It may come as no surprise to its inhabitants, but Vancouver Island has been named Canada’s best island by a New York-based travel magazine for the second year in a row.
Travel + Leisure Magazine released its annual “World’s Best Awards” this week, providing rankings for categories like “The 15 Best Cities in the World” and “The World’s Best Tour Operators.”
“The Best Islands in Canada” was a fairly short list, with just Cape Breton Island, Prince Edward Island and Vancouver Island making the cut.
Reviewers credited the region for being “equal parts romantic and wild” and praised its unique geography for taking top ranking.
“As one reader says, ‘from wilderness to the culture of Victoria, the island offers a wide range of activities in a small locale.’ Visitors have the opportunity to see Vancouver Island from many perspectives: approach by seaplane, summit craggy mountains blanketed in dense forests, or take an epic whale watch,” wrote reviewer Ellie Storck.
“For those undeterred by the possibility of storms or persistent fog, Vancouver Island is an incredible rewarding – and deeply Canadian – destination.”
The awards also named Victoria's Magnolia Hotel and Spa the number seven spot on the list of "Best City Hotels in Canada."
The 64-room boutique hotel was the only Vancouver Island property mentioned in the category.
The magazine also named Victoria Canada's third-best city and gave nods to the Westin Bear Mountain resort and Tofino's Wickanninish Inn as some of the best resort hotels in the country.
It’s not the first time international accolades have been bestowed on island destinations.
Conde Nast magazines named Victoria the third-friendliest city in the world in a 2014 reader’s choice survey.
Munro’s, a bookstore on Victoria’s Government street, was named one of the world’s best bookstores by National Geographic earlier this year.
Time Inc.-owned Travel + Leisure has released its “World’s Best Awards” every year since 1995.
