VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 252

Guest rooms at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort (1155 Resort Dr., 250/248-2072 or
800/663-7373, www.tigh-na-mara.com , $249-429) are smaller, but the resort itself has more
amenities, including two adventure playgrounds, mountain bike rentals, a large swimming
pool, two restaurants, and a large spa facility.
At Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park (mid-March-mid-Oct., $16-30) south of down-
town off Highway 19A (take Exit 46 from the south), campers choose the natural setting
and a great sandy beach over modern facilities (no hookups). To be ensured of a campsite,
make reservations by contacting Discover Camping (519/826-6850 or 800/689-9025,
www.discovercamping.ca ) .
Food
Step away from the beach scene at Pacific Brimm (123 Craig St., 250/248-3336, 7am-5pm
Mon.-Sat., 8am-4pm Sun., lunches $8-10), an inviting café that's halfway between relaxed
and refined. In addition to all the usual coffee choices, you'll find a good selection of loose-
leaf teas, delicious oversized cinnamon buns, full breakfasts, and hot lunches.
One block to the west (just off the Hwy. 4A/Alberni Highway) is a similar café, Bread
& Honey (162 Harrison Ave., 250/586-1021, 8am-3pm Mon.-Fri., lunches $6-10), where
the menu of house-made salads, soups, and paninis changes daily.
After soaking up the elegance of the Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort,
plan on moving upstairs to the resort's Treetop Tapas & Grill (1155 Resort Dr., 250/
248-2072, noon-8pm daily, tapas $9), where you are encouraged to relax in your robe over
a lunch of bite-size tapas.
Information
Traveling north from Nanaimo, take Exit 46 from Highway 19 (Inland Island Highway)
and follow Highway 19A (Island Highway) for just under one kilometer (0.6 mile) to
reach Parksville Visitor Centre (123 East Island Hwy., 250/248-3613,
www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com , 8am-8pm daily July-Aug., 9am-5pm Mon.-Sat.
the rest of the year).
QUALICUM BEACH
This beachside community (pop. 7,800) facing the Strait of Georgia is generally quieter
than Parksville, but it shares the same endless sands and attracts the same droves of beach-
goers, sun worshippers, anglers, and golfers on summer vacation.