Goldstream

A few words to describe Goldstream Provincial Park....big and beautiful.  While visiting the Victoria area, we set up camp at a park we had never been to before.  We had recommendations from lots of people, and they raved about it.  So...we booked one week.  And we were not disappointed!  This place was gorgeous, and ended up being one of the major highlights of the trip.  You'll see why in just a minute.  Now, the park itself sits on the Goldstream River...a famous one in BC and known for it's salmon run.  The Nature House was one of the best I have ever seen, and the park has loads of waterfalls.  I'm in!  By staying at this park, it also allowed us to hook up again with Hope and Colin at their home, and be treated to the best bbq ever!  Brent's cousin cooked up fresh crab (caught that same morning!) and Uncle Colin fired up the bbq with some amazing ribs!  Thanks everyone!  It was great to visit with Brent's cousins and let the kids have a play in Hope and Colin's awesome backyard. 

Now...back to Goldstream. 

Look waaaayyyyy up!  This  is an average size tree that you would find in the park.  Huge! 

And here we have the Goldstream River.  A mere 5 minute walk, and a few (ok...a lot) of stairs from our campsite.  Oh...and look what else we had.  Just behind me from where I took the above picture was a little swimming hole or oasis.  Whichever you prefer to call it.  I went with oasis!

This is Goldstream Falls.  Appropriately named, and it became our little swimming hole for the duration of our stay.  How awesome is that?  Yes....that is me in the pic below enjoying a "refreshing" dip in the splash pool.

We all had a turn enjoying this bonus area we knew nothing about when we booked this campground.  The kids found a wet log to slide off into a shallower part beside the main pool.

Even Bree and Jenna enjoyed there time here.  They had there own rocks to jump off and Brent took them one by one into the deeper pools for a little swim. 

Brent was also kind enough to take a video of Aidan and Maelle having a little fun jumping off the rocks.  Believe it or not, just before this video was shot, there were a few people jumping off top of the waterfall and into the splash pool below.  Crazy!

So I think you can see why these two were all smiles for this campground. We are so going back to this place!  Even though we all loved playing in the ocean, swimming in a fresh water waterfall just a short walk from our campsite, isn't something you get to do everyday!  Love you Goldstream Park!  And what a perfect place to be to end our stay on Vancouver Island.  Time to begin the trek back home.