I fell for the hype that gets thrown about online regarding Tofino. So, my wife and I drove there from Nanaimo one weekend. It was an utter and total waste of a day. The place is nothing more than a tiny fish camp on a rock. But, that's just my opinion. I don't live there and have a business to promote for tourists, so, I'll never go back.

The Sunshine Coast is really beautiful and the traffic thru YVR isn't really that bad. I've driven thru Portland at rush hour many a time, and think you'll be fine.

Never been to the smaller islands. Sorry can't comment there.