Port McNeill waterfront and Broughton Strait

As well as being the centre of North Island logging operations, the town's sheltered harbour is also a launching point for sportsfishing enthusiasts who test their skills in the maze of waterways between Vancouver Island and the mainland.

Population: 2,623

Location: Port McNeill is located on the Northeast coast of Vancouver Island. The top half of 280-mile-long Vancouver Island is served by a maze of logging roads and Highway 19 (north Island Hwy), which links Campbell River with Port McNeill and Port Hardy, the southern terminus of BC Ferries' Inside Passage and Discovery Coast routes. Port Hardy is the closest commercial Airport providing flights to Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo and many coastal communities.

• At the region's geographic hub, tour operators offer a wide variety of excursions: canoeing, kayaking, diving, fishing, spelunking, cultural and wildlife viewing. Dense forest, tranquil lakes, spectacular views of Broughton Strait, and plenty of wildlife make this a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

• Terminus for the Tri-Island route, a BC Ferry connector service to Alert Bay situated on Cormorant Island, and Sointula on Malcolm Island - both worthy destinations for day-tripping foot passengers.

• See the two largest Burls in the World in Port McNeill. The first burl to be called the world's biggest burl was cut from the base of a 351-year-old Sitka Spruce tree in 1976. The burl weighs an estimated 22 tons and measures 45 feet in circumference. The new contender for the title was carved off a tall Sitka Spruce tree near Holberg on northern Vancouver Island in winter 2005. At 6 metres tall, 6 metres in diameter, and weighing an estimated 30 tons, the burl is located in a waterfront park next to downtown Port McNeill. Burls are naturally occurring abnormal formations that develop when extra cells grow on a tree. Small burls are used to make attractive table tops and clocks.

• Port McNeill Harbour and a 1938 Washington steam donkey. These engines powered a whole generation of logging, and fueled the economy of Vancouver Island

  The area around Port McNeill is a natural habitat for birds and sea life. Eagles soar high above, while sandpipers and herons dart along the ocean shore. Sea lions, porpoises, and whales may be seen in the offshore waters.

• Stop in at the Port McNeill and District Museum. This is a good place to delve into the area's history. Not far from Port McNeill, is the Discovery Centre, where displays and tours tell the tale of the area's mighty forest industry.

• Nimpkish Lake, the biggest and most beautiful watershed, is a hot place for serious windsurfers. Strong, reliable winds rise here on summer afternoons. Bring your wet suit and everything else you may need, as the nearest town is Port McNeill. Enjoy the views of the rugged mountainscape that surround the lake. Hwy 19 parallels the entire east side of the lake.

• Port McNeill is also an excellent base for day trips to nearby communities such as the Nimpkish Valley, Port Alice, Port Hardy, Zeballos and Telegraph Cove. Port McNeill...wilder than your dreams, closer than you think.

• Explore Broughton Archipelago Marine Park, a wilderness area consisting of a maze of several small islands, numerous islets and adjacent foreshore at the southern extremity of Queen Charlotte Strait, off the west coast of Gilford Island. The islands in the marine park are undeveloped and are largely undiscovered. Facilities are limited to a day-use recreation. The numerous remote, solitary islands incorporated in the park provide unlimited and unique fishing and swimming opportunities, and are fabulous for exploring by kayak.

• Cruise to Robson Bight, an ecological reserve - up to 200 Orcas arrive each summer to rub on gravel beaches at the mouth of the Tsitika River. Whale watching companies are also based in Alert Bay, Sointula, Sayward and Port Hardy.

• Golf: Golfers can head to the public, 9-hole, Par 35 Seven Hills Golf & Country Club in nearby Port Hardy, the northernmost golf course on Vancouver Island. Seven Hills offers the golfer meadering fairways and undulating greens, with scenic views of the North Island Mountains. Open year round. Golf Vacations on Vancouver Island.

• Skiing is available at Mt. Cain; a low-key, family-oriented ski hill with two t-bars servicing 18 runs. There are approximately 15 km of marked cross-country trails at the base of the mountain and terrain in the surrounding area is suitable for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing. Mt. Cain is about 1.5 hours from Port McNeill.

• Just north of Port McNeill beside Hwy 19 near the '375 km' marker is a panoramic lookout south along Broughton Strait past the Pultenay Point lighthouse towards Alert Bay, and east across Queen Charlotte Strait to the mainland. The North Island Route is one of Vancouver Island's most scenic drives, taking travellers through the pristine wilderness of this spectacularly beautiful, densely forested area.

• The Port McNeill Boat Harbour is open year round with both commercial and pleasure berthing available for all sizes of boats. It is centrally located so laundry, shopping, banking, liquor, pharmaceuticals, tackle, repairs, and doctors are all just a short walk away. As such, Port McNeill has become a major re-supply point for travelers up and down the coast of British Columbia.

• Charter a boat or seaplane and visit Echo Bay on Gilford Island, the largest of the islands in the Broughton Archipelago. Visitors to the area are welcomed to a scenic area and wide range of activities in and around Echo Bay and Echo Bay marine Park.

• Take a side trip to Little Hustan Cave Park and explore the Quatsino System, a network of caves that honeycomb Vancouver Island between here and the Strathcona Provincial Park - Gold River region.