LOCATION

The Alberni Valley is located in the middle of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It is a truly remarkable place to live because it allows for small town living in close proximity to nature, while at the same time being a relatively short distance to some of the luxuries of life that larger cities enjoy. To begin, the Village of Tofino and World Famous Long Beach are only a one hour and forty-five minute drive away to the west. A one hour and thirty minute drive to the north-east brings you to the International Airport in Comox, while a one hour drive to the south-east is Nanaimo, which is both a mojor shopping center and hub linking Vancouver Island to British Columbia's largest city, Vancouver. Finally, British Columbia's picturesque, coastal capital city of Victoria is a two hour and forty-five minutes drive to the south.

At the very heart of the Alberni Valley is Port Alberni, a small inland city that is connected to the Pacific Ocean through world renowned Barkley Sound by the 40 kilometre long Alberni Inlet. The city is a sheltered, deep sea port. The Alberni Valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, including the most prominent Mount Arrowsmith. The city itself owes its unique layout to its historical "twin city" status, as well as the numerous creeks and ravines that bisect the town site. The rural areas in the Alberni Valley include Cherry Creek and Beaver Creek to the north, and the beautiful Sproat Lake to the west.

AWhile certainly not geographically located in the Alberni Valley, the idyllic Village of Bamfield is like a little brother to Port Alberni. The village is generally accessed through the Alberni Valley by way of the unpaved Bamfield Road or the Alberni Inlet. Either trip will take you around one hour and thirty-five minutes. Bamfield, which has been called "the Venice of the Pacific" lies on either side of the Bamfield Inlet, which joins to Barkley Sound. The inlet splits the village into East Bamfield and West Bamfield. From Bamfield you can enjoy a peaceful walk on one of Vancouver Island best kept secrets, Brady's Beach, or take a boat ride out to the Broken Island Group for some marine life watching.