Festivals Day Trips? Dining? Gulf Islands?
Riverside Resort Motel and Campground is located just 4 kilometers from the picturesque village of Qualicum Beach and Parksville (population ±11,000) is another 10 kilometers further south on the West Island Highway. The ±4 km stretch of beach in Qualicum is one of the top five in all of Canada.
Qualicum Beach offers a museum, art galleries, fascinating shops, cultural attractions and eco-tourism events throughout the year. Because there are over 140 annual events and festivals in the Parksville and Qualicum Beach region alone, no matter when you visit the Oceanside area there is bound to be something of interest going on.
Events include traditional favourites with long histories including the Brant Wildlife Festival, Coombs Rodeo, Fathers' Day Show n Shine, and the Coombs Fair as well as one of North America’s most widely-recognized events, the Parksville Beach Festival. Parksville is also known for having one of the largest small town Canada Day parades in Western Canada.
In May, one can alternately chill out and do a fiery dance with red-hot chili peppers at Qualicum Beach’s Fire & Ice street festival. Equally unique and entertaining are weekends dedicated to farmers' markets and food & wine, volleyball, croquet, childrens' entertainment, mountain biking, music and uplifting Christmas craft events.
Every Tuesday night from 6-9pm starting June 16th, 2009 and continuing throughout the summer months there is the Parksville Summer by the Sea Street Market. Local merchants, street side vendors, non-profit societies & entertainers combine to turn Craig Street into the place to be!
Golf: There are no less than 7 world-class golf courses in the Qualicum Beach area, and the pleasant, sunny climate means play continues year-round. Select from the Arrowsmith Golf & Country Club, Eaglecrest Golf Club, Fairwinds, Morningstar, Pheasant Glen, Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Course and the newest 9-hole addition, Brigadoon in Parksville.
For further details on local events and activities in the area, please check out our links below:
Day Trip Suggestions:
Alberni Pacific Railway:
Tours or ride the rails on the Alberni Pacific Railway. Steam trains, steam sawmill, Maritime Heritage, First Nations culture and art, the beautiful Alberni Valley on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada is the home of a host of Heritage Tourism attractions that are educational and fun for the whole family.
The Dinghy Dock:
Open year round with a new spring menu debuting in April, the Dinghy Dock offers panoramic ocean views in a friendly atmosphere. Hourly ferry schedule from 7am til 11pm six days a week allows you to kick back at BC's only floating pub!
Milner Gardens:
Milner Gardens and Woodland consists of a ten acre artists’ garden with trees and plants from the temperate regions of the world, including over 500 Rhododendrons as well as sixty acres of old growth forest and a trail system with interpretive information on the Douglas-fir eco-system. Guests have included Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Bard To Broadway Theatre:
July 4 to September 5, 2009
B2B is Vancouver Island's premiere summer theatre and presents five top quality theatrical productions and a series of special events everyday throughout the summer at the Chrysler Theatre in Parksville.
Echo Players Village Theatre:
You will find yourself welcomed into a community of patrons, fellow performers, artists, writers, set designes, and volunteers of every description. The Village Theatre has been home to the Echo Players since 1974 and hosts several productions throughout the year.
Horne Lake Caves:
Discover another world, learn about the fascinating geology and history of these amazing caverns. Have a look UNDER Vancouver Island and see amazing crystal formations and ancient fossils. Climb an underground waterfall! Visitors to this unique park can explore on their own or try one of the award-winning guided tours. There is something for everyone with tours that range from easy Cavern Walks and Family Cave Tours to "Underground Extreme Rappel" expeditions.
Butterfly World & Gardens:
Stroll amongst hundreds of free-flying exotic butterflies in our indoor tropical gardens and plan to visit our Bird Aviary, Water Gardens, and Unique Gift Shop.
North Island Wildlife Recovery:
Non-profit organization serving the growing need to assist injured, ill and orphaned wildlife. We have a public viewing area, eagle flight cage, Museum of Nature and Wildlife Learning Centre. Open 9am-5pm daily March thru December.
Rainforest Nature Hikes:
A nature tour company specializing in west coast sightseeing day trips, wildlife viewing, interpretive rainforest walks and native culture. Travel by four wheel drive van to old growth rainforests, ocean beaches, Mt. Arrowsmith and remote historic Villages. Learn about local history, flora and fauna and forest industry. This is the ideal nature adventure for seniors and families. Easy walks, no strenuous hikes. We also offer the ultimate woods & wine tour, a quality wine country experience & visit to Wildwood Forest. Year round half day and full day tours.
Coombs, BC:
For a complete change of scene, there is Coombs, famous for their annual rodeo, country music festival and of course the Old Country Market. The most famous goats in the world are available for photo taking between April and October, the market is open most of the year. Coombs is also home to to a variety of antique and curio shops ideal for a leisurely browse.
Errington, BC:
Every Saturday from May to late September you will find nothing but the BEST of fresh local produce, baked goods, bedding plants and items hand crafted by local artisans all in one place, the Errington Farmers Market.
Festivals? Day Trips? Dining? Gulf Islands?
WHERE TO EAT
Whether you’re planning a picnic at the beach or prefer to dine al fresco on a patio, Oceanside has plenty of great places to eat!
For those considering packing a lunch Quality Foods has a huge deli offering everything from fresh salads to in-house roasted chickens. Excellent friendly staff are happy to help you creat a great feast for the beach!
Locally there is a wide range of restaurants to enjoy.
§ Dee’z Bar & Grill a few minutes walk from the resort offers casual dining with daily specials. Fantastic servers, weekly live music, wing night and Sunday Prime Rib dinner are just some of the reasons to check out Dee’z.
§ Fish Tales Cafe is a family owned and operated restaurant, focussing on serving the freshest seafood. Conveniently located ½ a kilometer from the Riverside Resort offering indoor dining year round and outdoor dining in fairer weather.
§ Giovanni's Ristorante, the newest addition to Qualicum Beach's restaurant scene, is offering local clientèle and visitors alike a new dining experience. Fine Italian cuisine in a friendly and informal atmosphere.
§ Ollivander’s Café & Pizza house a full range menu that includes 17 styles of pizza as well as the option to create your own from a list of 18 different toppings. Will deliver to the resort if you aren’t in the mood to go out. Menu’s available in the front lobby.
§ Gary’s Bistro offers huge portions at a reasonable price, the car themed family oriented restaurant is a fun place to hang out after a day of sunning and swimming.
§ Lefty’s Restaurants with two locations to serve you Lefty’s is proud to offer Fresh Food and Great People. Striving to make each visit something more than just a great meal, they call it the “Leftcoast Experience”.
§ Shady Rest Waterfront Restaurant has been feeding locals and tourists alike since 1924. Offering both family restaurant and pub food they have recently added a wine and beer store across the street. The Shady remains a legacy of local tradition where great food and good friends come together!
§ Creekhouse Restaurant located at the French Creek Marina offers a fine dining menu and FANTASTIC views over the Strait of Georgia. If you are looking to catch a hockey game on a big screen TV or relax and watch the ferry head off to Lasqueti Island then try the Boar’s Head Pub just below the Creekhouse Restaurant.
§ Qualicum Beach also has authentic foreign fare; Arada’s Amazing Thai Restaurant and Sushi Mon, both located on 2nd Avenue. In Parksville; Amriko’a Indian Cuisine, Sushi Masa, Saigon Garden Vietnamese Restaurant offer international fare as an alternative dining experience.
§ Leprauchan’s Door located at 1051 Resort Drive, serving up traditional Irish specialties from old family recipes. Visit this family owned and operated Pub located in a 1921 Heritage House situated on a gorgeous waterfront setting at the Beach Acres Resort in Parksville on Vancouver Island.
LINKS TO THE SMALLER GULF ISLANDS
Vancouver Island is the “Big Island” in BC’s tropical paradise, why not check out the smaller Islands too? All located within an hour of the Riverside Resort, each island is unique in their own way and what a great way to spend the afternoon - combing beaches or shopping for local crafts.
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Denman Island is connected to Vancouver Island by a ferry service that has been operating for over 70 years. The 2 km ferry ride provides wonderful views of Denman, as well as Vancouver Island's Beaufort Mountain range. The ferry and its friendly crew make it easy for residents and visitors to access goods and services.
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Hornby Island is another ferry ride from Denman Island but can also be reached by floatplane from the South Terminal at Vancouver International Airport or by a scheduled flight from Vancouver to Comox. There is NO public transport on Denman Island so you need to ask someone on the ferry for a ride across Denman to the Hornby Island ferry.
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Lasqueti Island foot passenger only ferry service is at the French Creek Marina. The island is approximately 8 km wide and 22 km long, with an area of 73.56 km2. About 350 permanent residents call Lasqueti home. There are no paved roads, hydro or industry.
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Gabriola Island is situated a short (about twenty minutes) ferry ride from Nanaimo, British Columbia. Follow the signs to Nanaimo City Centre and to the Gabriola ferry terminal situated in Nanaimo opposite the Port Place Mall. The Gabriola ferry runs approximately once an hour, 7 days a week. Due to high traffic volume during the summer months there can be a one or two sailing wait, so go early.
Festivals? Day Trips? Dining? Gulf Islands?
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