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City in British Columbia, Canada
Photo: Kevstan, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Port Alberni is a city of about 18,000 people (2011) in British Columbia. It is at the base of Mount Arrowsmith and is practically surrounded by mountains.
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Nuu Chah Nulth art and culture and Port Alberni's industrial roots from logging to fishing and farming. Unique folk art. The Alberni Valley Museum presents the cultural heritage of the community through its collections of artifacts and historic photographs.
Constructed from a coastal lighthouse, this is a unique maritime museum. With its companion Hutcheson Gallery this museum is dedicated to exhibiting and interpreting cultural, environmental and industrial maritime history.
You can board the train pulled by a completely restored 1929 Baldwin ex-logging locomotive at the 1912 CPR Station and ride out to the McLean Mill National Historic Site. The track winds through the City of Port Alberni and then the surrounding forests for 35 minutes each way.
The only commercial steam-operated sawmill in Canada. The sawmill cuts wood for demonstration and sale. Original buildings and lots of restored logging equipment around the site including a steam donkey, logging trucks, graders, and lumber carriers. Cafe and gift shop.
Watch salmon jumping and circling below Stamp Falls on their way to spawning beds from late August to December.
Prizes for largest Salmon caught. Salmon barbecues, beer garden, entertainment, karaoke contest.
Old cars and street legal drag racing.
Entertainment, arts and crafts, vendors, photography, logger sports, motocross, midway, agricultural and horse show.
Swimming and camping.
Offers windsurfing, kite surfing picnic area and kayaking
The Alberni Valley has two amazing shore dive spots near Port Alberni, both near the China Creek Campground and Marina. One is the China Creek Wall Dive and the other is the Ship Wreck (Chinese Immigrant Ship Wreck).
Kayaking in the Kennedy River (2 hr, mid-May to Sep, $57). Ride a thrilling series of ziplines through the canopy of an old growth rain forest then thread through the wild Kennedy River Canyon (mid-Mar to Oct, $106).
West Coast Edge offers half-day and full-day tours ($500 and $700 respectively) of the Nahmint Valley.
Is an 18-hole PGA course at the foot of the Beaufort Mountains.
This 9-hole is great for those new to the game.
For a magnificent view of the entire valley. About 4 km roundtrip.
A flat and scenic 25-km trail for hiking, cycling and horseback riding that follows an abandoned 1920s-era railway branch line at the foot of the Beaufort Range. It once linked a sawmill to Port Alberni’s waterfront. Access is via the equestrian trail at Mozart Road north of town.
This 7.5-km trail follows the east bank of the Stamp River, and is marked by stretches of moss-covered old-growth firs and cedars.
Great for beginning hikers, this 3-km riverside path is five minutes south of the Visitor Centre off the Port Alberni Highway (#4).
This is one of the most popular mountains on Vancouver Island to climb. Although it is a challenging hike, it is not technical – that is, you don’t need ropes and climbing gear. The mountain has a variety of routes for serious hikers, including the historic 1912 Canadian Pacific Railways trail, a challenging, eight-hour hike. Other routes are shorter and take you higher. The trailheads are reached by following a logging road. Be careful driving it.
They have the heaviest pizzas in town, plus selections from Mexican to East Indian. They also have delivery. Chicken, pizza, barbeque, burgers, seafood.
Fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced locally from the Alberni Valley. Farm fresh veggies, local meats and Pacific Rim seafood are all on the menu when the season allows for it. Healthy, low-fat, vegan and gluten-free options available.
It serves Australian food and is busiest at breakfast.
1950s-style drive-in restaurant. Super friendly fast service at your car window. Burgers, fries, onion rings and shakes.
It used to be a United Church, now it unites people through fried fish. 3 types of fish, fish and chips or fish burgers. Everything is gluten-free.
Fitness facility, steam bath, hot tub, heated pool, King Suite, Honeymoon Suite. On-site ports bar and grill, sauna and pool.
In the heart of Port Alberni. Boutique style inn. Covered, outdoor, salt water, heated pool and hot tub. Fitness facility, hotel dining room, pub, and private liquor store. Complimentary coffee/tea, outdoor parking, and high speed wireless internet access.
Quiet location, wireless Internet, air conditioning, kitchen suites, coin laundry, wheelchair access, BBQ facilities.
8 guestroom suites featuring either 1 or 2 deluxe queen beds adorned in plush goose-down duvets. Private en-suite bathrooms with Ultra-Spa jetted tubs.
Canadian Tire, Mark's Work Wearhouse, Home Hardware, The Brick, Aaron's Furniture, Dollar Tree, and Boston Pizza.
Walmart, No Frills (supermarket) and Staples.
A beautiful cedar gallery on the Pacific Rim highway heading out of Port Alberni towards Tofino (Hwy 4). Original Northwest Coast Art inside the gallery. In warmer months, you can come and see larger Wood projects being carved just outside the gallery, such as a totem pole.
Gift and speciality shop. High quality handcrafted items, pottery, paintings, glass, jewellery, leather bags, locally made soaps, clothing, and global Fair Trade items.
Has waterfront shops, galleries, and eateries.
By bus
By plane
An airport exists, about 20 minutes from the city. However, there is no regular year-round service, because it is not certified for instrument landings, and fog is so prevalent in the winter.
By boat
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Qualicum Beach · Regional · XQU
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