Tides, Trees, and Family
Home is bigger than one country. From forest trails to ocean tides, this little island has shaped who we are. We're so happy that the person Adrian chose to share his life with will also get to discover the landscapes, communities, and stories that have woven themselves into our lives.
Welcome Back to The Juniper House
A cozy island retreat where the coffee is strong, the forest is close, and family is always welcome.
This time, stay longer!
Tucked between the mountains and the sea in Campbell River, British Columbia
About this stay:Nestled among towering trees and ocean air, this lovingly lived-in island home offers the perfect combination of comfort, adventure, and homemade hospitality.
Cozy guest room with forest views
🚿Private bathroom with full shower
🚽Bonus guest washroom
🔥Gas fireplace for rainy island evenings
📺Two TVs for relaxing after a day of exploring
🧺Full laundry access
Viking-style kitchen with a Vancouver Island-sized eat-at island
☕Coffee, tea, and all the essentials: kettle, toaster, microwave, toaster oven, air fryer, fridge, and oven
🥐Breakfast and lunch included (because adventures require fuel!). See below for dinner options…
🌱Fresh produce from the garden and fruit trees (when in season)
Fresh lavender, rosemary, and catnip from the garden
🍎Fruit trees and backyard harvests
🐾A furry backyard beast (aka the landlord)
Access to your own music studio and resident sound engineer
🧱An extraordinary LEGO and comic book collection
⚽Foosball table
Morning yoga in the sunroom
🚗Ride in style in a Mini Cooper
🌊Local guides (a.k.a. your resident island experts) available for adventure planning
Neighbourhood Perks
Enjoy complimentary forest access, with occasional appearances by the local black bear community.
From gentle strolls to “maybe I should have brought a helmet” trail rides at Beaver Lodge, adventure begins minutes from your door.
Beach walks, a water park, groceries, baked goods, and frisbee golf are all within wandering distance.
Local Legends and Island Characters
Visit the home base of Martin — aka “The Swiss Missile” — a carpenter with legendary speed, precision, and the ability to transform a pile of lumber into a beautiful home before you’ve finished your coffee. Meet Kate, the girls, and the crew behind one of the island’s most welcoming households.
Step into Deena’s creative world, where art, nature, and handmade magic collide. Browse beautiful creations, talk all things craft, and perhaps pick up some black bear butter for the deer-skin drum you just made (because that’s a completely normal Vancouver Island sentence).
Ready to explore the mysteries of the universe? Visit Deb for a Soul Contract reading and discover what your cosmic paperwork has to say about your island journey.
Need lumber? Advice? A lively conversation about world events? Stop by Windsor Plywood, where you can leave with both building supplies and a few fascinating theories on Putin to ponder.
Need hardware, camping gear, local updates, or the latest community scoop? Kim has you covered.
By profession, a realtor. By passion, an unofficial steward of every logging road in the Campbell River–Black Creek wilderness. Accept an invitation for a side-by-side tour and prepare for a guided expedition through forests he doesn't own, but maintains anyway.
Some Good Grub
🍽️
Public Dining Establishments
Coffee on the beach. The ocean provides the ambience.
Heroic portions of meat and potatoes served in a massive log house. Lumberjack chic at its finest.
Great food, marina-side views, and enough boats to make you briefly consider buying one.
From sushi to Eggs Benedict, everything arrives courtesy of a robot server. Yep.
Eat beside the highway at the exact latitude that gives the restaurant its name. Geography has never tasted so good.
Still on our to-do list, but Pat & Tess across the street said it's great.
🏡
Private Dining Establishments
… Because anyone can find a restaurant. The true island dining experience begins when somebody says, "You should come over for dinner."
The Ladies' Potluck Society
Held monthly at a rotating collection of homes including Sabrina's, Kim's, Deena's, Deb's, Sue's, Jocelyn's, and Kate's. Expect extraordinary food, excellent beverages, heartfelt conversations, and occasional outbreaks of colouring, gymnastics, and general chaos when Kate's girls are in attendance.
The Gathering of the Menfolk
Convening monthly at the homes of Steve, Martin, Tall Steve, and maybe Kier eventually. Activities may include eating, drinking beer, discussing important matters, and burning things in a backyard for reasons that are never entirely clear.
Beyond Campbell River
The island is much bigger than it looks on a map. Every town has its own personality, its own stories, and at least one unforgettable character. Consider this your unofficial guide to the places worth wandering into.
🇫🇮
Malcolm Island
Population:
Small
Character:
Fiercely independent
A tiny island off Port McNeill settled largely by Finnish immigrants in the early 1900s. Sointula ("place of harmony") was founded as a utopian cooperative community, making Malcolm Island one of the most unusual chapters in Canadian history. Today, it's a place of artists, fishermen, quiet roads, and spectacular ocean views.
Recommended activity:
Pretend you're moving there.
🐻
Sayward
Population:
Bears, plus some humans
At one point, we nearly bought a huge house on a huge piece of land here without ever seeing it in person. Thankfully, a fact-finding mission revealed that Sayward is approximately 97% wilderness, 2% bears, and 1% people. Accessible by a one-lane bridge and possessing a very relaxed attitude toward conveniences.
Recommended activity:
Visit. Then appreciate having grocery stores.
📬
Gold River
Character:
End of the road
Located on the rugged west side of the island, Gold River feels like the beginning of an expedition. From here, boats head into Nootka Sound carrying passengers, supplies, and mail to communities that remain accessible only by water.
Recommended activity:
Start imagining what life would be like if Amazon Prime didn't exist.
🌊
Elk Falls
Character:
Campbell River's crown jewel
One of the most beautiful places near town. Just 15min from your door. Massive waterfalls, old-growth forest, suspension bridge views, winding trails, and countless picnic spots make this a mandatory stop.
Recommended activity:
Pack lunch. Pretend you're in a fantasy novel.
⛴️
Quadra Island
Travel time:
About 10 minutes by ferry
A short ferry ride away and somehow a completely different world. Dense forests, winding roads, quiet beaches, and enough tranquility to lower your blood pressure. The Chinese Mountains offer a rewarding hike... with the wolves who roam the island.
Recommended activity:
Slow down.
🏃
Oyster River
Character:
Nature's playground
An excellent destination for hiking, running, biking, swimming, and exploring the famous Oyster River potholes. One of those places where "just a quick walk" accidentally turns into three hours.
🐔
Black Creek
Character:
Rural perfection
Visit our dear friend Sue and experience the good life. Once upon a time she and her husband lived deep in the woods with chickens and a healthy appreciation for self-sufficiency. These days Sue lives on a beautiful acreage, her own nature preserve.
Recommended activity:
Stay for tea, home-baked goodies, and really great stories.
🛟
Courtenay
Character:
Small city, big fun
Float down the Puntledge River on a hot summer day, revisit the legendary Gladstone Pub, get a good licking from Chica (the cutest burrito-shaped pup), and catch up with Jocelyn and her cats who are fed like Italian children.
Recommended activity:
Tubing. Always tubing.
🎨
Comox
Character:
Creative headquarters
Visit Steve's cousins, build LEGO masterpieces with Lali, design video games with Isla, or create artwork with Sarah. A highly recommended stop for curious minds and creative souls.
🚲
Cumberland
Character:
Where mountain bikes and hippies thrive together
Former coal mining town turned outdoor-adventure paradise. Full of trails, live music, quirky shops, coffee, art, and people who own more bicycles than most families own chairs.
Recommended activity:
Explore until your legs hurt.
🎨
Royston
Character:
Unexpected surprises
Meet Kier (aka Kier-of-Jocelyn). Surprise! He's one of Toronto's original graffiti artists and proof that fascinating people have a way of washing up on Vancouver Island.
🎭
Nanaimo
Character:
Bigger than a dessert square
Catch up with Mel and Staz, Sarah's cousins, whose performing careers have taken them onto cruise ships and around the world. Also home to ferries, harbour views, and the occasional Nanaimo Bar.
🌹
Victoria
Character:
Where Adrian’s island story began
From exploring the city to crossing a marathon finish line. A beautiful place to return to, slow down, and return to enjoy our first piece of the island’s story.
Recommended activity:
Walk until your phone runs out of storage, and take a pause with the In-laws.