CANADA TURNS 150

Happy 150th Birthday, Canada! In case you couldn’t tell, we love Canada Day here at Ocean Trails. We are so proud to be Canadians and to call this incredible corner of the world our home. Parksville will be getting downright festive for Canada’s birthday this year, starting as always with the Shiner’s Pancake Breakfast (7:30am until 11:00am) while the Parade starts at 10:00am and runs until 12:00pm. At noon the opening ceremonies begin, with entertainment immediately after starting at 12:30pm and running nonstop until dusk. Finally, a fireworks display will wrap up the evening starting at 10:15pm. It’s the one […]

FATHER’S DAY

Happy Father’s Day – or, we tend to know it in our neck of the woods, Happy “Take Your Dad to the Car Show in Qualicum” Day! Celebrating fathers and fatherhood can be a challenge, but if you’re looking for something to do with Dad there’s always a few guaranteed hits. The classic car show in Qualicum, of course, but in addition to that there is an absolute abundance of outdoor options in the region, like hiking, fishing, or going to the driving range. Of course, there’s also the Rod and Gun 😉

LONG STAY DAY TRIPS: CATHEDRAL GROVE & CAMERON LAKE

When enjoying a longer stay in Parksville, time is on your side. Days can be spent enjoying the natural wealth and beauty of mid Vancouver Island, the Salish Sea, the incredible parks – there is no need to rush. Cathedral Grove and Cameron Lake reward those who take their time. Known officially as MacMillan Provincial Park, Cathedral Grove is home to some of the largest fir trees found anywhere in the world. These ancient goliaths along the Port Alberni Highway are a must-visit for anyone spending time on Vancouver Island, offering picturesque trails in pristine British Columbian wilderness. It’s not […]

OFF THE BEATEN PATH: SPIDER LAKE & ILLUSION LAKES

Wherever you go, there are always the places that only the locals know about. The hidden gems, the beaches or lakes they frequent, the places where residents go to relax and unwind that visitors never hear about. We talked before about a couple of our local Parksville favourites in Englishman River Falls and Top Bridge, great for hikes and experiencing nature. Now it’s time for us to talk about another couple hidden spots to unwind: Spider Lake and Illusion Lakes. Many visitors spend time at Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park when they visit Vancouver Island – but what they don’t […]

MOTHER’S DAY

Happy Mother’s Day! If you’re looking for something special to do with your mother today, here are a few local suggestions: Long walks on the beach! Beach walks may be kind of our go-to around here, but that doesn’t mean they ever get old. Parksville and Qualicum Beach are blessed with an abundance of beautiful sandy beaches, perfect for morning, afternoon, or evening strolls. Eat something delicious… Looking for some decadent and delicious breakfast? Try Bread and Honey! Something inexpensive and authentic? Check out Saigon Garden! What about a nice sit down meal with a glass of wine? Lefty’s! Have […]

RATHTREVOR TIDES

What makes the best beach day? There’s weather, to be sure. Sunny days – or even partly-sunny days – mean you can relax and unwind and enjoy the heat and the warmth nature gifts us. But perhaps even more important than the skies above are the tides below. On special days, however, you get twice as much beach. These ‘extreme’ low tide days are a blessing, happening just a handful of times per year. Rathtrevor Beach is gifted with some of the most incredible sands in the Pacific Northwest, a relic of the Ice Age that saw sandy beaches deposited […]

A SUMMER OF ICE AND FIRE

Parksville and Qualicum Beach may be known for being timeless, quiet, and picturesque – but sometimes we like to enjoy a good street festival! May 6th sees the return of the Fire and Ice Street Festival, decorating the streets of Qualicum with fantastical ice sculptures and countless chili cookpots. Chili and ice sculptures; fire and ice. Of course, that’s not all! There’s also performances, raffles, arts and crafts – you name it. Every year has a theme, with past themes including everything from fantasy to pirates! This year there will be a Heart tribute band from Vancouver on the main […]

BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF QUADRA SANDS

The incredible sandy beaches you find sporadically placed throughout British Columbia are something of an anomaly along our rocky shores. Why do strikingly silky-smooth sands stretch out across these endless beaches dominate Parksville and Qualicum Beach when barnacle-encrusted rocky waterfront is the norm for so much of Vancouver Island? The answer, in short, is the Quadra Sands: sediments deposited in these unique locations as glaciers ground their way across the landscape at the end of the ice age. As these icy mountains melted, they left behind long stretches of beautiful, smooth sandy beaches. Rathtrevor Beach is one of these beaches, […]

OVER 20 YEARS OF CELEBRATING THE WILD

Nature lovers locally and abroad come together to celebrate the Brant Wildlife Festival every year here in Parksville and Qualicum Beach, enjoying the sights and sounds of Brant Geese as they enjoy their layover on Vancouver Island before heading up north. Every spring sees these geese return from Mexico, and when they get here they are thin, needing a few days of rest to stop, eat, and muster the strength needed to continue journey to Alaska. This festival celebrates nature but also conservation, as Brant numbers decrease due to mankind’s continued negative environmental impact. The Nature Trust of British Columbia […]

THE DESCENT

Are you looking for a relaxed vacation, or for something a little more adventurous? While Parksville and Vancouver Island are known for being a relaxing, timeless locale, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any opportunities to get your adrenaline pumping while you visit – you could venture down into Vancouver Island’s ‘heart of darkness’ by rappelling down an underground waterfall! This ‘extreme’ unique experience is only available between May and October, involves climbing, crawling, cable ladders, and rappelling in a dynamic environment. It is not for the faint of heart. You’ll need to check with Horne Lake Caves & Outdoor Centre […]