Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, BC

Hiking on the Pacific Rim Trail and fishing for salmon and halibut off the coast, Ucluelet has rustic campgrounds and small hotels, a smaller commercial fishing village type town, and an authentic relatively non-touristy feel even in summer.

Hornby Island, British Columbia

One of the northernmost Gulf Islands, Hornby Island has a rainforest, island trails, and sandy beaches along with an artistic rural community. It’s reachable by car ferry first from Buckley Bay on Vancouver Island to Denman Island, and then from Denman to Hornby. Summer and autumn especially are sublime.