Self-guided museum and pier visit
What it actually looks like
What the children do
A walk out along the 100 metre heritage pier and through the museum. The first pod is the Snuhwulh'e'w't-hw canoe shed with dugout canoes and the history of the canoe, built with elders Wayne Paige and Dr Luschiim Charlie and cultural advisor Diane Hinkley. The second pod is the hands-on one, with a ship's helm to stand at, pulleys, knot tying and the kids boatbuilding booth where a child can build a small wooden boat to take home. The third is the Seagull Shack of restored classic inboard and outboard motors, and the Supercargoes Pavilion at the end holds the Ship's Boats and Handliners exhibit. Admission is listed as $5 adult and $3 child, with no group rate published.
Walk the length of the pier and go into each of the three pods. They can step up onto a ship's helm, work pulleys, try knot tying and build a small wooden boat to take home at the boatbuilding booth. Outside on the patio there is a children's interactive tug to climb on.
Good to know
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children, and a good part of the visit is outdoors on a pier. Washrooms, indoor lunch space, bus parking and stroller access are not stated anywhere, so they are worth a call.
Getting there
1761 Cowichan Bay Rd., Cowichan Bay, BC V0R 1N0