Christmas on the Edge

Once upon a time...

A tiny fir tree stood in a metal bucket.  Rocks in the bucket kept the tree upright, and its scraggly branches welcomed decorations made of sea shells and drift wood.  A garland made of strung popcorn filled in the empty spaces and a starfish was tied with twine to the top of the tree.  It was the first time I had made all the tree ornaments from natures prettiest things, and the first time I put up a tree inside of a 5^th wheel camper.  What else is one to do when it is Christmas time and you are on a camping holiday in Ucluelet?

Your Holiday, Your Way...

Christmas on the west coast come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.  You can stay in a luxury resort and spend your Christmas holidays getting seaweed scrubs and therapeutic massages at the spa.  You can watch the winter storms of the season from your comfy B&B in front of the fire with the smells of holiday baking wafting up the stairs.  Or you can spend it how we did that year, camping beneath giant trees and spending our days hiking to Half Moon Bay and surfing at Florencia Bay.

The cafes are all decked out for the holidays.  Even the art on the walls and the locally carved aboriginal sculptures are hiding behind garland, ribbons, and bows.  The tempting smells of pancakes and bacon are still in the room from a late morning's breakfast and the coffee brewing keeps will keep me there well into the afternoon.

Outside the December air is cool and thick.  It feels like it coats my lungs when you breathe it in.  The greens of cedar swags and dewy salal leaves are as vibrant, they look electric.  The Wild Pacific Trail falls to shadow in the afternoon, although the days are getting longer now after winter solstice it's difficult to notice much change.  Still, I will always find time to hike out to my favourite viewpoint along the Artists Loops section and watch the lazy winter sun set behind the jagged black rocks and into the Pacific Ocean.

The town looks like an oceanfront Christmas card.  The lights are strung out along rooftops and window trims.  A big inflatable Santa waves a 'Happy Holidays' at everyone as they drive down Peninsula Road, the main drag of town.   Store owners have had their decorated Christmas trees up for weeks and last minute shoppers always stop to look at the lights and their creative decorations.  Even the yachts in the boat basin have lights strung up their masts, decorating the water with true west coast holiday spirit!

We hope you sincerely enjoy your 'Christmas on the Edge' in Ucluelet, on the west coast of Vancouver Island.  Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for deciding to spend it with us!

By Amy Hancock