Vancouver Island Attractions

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Inn The Estuary is the perfect place to relax or be active. Without even starting your car you can take advantage of all the following;

Free kayaking during high tidesl

Free use of our bicycles to tour the area

Hiking and exploring the Nanoose Estuary and Federal Nature Reserve adjoining our property, including streams and wildlife in the wetlands.
Photo courtesy of ADVENTURESS, Sea Kayaking Adventures. www.adventuress.ca

Walk to local shopping center within minutes. Short driving distance to local country pub and restaurants.

Or simply relax on your own private deck.

We are centrally located on Vancouver Island and are close to many of the sites and activities we have to offer here. Let us help you customize your experience to get the most out of your valuable time spent here on our Island.

On all the following trips, you can experience;

Golfing, Swimming, Shopping, Hiking, Kayaking, Nature, Scuba diving, Fish hatcheries, Eco tours, Casinos, Wine tours, Country Pubs, Art galleries, Ferries for Island Hopping, Sight Seeing, Flights, Waterfalls, Fishing, Adventure parks, Beachcombing, First Nation centers, Skiing and Daytrip on a working freighter.

Within a 30 minute drive;

Attractions :Our Provincial Parks are truly natural wonders. Whether for camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, hiking, from ocean to forest they’re nature at its best. Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park’s high tide offers the warmest ocean swimming opportunities in Canada. Englishman River Falls & Little Qualicum River Falls have gorgeous waterfalls, which have been featured in various television commercials and the family movie “Alaska”. MacMillan Provincial Park (Cathedral Grove) is the home of the “really big trees”! This 132 hectare grove of giant trees is the most accessible stand of giant Douglas-fir on Vancouver Island. Some of these giants have seen over 800 summers pass. Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park will thrill you! Though there are two small caves you can explore on your own, a guided tour through part of the large chambers will be more enlightening and a great introductory tour is available, as well as more adventurous ones. Spider Lake Provincial Park is adjacent to Horne Lake and is noted for its excellent canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing. Rosewall Creek Provincial Park, located past Deep Bay, is a pocket-size park with an attractive wheelchair-accessible trail.For more information go to BC Parks.

Coombs Village and the Famous Goats on the Roof

Coombs Village is dotted with several heritage buildings, unique galleries as well as numerous gift shops and craft outlets, many of which are open year round. There is also a mini golf, and, of course, the goats on the roof at The Coombs Old Country Market. (Yes, the goats are really are on the roof. Well, where else would you put them?). Summer is the time for “Old West” activities: Bull-o-Rama, a fiddle jamboree, a bluegrass festival and a 2-day rodeo, even a “Just for the Heck of It” parade. Coombs Village is located approximately 15 minutes west of Parksville on the Alberni Highway.

Horne Lake Regional Park, featuring spectacular views of area mountains and cliffs, is a great place to spend the day and explore the world-renowned Horne Lake Caves next door. Mount Arrowsmith Regional Park features the historic Arrowsmith Trail. The trail offers hikers the opportunity to climb through several forest zones and experience dramatic views of the Georgia Strait. The trail requires moderate level fitness as it climbs steadily to gain elevation to the 6,000 ft summit. Allow 6-7 hours for the round trip and take drinking water. Top Bridge Regional Park is a fabulous day use park and is connected to Rathtrevor Provincial Park by the Top Bridge Trail, a 10km round trip which crosses both private and public land and is perfect for walking, riding or equestrian use. Top Bridge Mountain Bike Park is the only park on Vancouver Island designated for mountain bikes. Its trails vary from intermediate to advanced and are maintained by a local mountain bike club, in conjunction with the City of Parksville.
For more information on these and other Regional Parks, go to RDN Nanaimo – Regional Parks

Regional Parks


Craig Heritage Park is located about 3 km south of Parksville on the Island Highway, right next to our Visitor Centre. Take a trip into yesteryear and see how our early settlers lived. On location are several local heritage buildings that you can tour. The Museum is open daily in the summer. St. Anne’s Anglican Church was built in 1894 by 45 farmers with the aid of oxen to haul the logs, and is one of the oldest churches on Vancouver Island.

Local History and Museums


Located right on the beach, with an endless shoreline, the Parksville Community Park is a dandy! Two ball fields and a lacrosse box are located at the entrance to the park, with public tennis courts, a curling rink, seasonal concession stand, an awesome BMX/Skateboard Park, 2 conditioned beach volleyball areas, and an incredible children’s playground with Vancouver Island’s greatest Water Spray Park completing the entertainment spectrum. Or, of course, you could just go to the beach.

Take a day trip up the Port Alberni canal on a working freighter to the west coast of Vancouver Island.

The Lion’s Ventureland Playground and Waterspray Park

Golf, Golf, Golf and Mini-Golf

Did we mention that Parksville and Oceanside is home to several world-class, year-round golf courses? They are open to the public and offer a driving range, practice greens, pro shop, clubhouse, licensed facilities and will reserve tee times in advance for visitors (some restrictions do apply). You’ll find contact information and links to all of these golf courses listed in our Business Directory.
Festivals and Special Events
Parksville Beach Festival: International sand sculptors work their magic, turning giant piles of sand into unbelievable works of art! Over 60,000 visitors are drawn to the Parksville beaches during the three week festival, to see these spectacular creations and vote for their favourites! Admission is by donation. This is just one of the many festivals that take place during the year. Check out the Community Calendar of Events.

Beachcomber Marina – 1600 Byrnmarl Road. Nanoose Bay. Offers 16-foot boats for rent. Daily moorage is offered subject to availability. 1.250.468.7222.
French Creek Marina – a public boat launch located on Highway 19A at Lee Road. Facilities include charters, tackle shop, fresh seafood store, marine sales, nearby camping and condo rentals, a sports centre and Morningstar golf course. French Creek Marina is also host of the French Creek Salmon Festival held each August. For details on the Marina Services, contact the French Creek Harbour Authority at 1.250.248.5051.

Saltwater Fishing and Boat Launch Areas

Schooner Cove Resort and Marina

3521 Dolphin Drive, Nanoose Bay. Fairwinds Schooner Cove Marina is the place to moor your boat on an annual or seasonal basis or for those just visiting, on a daily basis. Amenities at the marina include: 30 & 50 amp power, tackle shop, convenience store, cafe, gas & diesel, beer & wine store, laundry, boat ramp, pub, pool, hot tub & showers. Docking is available for vessels up to 150 ft. Visitors should call on marine VHF channel 73 upon approach to the marina and you will be directed to a slip prior to registering. Advance Reservations are recommended, call 1.800.663.7060

Art Galleries
This area is home to potters and painters, weavers and sculptors, carvers, glass blowers and many other artisans who welcome visitors to their studios. Organizations such as Oceanside Community Arts Council and Arrowsmith Potters Guild promote arts and culture in the community, and there’s almost always an exhibition to enjoy at one of our local galleries. You’ll find these art galleries and more listed in the Arts and Culture category of our Business Directory.
Hockey and Skating at Oceanside Place
Oceanside Place features two NHL regulation size ice sheets named after two local ice skating legends and heroes, Howie Meeker and Victor Kraatz, a Leisure Ice sheet, multipurpose rooms, a meeting room, a concession, skate shop and the main offices for the Regional District of Nanaimo Recreation and Parks Department. The facility is attached to Wembley Mall, and has won two provincial awards since opening.For further information visit the Oceanside Place website.
Indoor Swimming at the Ravensong Aquatic Centre
If the ocean water is a little cool for you, take a dip at the Ravensong Aquatic Centre features a 25-metre Olympic short course pool, a leisure pool and a whirlpool all utilizing a salt-water purification system.A Nordic dry sauna and a Finnish steam room are also available. There are family change rooms, and a variety of programs including aqua-aerobics, senior swim, etc. The Ravensong Aquatic Centre is located in Qualicum Beach, next to the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.

Abundant Wildlife, Fauna and Flora
Hamilton Marsh is a natural habitat for red-winged blackbirds, jays and swallows, and is particularly active in spring and fall with migrations of ducks and geese.Take a step back in time to discover the unspoiled natural beauty and unique heritage home found within Milner Gardens & Woodland, a 70-acre oceanfront estate deeded to Malaspina University-College. Open from late April to October. Big Qualicum Fish Hatchery is operated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and uses both natural and artificial enhancement techniques to increase populations of Pacific salmon and steelhead trout. The Hatchery is open to the public from 7:30am – 4pm year round.

The North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre is a haven for a wide variety of injured, ill and orphaned wildlife ranging from songbirds to eagles, raccoons to deer. Sick and injured wildlife receive professional medical care while they are rehabilitated for their release back into the wild. The World Parrot Refuge is a “home for life” for over 400 parrot whose owners can no longer care for it. They are an educational facility designed to make the public aware of the plight of captive parrots. Imagine strolling through a tropical gardens filled with trees, plants flowers and butterflies from around the world. At Butterfly World they fly from flower to flower, they sometimes mistake people for flowers and alight on their shoulders, heads and arms searching for nectar.

Things To Do in Nanaimo, BC

Looking for things to do in Nanaimo? Don’t worry, there are enough attractions in Nanaimo to satisfy all tastes and interests. The city offers natural beauty at every turn, thanks to its location between Mount Benson and the Straight of Georgia. The thriving local arts and music scene has something happening every day. History enthusiasts will enjoy walking through Nanaimo’s winding downtown and checking out older buildings, many which have been transformed into charming shops and restaurants, particularly in the Old City Quarter. There are also abundant shopping opportunities in several major shopping centres throughout the city. For sports fans and athletes, Nanaimo has a wide variety of recreational activities available, including bungy jumping, rock climbing walls, swimming pools, and much more!

Within 1 hours drive;

Kayaking with ADVENTURESS Kayaking Adventures www.adventuress.ca
The scenery is spectacular here with mountain vistas of the Coast Range, old growth rainforests of cedar and Douglas fir, expansive wilderness and our amazing wildlife. What better way to see all of this than to paddle the shores of Vancouver Island in a kayak.

Take your pick of 2.5 hour paddles as part of your package: the Sunset Tour, the Seaside Paddle, the Full Moon Howl or the Sea Lion Tour (the latter tour is available only from October to the end of May). Kayak the local shores and islands peering over the side of your kayak to see sand dollars, colourful sea stars, ribbons of bull kelp and oyster shells. Look to the tallest tree and see bald eagles, turkey vultures or kingfishers. Keep a lookout for curious harbour seals as they pop their heads up to greet us or paddle by a haul-out where sea lions bask in the sun and give us an occasional bark as we glide by.

No experience is necessary to enjoy your paddling adventure. Adventuress provides basic instruction before each tour, fits you to your kayak, and makes all adjustments to the gear and boat to ensure your comfort and safety. Double kayaks are available to accommodate younger family members or for those who would like to paddle together in one boat.

Need a little bit more adventure? Check out the 4 hour lunch tours to Mistaken Island or the Winchelsea Islands Group, part of nineteen islands that make up the pristine Ballenas-Winchelsea Archipelago, recognized as having national and international significance for their biodiversity values.

So, what are you waiting for? Come stay and paddle with us and find out why Conde Naste readers have voted Vancouver Island as Best Island, North America 9 years in a row!

Visit Port Alberni for the Steam Train Ride to the steam posered McLean Mill National Historical site.

Jump on the ‘ MV Francis Barkley’ for a daycruise up the Barkley Sound to Ucluelet or Bamfield on the west Pacific Rim Park.

Bungy Jumping, Horne Lake Caves [spellunking], Chemainus, Ladysmith, Comox, Cumberland and Courney.

Within 2 1/2 hours drive;

Boat trip to Hotsprings from Tofino.

Pacific Rim National Park [whale watching and bear watching] and surfing.

Ucluelet

Forest Discovery Center in Duncan.

Victoria and all it has to offer.

Strathcona Park.

Campbell River.

Permalink | December 10th, 2009