Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, just off Canada’s Pacific coast, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Georgia. It is 460 km (286 mi) long and up to 80 km (50 mi) wide, a magnificent landscape of emerald forests, snow-capped mountains, flower-filled meadows, crystal-clear ice-cold lakes and rivers, and pristine coastline pounded by the Pacific Ocean. The island is paradise for outdoor pursuits enthusiasts, and it is one of the few places in the world where you can play golf and go skiing on the same day.

There are mountains down the centre of the island, the Vancouver Island Ranges, dividing it into the rugged and wet west coast and the drier east coast with a more rolling landscape. The highest point on the island is the Golden Hinde at 2,195 m (7,200 ft), lying within the Strathcona Provincial Park, and there are a few glaciers here, the largest of which is the Comox Glacier,

The west coast is rocky and mountainous, characterized by fjords, bays and inlets, while the. interior has many rivers and lakes, of which Kennedy Lake, northeast of Ucluelet, is the largest.

At the southern tip of the island is the elegant capital, Victoria, with its historic parliament, narrow streets dotted with cafes, pubs and colourful gardens, and boats floating lazily in the sparkling harbour. There is an abundance of sights to experience here, including the world-famous Butchart Botanical Gardens, with over a million plants. The gardens are divided into themed areas, such as Japanese or Italian, and each is a beautiful garden in its own right.

Activities available in this big outdoors include skiing, white-water rafting, caving, mountain biking, surfing, sailing, diving and snorkelling, bungy jumping and many other exciting pursuits. There are deep-sea fishing trips for halibut, salmon and chinook, whale-watching excursions or kayaking in the inlets of the Pacific Rim National Park.

Trekking and hiking through the wilderness is also popular here, and can be done on horse or on foot along the trails in the woods.

Wildlife viewing is becoming more and more popular, with black bears high on the wish-list, and ecotours by boat can offer sightings of bald eagles, sea lions and sea otters.

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Hobbies are as varied as the people who have them, so it is no wonder that many of us have trouble finding one. After all, how are you supposed to know what you are good at, or even if that constitutes a craft? Hobbies are a great way to keep the mind occupied, meet new people and keep acquaintances going with old friends, to enjoy down time, and to relieve stress.

But hobbies like R/C racing, if not kept in check, can add to your stress by relieving your bank accounts of much needed cash. Hobbies are essentially those areas of interests, which an individual can easily relate with it effortlessly, like a smooth flowing river without any hindrance or barriers and transcends into the vast expanse of the sea.

It is like a natural habit with a natural course of flow with a natural culmination, where there is no force or compulsion. Hobbies are activities pursued by people out of interest such as collecting mail. One need not have to be an expert to engage in a hobby. Hobbies are, quintessentially, forms of play, much like the rough and tumble, make-believe and constructive games that fill early and middle childhood.

Hobbies are not insignificant paraphernalia included to make your resume look long. They play a significant role in the selection process. Hobbies are a lively person’s passion. They are not necessarily what a person does for a living, but a hobby can become a full time endeavor. Hobbies can be incorporated into a flower arrangement or displayed on a memory table.

Accomplishments and awards can be displayed during the service and recognized in an online obituary. Hobbies can be classified into certain categories and to maintain a certain type of collection of things is a hobby for many. Hobbies can be expensive, and you might want to start one like financial arbitrage and find out you can’t afford to.

Hobbies can be as varied as there are ideas. If you have an idea of something you would like to do, then go and do it. Hobbies can be educational. Hobbies assist developing memory skills because they involve repetition. Hobbies can be mighty important. The joy and passion you generate enjoying yourself with your “hobby” will spill over into the rest of your life.