There’s something quietly poetic about watching three generations of your family – sun on their faces, sea breeze in their hair – reeling in salmon on the shimmering waters off Vancouver Island. Our trip to Campbell River wasn’t just a vacation. It was a celebration, a rite of passage, and, at times, a comedy of tangled lines and triumphant shouts.
To mark my Mom’s 75th birthday, we headed north to the “Salmon Capital of the World” for a multi-generational fishing adventure with Coastal Wilderness Adventures. The verdict? We’d follow our guide Joel into the ocean mist any day. Warm, patient, and effortlessly expert, Joel knew the tides like they were old friends. His intuition – and possibly some ancient sea magic – led us to the perfect fishing spot where we landed 7 feisty Coho and 2 gleaming Chinook. Mom reeled in the biggest Chinook, earning her lifelong bragging rights and an upgraded title: Queen of the Sea.
As we boarded the boat that morning, I told Joel I had one special request: I wanted to see orcas. He chuckled at my audacity – after all, whales don’t perform on command. Honestly, my request was kind of tongue in cheek because Mike and I used to work on a dive boat in the Bahamas, where all summer we’d take our passengers to snorkel with wild dolphins on the Little Bahama Bank and the guests would invariably ask what time the dolphins were coming! But this was my lucky day, and just before we turned toward the marina, as if summoned by the joy already radiating from our crew, a pod of orcas glided past the boat. Sleek dorsal fins slicing through the water, mist from their breath catching the late afternoon light – it was a scene that stopped time. Even Joel looked amazed. We fell silent, humbled and awestruck, each of us knowing we’d just been gifted something unforgettable.
The boat was just big enough for our group of 5 (plus Joel) – with room to reel, laugh, and lounge. When we weren’t reeling, we were soaking in the wild, rugged beauty of the coastline. Bald eagles soared overhead. Seals bobbed alongside the hull like curious spectators.
After our salty triumphs, High Tide Seafoods handled our catch with the same care we’d give a newborn. They processed and froze everything overnight, ready for our ferry ride home. Smooth, simple, and stress-free.
We bunked at the chic Naturally Pacific Resort – a new hotel where modern meets nature in all the right ways. Sleek rooms, a lovely outdoor seating area with individual fire tables, and a calm, restorative vibe made it hard to leave. But leave we did, in search of celebratory bites at Fifty Parallel Tap and Grill. Picture craft beer, local seafood, and one of the best burgers I’ve had this side of the Strait. It was the kind of meal you toast with a cold pint and a satisfied sigh.
This trip was more than just an adventure – it was a homecoming. My sister Jen and I were both born on Vancouver Island, and every time we return, it feels like slipping into a well-worn sweater: familiar, comforting, and just right. There’s something about the salt air and tall evergreens that grounds us. My daughter and I spend a lot of time in nearby Comox visiting Mike, who also joined us for this trip, so these waters and forests are woven into the fabric of our family story. Sharing this experience with people we love, in a place that already feels like home, made the whole weekend even more meaningful.
Campbell River served us the full experience: wild nature, heart-swelling family moments, and enough salmon to last through winter dinners. If you’re looking for a meaningful escape that’ll make everyone – kids to grandparents – feel like adventurers, this is it.