If your idea of a vacation is miles of sunny beaches, glorious golf courses, beachfront resorts, and outdoor recreation, then put Oceanside high on your list of places to visit on Vancouver Island. The Oceanside region stretches along the coastline from Nanoose Bay to Deep Bay in Lighthouse Country, and west on Highway 4 to encompass Arrowsmith Coombs Country. Besides incredible golf courses and beaches that seem to go on forever, Oceanside has artisan studios to browse, museums to visit, parks to explore, and more than 160 annual events to participate in. Oceanside recreation is just as exciting and includes bird watching, hiking, boating, kayaking, caving, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Nanoose Bay — Golfing, boating, diving, kayaking, tennis, windsurfing,
fishing, and hiking — the resort area of Nanoose Bay has it all! Charters are available at the marinas for sightseeing tours to Jedediah Island, a great spot for hiking, picnicking, and wildlife watching. Ask for a Nanoose Peninsula Art Loop Map and check out the artisan studios while you take in the splendid scenery. For a panoramic view of the whole area, walk to the top of the Notch Trail.
Parksville — The more than seven kilometres of sunny, sandy beach perfect for castle building and the warmest saltwater for swimming on Vancouver Island have been drawing visitors to Parksville for decades. Downtown Parksville overlooks the stunning beach and a family park that features one of the best skateboard parks on Vancouver Island, a scenic walkway, and the Lions Venture Playground and Waterpark. The mini-golf course is another top family attraction. To check out Parksville’s past, visit Craig Heritage Park and wander through town for a look at the restored heritage buildings. There are a number of artisan studios in the area, as well as the Station Gallery at the E&N Railway Station and the Oceanside Arts Centre.
Arrowsmith Coombs Country — Arrowsmith Coombs Country is one of Vancouver Island’s most memorable stops. The big country market is a huge attraction and is famous for the goats that graze on the grassy roof. Browsing artisan studios and hunting for antique treasures are delightful ways to while away an afternoon in Arrowsmith Coombs Country. Other area attractions include beautiful Butterfly World and Gardens, a dinosaur made of car parts, and the Coombs Rodeo Grounds. Explore the wilderness in Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, Cathedral Grove, and Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park.
French Creek and Lasqueti Island — Smack dab between Parksville and Qualicum Beach, French Creek is renowned for saltwater fishing and fresh seafood. The marina is where you can sign up for marine adventures, such as fishing charters, sightseeing tours, and dive boats. For a pleasant side trip from French Creek, board the passenger ferry to pretty Lasqueti Island for an afternoon of cycling or hiking on this rustic island of farmers and artisans.
Qualicum Beach — Overlooking the magnificent coastline and beaches along the Strait of Georgia, Qualicum Beach is the perfect destination for beachcombers and kayakers, and it has one of the prettiest downtowns on Vancouver Island. Pedestrian-friendly and boasting many unique shops and eateries, Qualicum Beach Village is renowned for its architecture, flower gardens, and hanging baskets. So outstanding are its horticultural displays, that Qualicum Beach was awarded top honours for communities in its size range in the 2001 National Communities in Bloom Competition and has maintained its Five Blooms rank for the past two years. Sights not to miss include Milner Gardens and Woodlands, the Old School House Arts Centre, and the Qualicum Beach Museum and Historical Society’s Complex. See what’s on at the Village Theatre, or catch a performance at the Bard to Broadway Summer Theatre.
Lighthouse Country — Romantic, picturesque Lighthouse Country is named for the two lighthouses that mark its boundaries: one on Sisters Island in the south and the other on Chrome Island in the north. The friendly communities of Qualicum Bay, Home Lake, Bowser, and Deep Bay are nestled into the coastline between these two landmarks and offer all the amenities a vacationer could want for a holiday of fishing, kayaking, sightseeing, diving, hiking, golfing, mountain biking, caving, and, of course, beachcombing.
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