish! The best experience came along with the warmer weather, however, and I decided – on a whim – to take a trip over to Victoria and Vancouver Island before commencing the rest of my travels. Needless to say, it was the best decision I ever made! Before I knew it I was out braving the waves of Torfino and had found myself a job in a local surf shop for the summer. Talk about bliss! I was side-tracked there for three months longer than expected, and I loved every moment of it. It may be corny to admit, but I shed a tear to leave Torfino and head back to the mainland. From there, the next stop on the itinerary was passing through Seattle and visiting a friend in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, as my arrival had been postponed by several months, I wasn't able to stay with my friend and her family, but instead they generously put me up in a Los Angeles hotel. I didn't spend all the time in my hotel room though – many of my days were spent at Venice Beach and Santa Monica, soaking up the sun, and of course an obligatory visit or two to Hollywood Boulevard. From there, I went to San Diego and then spent two months travelling through Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. As a final destination, I stopped over in the UK on my way home again. There, meeting with an acquaintance, we decided to see what was hip and happening in England, and so spent a week checking out the clubs, pubs, and cafes of London and Brighton. But when it comes down to it, all the Californian cafes, Brighton bars, and even London hotels don't even come close to my time spent getting back to a more natural way of living on pristine Vancouver Island! Links:
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