Shoreline near Tofino on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

The return of the whales. Next stop, Tofino

Gray whales migrate between their feeding grounds and breeding grounds each year. The North Pacific population of gray whales wisely spend the winter at their breeding grounds in the warm waters off the Mexican coast. Then, by mid-March, as the whales return north, they pass by the west coast of Vancouver Island, near Tofino, en route to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea. Tofino, an outdoorsy retreat on Clayoquat Sound, provides a breathtaking backdrop for whale watchers this time of year. After the whales have passed through, the area continues to attract outdoor enthusiasts who are drawn to legendary surfing, hiking, and storm watching along the dramatic coastline.