Travelling north-west on Highway 4 from Victoria or Nanaimo, we are the last town before Ucluelet and Tofino, and Bamfield to the direct west. Just after the Coombs Candy Store on Highway 4, turn left at the Alberni Valley Tourist Information Centre, onto the Port Alberni Highway (which changes names to Redford Street along the way). At the bottom of Redford, turn left onto 3rd Avenue. We are midway up the wee hill on 3rd Avenue, two blocks before the corner of Argyle Street, in the heart of “South Port”, Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Look for the bright yellow house. You know, the one with the half-finished glass-funk mosaic on the wall out front. Rad? Word.
Conveniently located within easy walking distance from pubs, restaurants, grocery shops, second-hand clothing stores, theatres, banks, travel agents, an Internet cafe, a yoga studio, second-hand book stores and several adventure tour companies, Fat Salmon Backpacker’s Hostel brags its fins off about being in the sweetest spot in Port Alberni. Boasting a brilliant view of the working port, we are only a 2-minute stroll from the Alberni Inlet, where eco-tours, adventure tours and tour boats, as well as kayak-hire and fishing tours, abound. We are also a brisk walk from the Grey Line bus station, a phone call from the Tofino bus stop, and a 2-minute stroll from the MV Lady Rose’s dock.
If you don’t feel up to the task of cooking (although the Fat Salmon kitchen rocks it out), just pop into the Beijing Grand Chinese food restaurant, located right beside the hostel, for one of the best, inexpensive authentic Chinese cuisine experiences on offer in the Alberni Valley (Carmen and Queenie will spoil you quite rotten, to be sure – the sweet and sour pork is nearly to die for). And, after tramping about, exploring our awesome town all day, you can sit on the Fat Salmon back deck watching the ships, steam trains and world go by at your leisure, enjoying one of the most spectacular sunset views over the Alberni Inlet on offer.