Bed & Breakfast Travel on Vancouver Island

How about staying in a renovated church, in a windmill, on a houseboat, in an art studio, in a lighthouse, in a loft, or on an organic blueberry farm where guests can even join in and help with the farming harvest. On Vancouver Island Canada, travelers can even stay in a historic police station and jail! For anyone extra adventurous, how about vacationing on a horse ranch, also know as a “bed, breakfast and bale” where visitors are welcome to bring along their own horse.

B & Bs in Canada & the U.S.

There are thousands of B & Bs across Canada and the U.S. For example, Canada’s bed and breakfasts now number over 10,000. Travellers can choose oceanside, lakeside or riverside. B & Bs are located in a peaceful rainforest hideaway, or on a country acreage or in a cottage on the side of a mountain. They are situated right in town or on a residential suburban street. In British Columbia Canada, for example, B & B locations list from A to Z in towns from Abbotsford to Zebellos, Alert Bay to Yale. How about quiet country charm or bright city lights?

This unique form of accommodation is found all across Canada and the U.S. in major cities and remote rural areas, occupying everything from rustic cottages to lavish mansions, and in restored buildings from schools to train cabooses to churches.

Bed & Breakfast Hospitality

“The distinguishing feature of B & B accommodation is hospitality,” says Marybeth Moyer, author of the online Canadian Bed and Breakfast Guide. “While facilities are important, the host’s persona is paramount.”

The Ocean Front Bed and Breakfast in Campbell River on Vancouver Island offers a stunning view overlooking the Pacific ocean. Hostess Patty says that a Tibetan Buddhist monk visited her home and he spiritually blessed this B & B. A giant map on the kitchen advertises that at least 500 international visitors per year have also come to stay.

The individual guest rooms have been tastefully decorated in an eclectic mix of country patchwork décor. Patty lovingly points out the window to the tomatoes and herbs growing in her garden which she is able to serve fresh to her visitors. She excitedly also announces that a whale is passing by the front window.

The food is artfully presented and artistically surrounded by herbs and edible orange nasturtiums. Patty also shows off the colourful sweet peas growing on her balcony – and relates that these flowers are also edible. This hostess used to work as a cake decorator where she learned all about edible flowers, so no wonder the meals are artfully plated. This hostess knows how to make a visitor feel welcome!

Novelty, variety, hospitality, history and character are all qualities that make a Bed & Breakfast vacation a special treat.