Chemainus Points Of Interest
The Best Location for Ladysmith, Crofton and Duncan Hotels in BC
The BEST WESTERN PLUS Chemainus Inn is perfectly situated on Vancouver Island, centrally located to Duncan, Victoria, and Nanaimo enabling you to explore the entire southern half of the island in a day. With a wide variety of recreational activities nearby, Chemainus is a great venue for smaller corporate retreats.
It is a region renowned for its artists. Painters, potters, glass blowers, jewelers, carvers, weavers, soap makers from magical places like Salt Spring Island. Hand crafted goat’s cheese, organic produce, herbs-basil, tarragon, and lavender- the smells, the tastes. Poke about the hundreds of shops on the islands or go right to the artist’s studio to fill your baskets. The flower lined streets of Chemainus have some of the best little shops on Vancouver Island. Visit the Gallery at Chemainus Theatre where over 100 B.C. artists are featured. If you are looking for antiques, best to start right here in town. You may find you have time (and money) left over for a double scoop of mocha chocolate surprise.
Need a little exercise? Twenty-three Vancouver Island golf courses are within one hour of Chemainus. A beautiful course that’s an easy seven iron (ok, maybe a five) awaits your visit from the front door of the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chemainus Inn. Oh, and you can golf year-round. How about a hike? Enjoy mountain meadows, boardwalk trails through old-growth forests, secluded beaches, or a local path, including our world-famous mural tour. Whatever your preference, there are endless trails to explore. And be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for some of the more than 380 species of feather friends that love the region too.
Did someone ask for water? Chemainus is the place to fish, saltwater or fresh where our fish are always biting. Power or sail, canoe or kayak, this is a boater’s paradise. The endless sheltered bays and lagoons and miles of open water will lead you to as much adventure or peace and quiet as you can handle. Do watch for our resident pod of orcas breaching in the waters off the Saanich Peninsula to the south of us. In the spring 20,000 pacific gray whales grace our west coast on their way to Alaska.
Of all the treasures on Vancouver Island, none shines brighter than the Chemainus Theatre Festival. Each year we present five professionally-mounted main stage productions, a series for children, and theatre in-the-park. Come for dinner or lunch in the “playbill” dining room. Then, sit back in our intimate theatre and let us entertain you. Some of BC’s and Canada’s most accomplished actors, directors and designers come together at the festival to create astounding live theatre.
