Much of this area’s appeal lies in its wilderness and dramatic coastline, offering excellent seasonal whale and bear watching, where you’re also likely to spot other wildlife and marine birdlife. Trips depart from Telegraph Cove to view whales in the Johnstone Strait and bears along the shores of Knight Inlet. Enhance your experience with a visit to the Whale Interpretive Centre in Telegraph Cove, where you can learn about the biology and threats facing these mammals, as well as marvel at various skeletons that give you a true sense of their enormous size. For those who love the outdoors, there are numerous hiking trails from Telegraph Cove, Port Hardy, and Port McNeill, along with plenty of opportunities for beachcombing for those seeking a more relaxed activity.

Each of the three towns has a community museum with extensive archives, displays, and rotating exhibitions that tell the fascinating story of the area, helping to keep its history alive.

Alert Bay, the oldest community on northern Vancouver Island, is located on Cormorant Island just off the coast. Once a thriving fishing hub, it is now dotted with colourful heritage buildings and boasts a bustling waterfront. This town is one of the few places where Indigenous peoples have preserved their traditions alongside the lifestyle of the trading pioneers who settled here. A short ferry ride from Port McNeill takes you to Alert Bay, where you can spend a day exploring the U’mista Cultural Centre—Canada’s longest-running First Nations museum—wandering amongst the totems, and soaking up the natural beauty of this remote and unique spot.