Discover the Magic of Fall
Take in the Fall colours of Cowichan Bay with a guided kayak tour
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s summer draws to a close across Vancouver Island, Cowichan, the “land warmed by the sun”, comes alive with the flavours and colours of the harvest season. The warm autumn sun falls on the orchards, filled with ready-to-pick apples. The vineyards burst with grapes ready to harvest and turn into new batches of award-winning wine. The earthy tones paint the Valley, trails and mountain peaks a calming golden hue. All across the region, the 800+ farms brim with deep colours of fruits and vegetables, ripe for the picking. Bring the Harvest Home Thanks to the surrounding mountains, a mild climate, and fertile soil, Cowichan has Canada’s longest growing season, and has become known for its produce, with fresh items that can only be grown in the region, and yes….radishes and beets the size of your hand. The Duncan Farmers’ Market is a favourite weekend pastime of residents and a great spot to pick up local food, wine and spirits, and baked goods from the over 250 small business vendors that come every Saturday to share their wares. It’s Canada’s only year-round outdoor market and fall is the best time to get your hands on all the produce the region has to offer. Head in any direction from the Duncan Farmers’ Market and you’ll find endless farm stands nestled off the main roads. With the rise in popularity of small-scale agriculture, these spots can get quite busy on the weekends, so if you’re looking to plan a trip, Cowichan Green Community has a map of all the farm stands and working farms you can visit during your stay. Want to Grab a Drink? Remember that rich soil we mentioned? Aside from providing great growing conditions for food, it also
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the region is the many familyowned restaurants that call Cowichan home. Here, you’ll find dedicated and passionate chefs who build seasonally inspired menus around local offerings. At Ma Maison in Chemainus, chef Lauren Cartmel serves baked goods and lighter, deli-style meals inspired by the region’s fresh ingredients, mixing flavours like peaches and corn to create one-of-a-kind dishes.
Fall into Harvest Season With These Local Favourites
provides great growing conditions for cider apples, wine grapes, and more that have fostered a thriving beverage scene, helmed by dedicated owners who are committed to the tenets of Cowichan: locally owned, locally grown, and locally made.
In fact, Cowichan wines are so unique, that the region was recently recognized as a new sub-geographical region of wine, the first time in B.C. that a region outside of the Okanagan was given such a distinction. In Fall, you can visit the wineries to see the harvest in action as acres of grapes are taken in to be “crushed” and turned into new batches. Stop by Blue Grouse Estate Winery and you may even catch winemaker Bailey Williamson crushing grapes the old fashioned way.
Cowichan is also home to three incredible craft breweries, featuring seasonal brews with unique flavours like cranberries and lemongrass, one brewpub, two top-tier cideries, and three distilleries. The apple orchards at Merridale Cidery and Valley Cider are favourite spots to spend an afternoon for lunch and a glass of local, seasonal cider, as the sun hits the plump red apples that hang from the acres of trees. Kid-friendly breweries? Yes, it’s a thing. Stop in at local favourite Riot Brewing in Chemainus and take in a game of Pinball as you enjoy a pint. Comfort Foods A natural extension of the abundance of local produce in
There’s so many incredible hikes in Cowichan where you can relax and enjoy the views, like this one in Stoney Hill Regional Park.
Head out to picturesque Genoa Bay to visit the Genoa Bay Café for their signature calamari, made with local Humboldt squid. Rare in B.C. waters, Humboldt squid call the warmer waters around Cowichan Bay home and have been a staple on the menu for years. In the colder weather, warm up with a cup of their famous seafood chowder, made from scratch in a simple, yet elegant style. It’s comfort food done in the best way! Take in the Fall Colours Experience the reds, yellows, and oranges of fall through Cowichan’s stunning scenery. In autumn, the valley lights up with deep shades that reflect the low fall sun and glow a golden hue. Cowichan is home to over 170 hiking and biking trails that cover 180 kilometres across five mountains. From even-terrain trails like the Chemainus Lake Loop trail or the Holland Creek Trail in Ladysmith, to the more steep - and very popular trail up to Mt Tzouhalem, offering breathtaking views of Cowichan Bay below. Be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife and the rare and protected Garry oak trees! Harvest season is a special time in Cowichan when the best of what makes the region so special is on full display. Just 45 minutes north of Victoria, you can find new favourite spots, locally owned, locally grown, and locally made. Submitted by Kadie Smith
