Vancouver Island: An island getaway perfect for storm watchers

There's a place where the search for wet, windy winter is a dream come true. The Vancouver Island has done an impressive job to turn the otherwise gloomy, cold months of winter into a travel wonderland with a little help from the storm watching activities at the resorts of the island. Accomodation rates at the island town hotels remain overwhelming all throughout the winter, offering an inviting and cozy haven from crashing big waves and heavy rains when you wander with the wind-whipped beach.

While the storm may leave you wanting to be safe and warm, on Vancouver Island the shoreline is surely at its moody peak in the months of fall and winter. But locals and of course, tourists don't need to falter, the island offers a lot of rental places and hotels that keep their visitors wanting to get soaked with rain water.

The Wickaninnish Inn is set within a UNESCO biosphere reserve that has been occupied by the First Nations a very long time ago. The locals call the first resort Wick in the mid- 90's. They've created the idea of the Storm Watcher's package. The rooms of the inn are simply decorated with natural elements. And if you are a storm watcher, you can always borrow a pair of Hunter Wellies and raincoat to conquer the heavy rains and winds while watching the waves collide.

Another place that travelers and storm watchers crave is the Pacific Sands Beach Resort. This is a surf-in/surf-out Tofino resort. It is located on a 4- acre crescent-shaped Cox Bay and a thousand feet of beach. The resort's new Surf Shack also provides rentals and on site surfing lessons with Surf Sister Surf School. "The Surf Shack is a great addition to Pacific Sands Beach Resort," said the Surf Sister owner Krissy Montgomery. She added, "With direct beach access to Cox Bay and lessons for surfers of all skill levels, the Surf Shack will have guests riding like naturals in no time."

A site held and operated by the Ucluelet First Nation is the Wya Point Resort. This resort is tucked into an old-growth forest that was once an ancient village site. It may have the word "resort" in its name, but a stay at Wya is less about hanging out with other guests over a drink at the bar or restaurant. You can also enroll in a stand-up paddle board class with one of the young First Nations locals who take care of the on site surf shop or hike the nearby Pacific Rim National Park with a naturalist.

From its perch on the black rocks above the Pacific Ocean, the Blackrock Oceanfront Resort offers unparalleled views when the big waves come crashing in due to the storm. Although the resort does not have a beach, the property is set on the Wild Pacific Trail, which is a five-mile rain forest trail at the border of the ocean. You can also borrow rain gears and a trail map from the caretaker of the resort before you take a hike.

While the island is known for its storm watching activities, the town is also having surfing competitions starting from October. The month of October is the officially declared Surf Month in Tofino, complete with a number of events and special offers.