Shoreline near Tofino on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

The return of the whales. Next stop, Tofino

Grey whales migrate between their feeding and breeding grounds each year. The North Pacific population of grey 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 British Columbia, en route to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea. Tofino, a popular tourist area on Vancouver Island, 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.