My favourite thing to do in B.C. is to hike the West Coast Trail. It's 75 kilometres of boardwalk, muddy root-strewn pathways, steep ladders, and swaying suspension bridges. The trail winds through a majestic rainforest, over swift-running rivers, and along the wild coast of Vancouver Island. As you put one boot in front of the other, a kind of walking meditation takes hold. The world and its worries seem further away each day. The forest is remote and peaceful. You can almost hear the trees growing and often come across evidence of bears and other wildlife. Camping on the beach at the end of each day is a particular treat—huddling round the camp fire at night, exchanging tales of the trail with fellow hikers and then being lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves. Despite the aching knees and blistered feet that result, the West Coast Trail is a place I will return to again and again. (collapse)