Nestled along the shores of the city's northwest coast, Museum at Campbell River (crmuseum.ca) chronicles the history of Northern Vancouver Island. The museum's permanent exhibits include the First Nation's art gallery, which explores the history and artifacts of the area's indigenous inhabitants, the facade of the Willows Hotel that dates back to the early 1900s and relics from pioneer settlements. The museum's outdoor exhibits consist of a 1930s cod-fishing boat, a 19th-century steam donkey machine and a garden with 80 species of native plants. Museum at Campbell River is open year-round. Parking is free, and discounted admission is offered for families of four.
Pier Street Historic Mile (pierstreet.com) is one of Campbell River's busiest districts because of its high concentration of attractions. Located along an expansive downtown waterfront, the area is home to architectural gems, Olster Park and the Discovery Cove Pier, which provide hours of fun for parent/child fishing combos for a fee. The district also hosts several outdoor festivals, such as the Pier Street Farmers' Market for foodies and craft lovers, which runs from May to September, the biannual Van Isle 360 yacht race, Canada Day celebrations in July and the Pier Streets Christmas Markets every Sunday in December.
Elks Fall Provincial Park (env.gov.bc.ca) is a massive green space near downtown Campbell River. Park highlights include a 3.7-mile hiking trail system, mountain biking trails, fishing and a private campsite on the banks of the Quinsam River and the 82-foot tall Elks Falls waterfall. Strathacona Provincial Park (env.gov.bc.ca) is approximately 40 minutes south of Campbell River. The park is home to Megin River, the largest undisturbed watershed on Vancouver Island, snow-capped mountains, Della Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Canada, and Butte Lake, a popular gathering place for swimmers and boaters during the summer. The park is also contains the ecofriendly Stathacona Park Lodge (strathcona.bc.ca), which offers zip lining, ocean canoeing and rustic lakefront cottages. Both parks are open year-round; campsites and parking are available for a fee.
Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure Tours (campbellriverwhalewatching.com) offers several narrated water excursions on modern, high-speed boats. The company's six-hour Whale Watching tour provides up-close views of killer whales and bald eagles, and the day-long Grizzly Tour allows passengers to observe grizzly bears in their natural habitat along the Orford River. Tours run seasonally and admission includes lunch or light snacks.E&B Helicopters (ebhelicoptors.com) allows passengers to customize private aerial tours. The chartered expeditions take place in Bell LongRanger helicopters; activities include everything from flying over the Coastal Range Mountains and the Pacific Ocean coastline to wildlife watching and walking on ice glaciers.
