The Beauty of Vancouver Island
February 26, 2010
Video Source: Teri Pety
Vancouver Island Celebrity/Movie Facts
- The Vancouver Island region is the former home of celebrities, Steve Nash (NBA – Phoenix Suns), Nelly Furtado (Singer/Songwriter), Pamela Anderson (Model/Actor), Cam Neely (NHL – Vancouver Canucks/Boston Bruins), and Diana Krall (Jazz Singer/Songwriter).
- Movies filmed in the Vancouver Island region include X-Men: The Last Stand & X2 (Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Ian Mckellen, and Patrick Stewart), X Files (David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson), The Scarlett Letter (Robert Duvall, Demi Moore, Gary Oldman), Seven Years in Tibet (Brad Pitt), and Little Women (Kirsten Dunst, Winona Ryder).
Vancouver Island Geography Facts
- Vancouver Island, with an area of 32,000sq km/19,884sq mi, is the largest island off the west coast of North America.
- At approximately 460km/286mi in length and 100km/62mi in breadth, Vancouver Island is comparable in size to the Netherlands and Taiwan.
- Strathcona Provincial Park’s Della Falls, located in Campbell River, is Canada’s highest waterfalls and one of the ten highest waterfalls in the world, at 440m/1,452ft.
- Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park is home to some of the world’s largest spruce trees, reaching heights in excess of 95m/310ft. Additionally, the park is home to ancient, knotted cedars estimated to be more than 1,000 years old.
Vancouver Island Climate Facts
The Vancouver Island region boasts the mildest climate in Canada. Summer is reliably warm and sunny, with frequent ocean breezes, while winter is relatively cool.
- Average maximum temperature (summer): mid-20C˚/70-80F˚
- Average maximum temperature (winter): 0C˚/32F˚
Vancouver Island Wildlife Facts
- Some 7,000 known species inhabit the coastal waters of the Vancouver Island region, including more than 200 species of migratory birds and 33 species of land mammals.
- Wildlife is the focus of many annual events in the region, such as the Pacific Rim Whale Festival in March, Oceanside’s Brant Festival in April, the Tofino Shorebird Festival in May, and the Eagle Extravaganza in Goldstream Provincial Park near Victoria.
- Hornby Island and Nootka Sound are two of the few places in the world where scuba divers can view primitive six-gill sharks, a common species of deep water shark.
Vancouver Island Transportation Facts
- Major airlines offer frequent, scheduled flights to Victoria International Airport, Comox Valley Airport, and Nanaimo Airport from Vancouver, Calgary, and Seattle.
- Vehicle and passenger ferry service is available from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) and Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Nanaimo, Victoria, and the Gulf Islands.
- From Victoria, VIA Rail operates the E & N Railiner, traveling daily along the east coast of the Island, to Duncan, Chemainus, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and Courtenay. Unlimited stopover privileges allow travelers to spend time exploring.
- Greyhound Canada offers passenger services from downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo.
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Escape the ordinary! Contact us to personally assist you in choosing just the right self-catered accommodation to meet your vacation rental or long-term rental accommodation needs.
Are you interested in a long retreat on Vancouver Island? Are you buying or building a home or just a change of location, weather or scenery? Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals offers long-term furnished homes and cottages in Campbell River and the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island and on adjacent Quadra Island.
We also provide home and property care and security checks for absent home owners outside of vacation rentals. Whether you are away on holiday for a week and need someone to pick up the mail and water the plants, or this is a seasonal home that sits empty for part of the year, we offer several options for your specific needs.
Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals: 1-888-785-3927 or contact via secure email…HERE!
Furnishing Tips for Your Vacation Rental Home
February 17, 2010
Many vacationers choose to rent vacation homes in lieu of hotels because they like to have the conveniences of home. They expect your second home to be as nice as or nicer than their primary home. When buying new furnishings for your vacation property, keep these tips in mind.
Buy items that are easy to clean. Sure, that suede couch may look nice now, but how nice will it look after being lived on by a year’s worth of renters?
Buy furniture that is of good quality, but not top-of-the-line. Keep in mind that you’re going to have to replace the furnishings in your vacation rental home more often than you would in your primary home. For that reason, it’s best to buy less expensive furnishings that still look nice.
Opt for comfort. Your guests go on vacation to relax. Make sure you have a place for them to kick back and read a book or watch TV. Futons and wicker furniture in your condo rental may be slightly cheaper than regular couches, but are notably less comfortable.
Reflect your property’s location in your decor. When booking a vacation home, renters like the furnishings in a property to reflect the destination (beach, mountain, city). This adds to the overall vacation experience. For example, if you own a cabin rental in the Great Smokey Mountains, a seashell motif would probably detract from the experience that most renters desire. Instead, take advantage of the area’s numerous antique and furniture shops to furnish your property with log beds, quilts, and woodsy colors.
Keep your furnishings consistent with your rental rates. If you market your property as “luxury” and charge rental rates on the higher end of the spectrum for your area, your renters will expect a certain level of luxury in your furnishings, linens, appliances, and entertainment options. However, if you market your cottage rental property towards families with children, there’s no need to put 1000 thread-count sheets on the bunk beds. Know your audience and keep them in mind when furnishing your property.
Sleep one night on every bed in your property. If the beds in your holiday rental are not good enough for you to sleep on, they’re not acceptable for your guests.
Give your guests storage space. If the bedrooms in your vacation home are short on closet space (or lacking closets entirely!), consider adding armoires to those rooms. Your guests will appreciate being able to put their belongings away so that your home feels more like their home.
Make sure your furniture is kid-friendly. Steer clear of glass coffee tables with sharp corners, as well as breakable trinkets and knick-knacks.
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Escape the ordinary! Contact us to personally assist you in choosing just the right self-catered accommodation to meet your vacation rental or long-term rental accommodation needs.
Are you interested in a long retreat on Vancouver Island? Are you buying or building a home or just a change of location, weather or scenery? Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals offers long-term furnished homes and cottages in Campbell River and the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island and on adjacent Quadra Island.
We also provide home and property care and security checks for absent home owners outside of vacation rentals. Whether you are away on holiday for a week and need someone to pick up the mail and water the plants, or this is a seasonal home that sits empty for part of the year, we offer several options for your specific needs.
Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals: 1-888-785-3927 or contact via secure email…HERE!
Who has a key to your home?
February 9, 2010
If you’ve recently (or not so recently) moved into a new home and didn’t change the locks, you could be setting yourself up for an unpleasant experience. It’s worth noting that people often give away spare keys to friends and family but don’t always bother to reclaim them when they move.
If you move into a house that’s had three owners and the locks have never been changed, imagine how many people might have keys to your home. It’s even a good idea to change the locks when moving into a new apartment. It’s not something landlords usually bother with, however, about 7% of tenants do not return their spare keys when moving out, increasing the possibility that a stranger has access to your house.
On average over 50% of home owners have given away spare keys to their home, typically to friends and family. Home security could be undermined by this tendency to give away spare sets of keys to their property. If you are unsure how many keys are in circulation for your home it raises major questions about your home security.
It’s also worth noting that almost 60% home new home owners did not change the locks when they last moved in to a new home. It only makes sense for any new home owners to consider changing their property’s locks to ensure that anyone still holding spare keys can’t get back into the property or can pass them onto someone who may want to break in.
Get Your Home or Residence Re-Keyed.
Re-keying is not an expensive procedure and it usually only takes a few minutes to change several locks. Re-keying a lock should not be confused with replacing a lock. You do not need to replace the locks in your home or business to lock out the previous key.
A locksmith simply removes your existing locks and disassembles the lock cylinder (the area that accepts the key) and discards all the old pins. New pins are installed that match the new key and at that time the lock cylinder is inspected, tested and lubricated to assure that the key will turn smoothly. After completing this procedure the lock is then reinstalled back on your door guaranteeing that the old key will no longer work.
Easypeazy…and invaluable piece of mind!
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Escape the ordinary! Contact us to personally assist you in choosing just the right self-catered accommodation to meet your vacation rental or long-term rental accommodation needs.
Are you interested in a long retreat on Vancouver Island? Are you buying or building a home or just a change of location, weather or scenery? Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals offers long-term furnished homes and cottages in Campbell River and the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island and on adjacent Quadra Island.
We also provide home and property care and security checks for absent home owners outside of vacation rentals. Whether you are away on holiday for a week and need someone to pick up the mail and water the plants, or this is a seasonal home that sits empty for part of the year, we offer several options for your specific needs.
Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals: 1-888-785-3927 or contact via secure email…HERE!
Vacation in Campbell River
February 3, 2010
You’ve come to the right place if you are looking for rental accommodations in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada! Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals has a wonderfully diverse selection of quality vacation rentals in Campbell River. From luxury oceanfront vacation homes to cozy cabins and cottages, we have the Campbell River, Vancouver Island lodgings to suit your needs.
Looking for a new destination to explore? Campbell River is easy to reach.
Campbell River is located on the North Central East coast of Vancouver Island right on beautiful Discovery Passage just opposite Quadra Island and within sight of the West coast of British Columbia. Campbell River is within easy reach of most British Columbia and U.S. urban centers.
Whether you are flying or driving, Campbell River is easily accessible.
Spend quality time with family and good friends.
Leave your busy life behind. Spend quality time with those that you care about and enjoy the many activities possible in Campbell River and surrounding area. Some of the outdoor activities include world-class mountain bike trails, hiking in Strathcona Park or on Mount Washington or boating and kayaking in the Discovery Islands. Or you may choose to just kick back, relax and enjoy the laid back Vancouver Island lifestyle; it’s your holiday and all the choices are yours. And if it is important to keep in touch with the outside world you can always bring your laptop along too.
Beautiful Quadra Island: Year Round Appeal
Vancouver Island has long been a destination of choice for people seeking to escape to a milder, evergreen winter. Come check out the beauty of Quadra Island! Our long stay and off season rates make our oceanfront vacation homes even more attractive during the mid and low seasons. Or if you are thinking of retiring on BC’s west coast you may want to come experience fall, winter or spring in one of our Quadra Island vacation rentals. Long term rentals are available for you if you are temporarily working in Campbell River. Whether you are coming for a short BC getaway or for a longer visit, you can count on Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals to help you easily arrange your BC accommodation.
Choose Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals!
When you are planning a trip to someplace new, wouldn’t it be great if you knew someone who was familiar with the area? Someone who can answer all your questions and help you find the perfect Campbell River accommodation for your needs? That’s us! With 30 years between us of living in this beautiful area of Vancouver Island, we’re brimming with local knowledge about Campbell River, nearby Quadra Island, Cortes Island and the surrounding area.
Choose Campbell River: So Much to See and Do!
- Aboriginal journeys
- Art studio tours
- Boat excursions
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Photography tours
- Salmon fishing
- Sea kayaking
- Wildlife charters
- Zodiac boat tours
Use your Campbell River accommodation as a base to explore Campbell River, Quadra Island and Cortes Island. Investigate Campbell River’s rich tidal waters by sea kayaking, boating or canoeing. Keep your eyes open for wildlife such as Bald Eagles, deer, sea otters, seals and passing whales and dolphins. Visit artists’ studios, shops and galleries for fine pottery, paintings, woodcarvings and sculpture. If you are interested in photography you honestly can’t find a more diverse location than Campbell River with its breathtaking ocean scenery, lush green rainforests, delicate wildflowers and abundant birds, marine and wildlife. Let Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals help you arrange your Vancouver Island, BC accommodations!
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Escape the ordinary! Contact us to personally assist you in choosing just the right self-catered accommodation to meet your vacation rental or long-term rental accommodation needs.
Are you interested in a long retreat on Vancouver Island? Are you buying or building a home or just a change of location, weather or scenery? Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals offers long-term furnished homes and cottages in Campbell River and the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island and on adjacent Quadra Island.
We also provide home and property care and security checks for absent home owners outside of vacation rentals. Whether you are away on holiday for a week and need someone to pick up the mail and water the plants, or this is a seasonal home that sits empty for part of the year, we offer several options for your specific needs.
Vancouver Island Vacation Rentals: 1-888-785-3927 or contact via secure email…HERE!
