The 2025 World Travel Awards have been announced, revealing the best honeymoon destinations of the year. The long-time North American favourite, Maui, Hawaii — which claimed the title 11 times in the past 16 years — has been dethroned. Las Vegas also didn’t make it to the podium. Napa Valley, California, USA, known for its wine charm, was featured in the top list but didn’t take the win either. Other nominees included Miami Beach and Sanibel & Captiva Islands (both in Florida, USA), as well as Niagara Falls, representing Ontario, Canada. And the winner in the category of North America’s Leading Honeymoon Destination for 2025 is Vancouver Island!

The island earned first place thanks to its breathtaking scenery, cozy hideaways, and laid-back West Coast vibe. From wild beaches and misty rainforests to boutique hotels and ocean-view spas, Vancouver Island offers the perfect blend of adventure and serenity. Whether it’s a sunset stroll along Tofino’s wave-washed shores or a quiet retreat among the vineyards of the Cowichan Valley, the island’s natural beauty and understated luxury make it an unforgettable place to celebrate love.

British Columbia as a whole was named North America’s Leading Regional Destination for 2025 by the World Travel Awards. In this category, the province outshone regions such as California, Colorado, Florida, and Quebec.

And, as a bonus, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, located north of Tofino, was crowned Canada’s Leading Wilderness Resort for 2025, surpassing other contenders — including another Vancouver Island nominee, Eagle Nook Resort, located east of Ucluelet.

The passions of the BC and Yukon Book Prizes — the largest regional celebration in the publishing world — have now settled. The finalists and winners are well known, led this year by the breakout A Haida Wedding (written by Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, published by Heritage House Publishing), alongside the customary dominance of Greater Vancouver representatives. Island authors and their publishers had their moment too, as the annual Victoria Book Prizes were also awarded. At the same time, publishers have already applied for new ISBN pools, giving us a glimpse of the upcoming season’s premieres. The beginning of the calendar autumn is, quite naturally, a new year not only for certain faith communities but also for the publishing world. Very soon, the literary year will be ushered in with celebrations — once again at Salt Spring Island’s Paper Covers Rock and in the capital with the Victoria Festival of Authors, marking its tenth anniversary this year.

In the meantime, we present our selection of this year’s most remarkable books whose theme is the most beautiful place in the world — Vancouver Island. The list includes only works published in 2025, excluding traditional guides and reissues from earlier years. As a bonus, we’ve added a short preview of the most anticipated upcoming publishing premieres. Because what could be better than a selection of fine reading while sipping coffee or tea in your favourite cozy spot in the fall? We sincerely hope the Top Books of VanIsland.Life 2025 will appeal to you.

For more than eight millennia, humanity has revelled in wine. And as long as the earth and the sky, and people beneath that sky upon this earth, the tradition will live on. Not every place under the sun is destined for winemaking. To make it so, the stars must align, and several conditions must come together.

First of all – climate – there must be enough warmth for the grapes to ripen, but without extreme heat. Soils are also needed – well-drained and mineral-rich – as this has the greatest influence on the taste of the wine. Proper climate and soils must come together on the appropriate terrain, creating an optimal microclimate on slopes or valleys, near a river or the sea. And, finally, the decisive human factor – traditions, technologies, infrastructure.

This is exactly how, and only how, all wine regions in the world have been formed. From the Caucasus, Mesopotamia, and the Near East, extending to Ancient Greece and Rome and the rest of Europe, and further – to the New World, particularly in North America. Thus the winemaking tradition has reached British Columbia and Vancouver Island.

Approximately 12 km south of Port Alberni, near the route between Port Alberni and Bamfield (Bamfield Main Road), which is currently closed, the Mount Underwood wildfire (designation V71498) has broken out.

The Wesley Ridge wildfire near Cameron Lake continues to burn. According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, as of Wednesday, the fire had grown to 538 hectares. The response involves over 240 personnel, 7 helicopters, 8 pieces of heavy equipment, and more than 80 structure protection specialists. Despite these efforts, the wildfire’s status remains out of control.

A campfire ban will take effect across the Coastal Fire Centre — including Vancouver Island — at noon on Thursday, July 17. The Category 1 fire prohibition was announced by fire information officer Kimberly Kelly earlier this week. This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human caused wildfires and protect public safety.

Tribune Bay Campground on Hornby Island is set to undergo a major transformation, with BC Parks launching a full redesign aimed at enhancing accessibility, camper privacy, and the overall visitor experience. The project, which follows the province’s 2021 acquisition of adjacent land to expand the park, will roll out in phases over the next two years.

If you love exploring the Cowichan Valley Trail, here’s something to get excited about — a beautiful new bridge is ready to welcome you back! Starting Saturday, June 21, the newly rebuilt bridge over Holt Creek is officially reopened to the public, restoring a key connection on one of the most popular trails in the region.

Get ready to look skyward this summer – Canada’s iconic CF Snowbirds are making two exciting appearances on Vancouver Island, with a flyover in Victoria and full airshows in Nanaimo.