Botanical Beach
Botanical Beach is a beautiful hidden gem tucked away in Juan De Fuca Provincial Park. Botanical Beach offers one of the best opportunities to view intertidal marine creatures and plants on Vancouver Island. Purple, red and orange starfish and sea urchins, blue mussel shells, white gooseneck barnacles, green sea anemones and sea cucumbers. Killer Whales and Grey Whales have often been observed swimming past the beach or feeding just off of the point. The best time for seeing Grey Whales is during their migration from the Mexican coast to Alaska during March and April. Sea lions can be found here from late August through May. There are many great ocean vista view points to look down onto the beach as you travel the trail, which is perfect for storm watching in the winter months. The area is a protected zone, so please take nothing but photographs. (Juan De Fuca Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada)
