City of Duncan

Description

Let me tell you about Duncan, a charming city I recently discovered on Vancouver Island that absolutely deserves more attention than it gets. Known as the “City of Totems,” Duncan’s got this incredible collection of First Nations artwork that’ll stop you in your tracks – I counted over 40 totem poles during my walkabout! But there’s way more to this place than just totems.

What really grabbed me was how the city manages to balance its deep Indigenous heritage with modern small-town charm. The downtown core is super walkable, and I love how the local shops still maintain their original character from the early 1900s. Y’know what I mean? It’s got that authentic feel that’s getting harder to find these days.

Key Features

• World’s largest outdoor collection of totem poles (seriously, it’s pretty impressive!)
• The Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre, where you can experience authentic Coast Salish culture
• Saturday Farmers Market (one of the best I’ve been to on the Island)
• Historic downtown district with unique boutiques and local eateries
• Cowichan Valley wine region right on the doorstep
• Beautiful Cowichan River for fishing and outdoor activities
• BC Forest Discovery Centre with its working steam train
• The Raptor Centre where you can see amazing birds of prey up close
• Several heritage buildings including the 1912 train station
• Amazing hiking and biking trails in the surrounding area

Best Time to Visit

From my experience, summer’s definitely the sweet spot for visiting Duncan – July and August are just perfect with temps hovering around 75°F (about 24°C) and minimal rainfall. But honestly? I kinda prefer September when the crowds thin out but the weather’s still fantastic.

The Duncan Farmers Market runs from April through December, and it’s absolutely worth planning your visit around it. And if you’re into cultural stuff, try to catch the annual Cowichan Valley Wine Festival in August or the Duncan Day celebrations in July.

Winter can be pretty wet (it’s the PNW after all!), but prices are lower and you’ll get a more authentic feel for local life. Plus, some of the coziest cafes I’ve found are perfect for those rainy days.

How to Get There

Getting to Duncan’s pretty straightforward. It’s right on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1), about 60 km north of Victoria and 50 km south of Nanaimo. I usually drive from Victoria – it takes about an hour, and the scenery along the Malahat is stunning!

If you’re coming from Vancouver, you can catch a BC Ferry to either Victoria (Swartz Bay) or Nanaimo (Departure Bay) and drive from there. There’s also regular bus service from both cities – I’ve taken it before and while it’s not fancy, it gets the job done.

The closest airports are Victoria International (YYJ) and Nanaimo Airport (YCD). Both are about an hour’s drive away. There’s also a small regional airport right in Duncan for private planes.

Tips for Visiting

Listen, I’ve learned a few things from my visits that might help you out. First off, grab a map of the Totem Tour from the Visitor Centre – trying to find all the totems without one is like playing hide and seek in the dark!

The downtown area is super walkable, but you’ll want a car if you’re planning to explore the wineries or hiking trails. And speaking of hiking, bring proper shoes – I learned that lesson the hard way on the Cowichan River footpath.

Make dinner reservations on weekends, especially during summer. The good spots fill up fast! Oh, and don’t forget your camera – the lighting around the totems is best in the morning or late afternoon.

Pack a raincoat even in summer – weather can change pretty quick here. And if you’re into shopping, most stores close early (around 5:30 PM), but they open late on Thursdays during summer.

For the budget-conscious travelers (like I usually am), there’s plenty of free stuff to do – the totem walk, wandering the farmers market, and checking out the public art are all great options that won’t cost ya anything.

And here’s a local secret – the best coffee in town is at this tiny place just off the main street. Can’t remember the name right now (typical!), but just ask any local – they’ll know what you’re talking about!

Location

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