![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ucluelet-bc-ferries.png\")
Courtesy: BC Ferries<\/p>\nExpedia\u2019s first-ever Destinations of the Year is out, and featured among some big players is a small town nestled on Vancouver Island.<\/p>\n
Ucluelet \u2013 or \u2018Ukee\u2019 as locals endearingly call it \u2013 sits on the traditional territories of the Yuu\u0142u\u0294i\u0142\u0294at\u1e25, northwest of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Thanks to its coastal setting, Ucluelet is a popular destination for vacationers looking to wind down in its quiet, comforting atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Courtesy: BC Ferries<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a small town with a big heart. Once a prominent fishing village, tourism is one of Ucluelet\u2019s main economic drivers. And according to Expedia\u2019s Destinations of the Year<\/a> list, not only did searches for Ucluelet increase by 44 per cent this year compared to 2024, the town is ready for a surge in visitors without risking its environmental and social ecosystems. It\u2019s also one of six cities that pass the Smart Travel Health Check \u2013 Expedia\u2019s original framework inspired by the World Travel & Tourism Council that evaluates a destination\u2019s ability to manage tourism responsibly and sustainably.<\/p>\n This week, Ucluelet partnered with Destination British Columbia<\/a> to launch \u2018The Infinite Coast<\/a>\u2019 \u2013 one of the biggest tourism brand launches in the province.\u00a0<\/p>\n As you plan out your itinerary for your visit to Ukee, here are some activities to get you started.<\/p>\n Hike the Wild Pacific Trail<\/p>\n The Wild Pacific Trail<\/a> is a public trail along the Ucluelet coast that offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and the rugged coastline. It is made up of three sections: Lighthouse Loop, Big Beach Section, and Brown\u2019s Beach to Ancient Cedars Section. The trail is family-friendly and open year-round.<\/p>\n Vancouver Island\u2019s coasts are known for their tidal pools. While Botanical Beach in Port Renfrew is the most well known, Ucluelet offers its fair share of tidal wonders. Check out Half Moon Bay, Florencia Bay, and Big Beach for a chance to see some starfish, anemones, crabs, and other marine life.<\/p>\n Ucluelet\u2019s sheltered bays offer more calm whale watching experiences than the open waters of the neighbouring Tofino. Watchers can expect to spot Humpbacks and the occasional Orcas. Every March, Ucluelet also takes part in the Pacific Rim Whale Festival<\/a> to celebrate the migration of the Pacific Gray whales.<\/p>\n There are plenty of local businesses that offer whale watching tours like Jamie\u2019s Whaling Station<\/a> and The Whale Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n People surf along Vancouver Island\u2019s west coast year-round, but winters tend to be for experienced surfers, while the conditions in the summer are more moderate. Before you hit the waves, make sure you are aware of the \u2018no-go\u2019 zones here<\/a> and stay up-to-date with the coastal conditions that day here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ukee takes on a completely different persona come winter. Storm watching is one of Ucluelet\u2019s top attractions in the winter, as massive Pacific Ocean waves crash against its rocky coastline. So, grab yourself a warm drink and cozy up for the wintery spectacle.<\/p>\n If you are looking for places to stay, here are some options.<\/p>\n Comprising four suites and four cabins, The Nami Project by Nancy and Ruben Dias offers a stunning getaway of Japanese and Scandinavian lifestyle and design. The property delivers serenity and elegance amidst the powerful sea.<\/p>\n This is a family- and pet-friendly property with direct access to the Wild Pacific Trail. With oceanfront cabins as well as those nestled in the woods, the property offers\u00a0 wide-ranging options suitable for singles, couples, and large families.<\/p>\n Formerly known as Ukee Peninsula Motel, the Ucluelet Wildwood Inn is a boutique lodge in the heart of Ucluelet that underwent a complete renovation earlier this year. Its 19 rooms offer sleek and modern designs with no-frills comfort and eco-friendly amenities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Expedia\u2019s first-ever Destinations of the Year is out, and featured among some big players is a small town…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":224250,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[903,45,49,48,67035,1674,900,107379],"class_list":["post-224249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-british-columbia","tag-business","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-explore","tag-tourism","tag-travel","tag-ucluelet"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=224249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224249\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/224250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=224249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=224249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=224249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}