Up until the 1930s, Refuge Cove was one of the most remote places on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Tucked into Clayoquot Sound, it sheltered boats from Pacific storms and its hot springs provided welcome relief for anyone waiting for bad weather to pass. In spite of its natural wonders, the cove was undeveloped and transiently populated. But everything changed in 1933, when supply boat operator Ivan Clarke saw a business opportunity. At the age of thirty, Clarke pre-empted land in Refuge Cove and started a general store/trading post out of a large canvas tent. In only its first morning of business, the store sold almost half its merchandise—250 dollars’ worth—to weather-bound fishermen and to a small group of Hesquiaht First Nation families. Clarke was quickly able to expand his operation and started a fish-buying camp, a marine fuel business and a post office. When enough of his eight children became school age, he repurposed a former floating bunkhouse into a one-room schoolhouse. By 1950, over sixty people lived in Refuge Cove, by then renamed Hot Springs Cove, and it was a popular destination for tourists. Clarke originally had plans to develop the hot springs into a health resort, but in the end decided to donate part of his land to the people of British Columbia. Thirty-one acres of land beside the hot springs became Maquinna Provincial Park in 1955. Today, the park and the hot springs draw tens of thousands of people each year, making them one of the top tourist attractions out of Tofino. Meticulously researched and complete with historical photos and ephemera, The Hot Springs Cove Story is the story of Ivan Clarke and his family’s lives, the story of a community and the story of a geographical wonder.

Built in 1913, the Canadian Pacific Railway's ship Princess Maquinna steamed up and down the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island in summer and winter, calm weather and storms, for over forty years, and has become one of the most beloved boats in BC’s maritime history. Princess Maquinna, sometimes referred to as the “Ugly Princess” but most often “Old Faithful,” transported Indigenous people, settlers, missionaries, loggers, cannery workers, prospectors and travellers of all kinds up and down Vancouver Island’s rugged and dangerous west coast, stopping at up to forty ports of call on her seven-day run. The Princess Maquinna faithfully served as the lifeline for all those who lived on the west coast of Vancouver Island before it became accessible by roads. Because of this strong connection she became the “Best Loved Boat” in BC’s maritime history. Kennedy recounts battles through eighty-knot gales along the exposed coastline sailors called “The Graveyard of the Pacific,” and reveals the bigotry that forced Indigenous and Chinese passengers to remain on the foredeck of the ship while other passengers sheltered from the elements inside. He brings the history of this beloved ship to life with rich detail, recalling a time when this remote part of British Columbia was alive with mines, canneries and now-forgotten settlements.

In 1885, Vancouver Island’s E&N rail service carried coal to smelters and ships, and the towns in the railway’s path prospered as the tracks expanded. Along the E&N celebrates the historic and still-surviving hotels and roadhouses that sprung up near the E&N. Within this carefully researched historical narrative, you’ll find stories of the halfway house in the Esquimalt District, the murder and suicide at the Mt Sicker Hotel, and the iconic Quinsam Hotel in Campbell River, burned down in 2017. Peppered with stories of patrons and proprietors alike, this book chronicles the history of sixty hotels—most long gone, destroyed by fire, or simply demolished. Featuring some of the old hotels remodelled into modern-day neighbourhood pubs—such as the Rod & Gun, the Fanny Bay Inn, the Shady Rest, the Cumberland Pub, and the Waverley Pub—Along the E&N resonates with the haunting echoes of the train’s iconic whistle.

“This was the kind of moment when you just knew that a fairy-tale prince would come out of the fog to sweep you away to a happily-ever-after.” Ginny White isn’t interested in marriage and kids. Which makes it perfect that her boyfriend is more interested in surfing than getting serious. That is until she ends up the third wheel on a bachelor party weekend (the final straw on her current relationship) and Justen Barrett walks out of the mist like a fairy tale prince. Justen was her high school crush, and everything about pursuing him is a bad idea. When Ginny accidentally becomes his little sister’s maid of honour, she can’t avoid him. A situation seriously detrimental to keeping her fantasies in check. Even as their connection grows, the reasons they shouldn’t be together stack up. It’s bad enough that Justen was Ginny’s brother’s best friend. But after coming in second place with her last boyfriend, Ginny knows that for any relationship to work she needs to be number one. With two daughters, an ex-wife, a little sister, and a dying father vying for his attention, Ginny keeps finding herself at the end of Justen’s list. Is there any chance this high school crush could come true? AUTHORS NOTE: Ginny’s Crush is a brother’s best friend romance with an accidental maid of honour, a single dad, and a high school crush come true. It can be read as a standalone novel but is best enjoyed within the West Coast Romance Series.

Newly updated Must Sees Vancouver highlights the best of the city for a 24-hour visit, a weekend or longer. Savor dim sum in Chinatown, stroll through stately Stanley Park and Vancouver’s botanical gardens, or shop on fashionable Robson Street. Take afternoon tea in nearby colonial Victoria, and explore the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s hiking trails and rugged beaches. Stay in upscale boutique hotels or opt for a budget room; and sample fine international cuisine. Engage your senses, accompanied by Must Sees detailed maps.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Pacific Northwest will lead you straight to the best attractions this beautiful region has to offer. This newly updated guide covers all the major cities, from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington, to Vancouver, British Columbia, and provides all the insider tips you need, whether you want to kayak on Lake Ozette in Olympic National Park or go shopping in downtown Seattle's Columbia Center. Explore the culture, history, architecture, beaches, and scenic walks area-by-area. Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Pacific Northwest. • Detailed itineraries and "don't-miss" destination highlights at a glance. • Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights. • Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums. • Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area. • Area maps marked with sights. • Detailed city maps include a street finder index for easy navigation. • Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights. • Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Pacific Northwest truly shows you what others only tell you. Series Overview: For more than two decades, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations. Expert travel writers and researchers provide independent editorial advice, recommendations, and reviews. With guidebooks to hundreds of places around the globe available in print and digital formats, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides show travelers how they can discover more. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides: the most maps, photographs, and illustrations of any guide.