The small city of Courtenay has a super cute downtown and is my top pick for shopping and good eats in this area of Vancouver Island.

Centred around 5th Street, the downtown area is surprisingly large and includes clothing stores, bookshops, gift boutiques, cafes, restaurants, a brewery and a popular butchers.

My favourite shops include: Blue Toque (sports consignment), West Coast Karma (hand-drawn designs by local artists), Hot Chocolates (handmade artisanal truffles).