Where to go from the inn
Wine country, the Gulf Islands, coal towns, castles, old-growth and the open coast, all within a day of Crofton and back for the night. Choose the kind of day you want.
How this guide works
How it's organized
- Road trips — Eight full-day driving loops, each with a map, numbered stops and a link to turn-by-turn directions.
- Towns & villages — Drive to one place, park, and spend the day on foot: Chemainus, Duncan, Cowichan Bay, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Shawnigan Lake and three Victoria days.
- Wine, Beer & cider — Tasting-room loops, who will drive, and every winery, brewery, cidery and distillery nearby.
- Golf and Hiking — Every course and trail in one place, graded and paired with lunch.
- On the water & more — Kayaking, cycling, fishing and crabbing, beaches and tide pools, tubing and skiing. Bring your own gear unless rentals are noted.
- In Crofton — Everything within a walk of the inn.
- Markets & seasons — What's open when, so a Saturday isn't wasted on a Tuesday market.
- Trip finder — The table below lists every trip with drive time and the best day to go.
Getting around
Everything here assumes a car. Most roads south of Nanaimo are two-lane and relaxed; Highway 1 over the Malahat to Victoria is the only stretch where traffic and weather matter. The Crofton–Vesuvius ferry is a five-minute walk from the inn and runs roughly every 90 minutes; reservations are not taken, so arrive 20–30 minutes early with a car on summer weekends.
Without a car: BC Transit Route 6 connects Crofton to Chemainus and Duncan on a limited daily schedule. Roads have wide shoulders for cycling.
Trip finder
Drive times are one-way from the inn in normal conditions. Shoulder-season hours (October to April) are shorter almost everywhere, so confirm before you set out.
| Trip | Style | Drive | Best for | Best days / season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crofton on foot | Walk | 0 | Seawalk, sunsets, pub, paddling | Any day |
| Chemainus | Destination | 10 min | Murals, theatre, beach, antiques | Thursday market Jun–Sep; theatre evenings |
| Duncan | Destination | 20 min | Totems, museum, market, galleries | Saturday (market 9–2, year-round) |
| Cowichan Bay | Destination | 25 min | Float homes, bakery, boats, ice cream | Any day; quiet mid-week |
| Ladysmith | Destination | 20 min | Heritage main street, harbour, Transfer Beach | Any day; Festival of Lights late Nov |
| Nanaimo | Destination | 45 min | Bastion, museum, harbourfront, Old City Quarter | Any day |
| Shawnigan Lake | Destination | 45 min | Lakeside village, museum, trestle, Malahat SkyWalk | Any day; summer for swimming |
| Victoria (3 variants) | Destination | 1 h 10 | Capital city, castles, gardens, tea | Full day each; book tea ahead |
| Wine & Cider Loop | Route | Loop | Tasting rooms, lunch at a winery | Thu–Sun; Jun–Oct fullest hours |
| South Valley Heritage Loop | Route | Loop | Butter Church, float homes, Kinsol Trestle | Any day; Sat for Duncan market |
| North Shore Loop | Route | Loop | Murals, coal towns, English pub, petroglyphs | Any day; low tide for Roberts Park |
| Salt Spring Island | Route (ferry) | 25-min crossing | Market, cheese, cider, stone church, coast | Saturday Apr–Oct for market |
| Cowichan River & Lake | Route | Loop | Forest railway, falls, swimming, tubing | Jun–Sep for water; fall colour Oct |
| Maple Bay & Genoa Bay | Route | Loop | Hikes, kayaking, waterfront pubs | Any day; spring wildflowers |
| West to Port Alberni | Route | 2 h each way | Goats on a roof, old-growth, steam mill | Leave by 8; long but worth it |
| Comox Valley & Mt Washington | Route | 1 h 45 each way | Skiing, alpine meadows, Cumberland | Dec–Apr ski; Jul–Sep alpine |