Sip, cycle and taste your way through the Cowichan Valley
July 16, 2009
The Cowichan Valley is located in the southern part of Vancouver Island between the cities of Victoria and Nanaimo. It encompases the area bordered on the west by the rugged Pacific Coast shoreline through the rich agricultural valleys of Cowichan and Chemainus and ending at the ocean on the east side of Vancouver Island.
The Cowichan Valley is home to about a dozen wineries and many businesses that subscribe to the Slow Food Movement. The Valley is bisected by the Trans Canada Highway but on either side are relatively quiet roads which are perfect for exploration on a bike. In addition part of the Trans Canada Trail exists here as the Cowichan Valley Trail. Only bikers and hikers are allowed on it as it takes you from south of Shawinigan Lake through to Lake Cowichan over approximately 40 kilometres. (There is a little hikey/bikey section in here where you need to walk your bike over VERY uneven terrain for over a kilometre to get to the other side of the Kinsol Trestle)
There are numerous B&B’s, including Fairburn Farm and a few five star inns that make a perfect home base for a couple of days. Fairburn Farm in particular is a great destination in itself if you want to take a few cooking classes, head out for a day of wine tasting and eat your way through the great food available in the town of Cowichan Bay.
So start planning a short getaway or expand your bike trip to include the Gulf Islands. Look for the Cowichan Bay biking guide in August.
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