Widely known as Vancouver Island’s “Garden Village,” Qualicum Beach is probably the oldest holiday destination on the BC coast. Early explorers spoke of its beauty, warm summers and amazing vistas as early as 1864. With the arrival of the railway a century ago, the town rapidly developed into a vacation retreat. And thanks to visionary thinking by town planners and a set of strict building codes, Qualicum (a Salish Indian word for “where the dog salmon runs”) Beach remains a singularly unique and special destination to this day.

The town’s founders practically enshrined the words “quaint” and “charming” into Qualicum Beach’s identity. Downtown is filled with boutique shops, galleries, cafes and large, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks. The splendid library is worth a visit in itself. A long beachside promenade begins near town and heads north past hotels and seafood restaurants. When the tide drops, beachcombing is a treat on the broad, sandy expanse. Pockets filled with salt-stained treasure, you can then head uphill to wander among the regal holiday homes with million-dollar views.

Golfers choose Qualicum Beach as their Vancouver Island golf getaway to play the Qualicum Beach Memorial and Pheasant Glen golf courses. Qualicum Beach Memorial is one of oldest BC golf courses with spectacular views of Georgia Strait and Pheasant Glen has some of the best views of Mount Arrowsmith to be found in the region.

Gardening is serious business here. Qualicum Beach is a perennial winner in Canada’s Communities in Bloom beautification program, which awards medals for such initiatives as floral displays, heritage conservation, tidiness and community involvement. Just take a drive downtown and enjoy the flower boxes, street-side gardens and hanging baskets. Early each day, town staff and volunteers ensure that blooms are in tip-top shape. Don't miss Milner Gardens and Woodland featuring a 10 acre artists garden (over 500 Rhododendrons) and trails through 60 acres of old growth forest.

Take a walk in the Heritage Forest of Qualicum Beach, 50 acres of rare remnant old growth forest - a mixture of Coastal Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Hemlock, Grand Fir, and Sitka Spruce. It includes a beautiful ravine with a salmon bearing stream, rare and endangered plants, deer and many species of birds. Only five minutes from downtown, the Forest with its bark mulch trails is protected by a Covenant to ensure that it remains as an ecological reserve, available to all for the purpose of observing and appreciating nature. Stop in at the Qualicum Beach Visitor Centre to get directions