Part of the fun of living in Vancouver is having little pockets of loveliness like Bowen Island,…read moreavailable to visit as a day-trip. As of yet, I haven't accumulated the funds to purchase my own private island a la Richard Branson...but Tunstall Beach allows us to indulge such fantasies. This gorgeous, sheltered beach can be accessed by car, bike or bus. At times it is busy, and other days we have had the beach to ourselves. When folks are there, it is fun to watch people kayaking, swimming and picnicking. There are 'rustic' but totally functional washroom facilities (bring Purel :) I do not recommend it for ones with mobility issues, as there is a small incline down from the parking to the beach area. Other beaches on Bowen Island are flat. Our favorite thing to do is pack a blanket, some pate, cheese and crackers, fruit, prosecco...and watch the sunsets that are truly breathtaking. It is a short ferry ride home to be back to work/life the next day but you will feel as if you have had a mini holiday! Bowen Island has some cute shops, restaurants, artisans and a riot of fabulous scenery if you feel like kicking around a bit longer during the day...

Nice beach with relatively easy access to water. A generally pleasant place to sit around. As with…read moreother beaches on the island, lots of mussels and sea stars.

Qualicum Beach, a small town located on Vancouver Island near Nanaimo, is a popular local vacation…read morespot. However, until last week, when my husband and I were invited to join a friend at her parents' vacation home in Qualicum Beach, I had never had the opportunity to go. We were only there for a few days so we did not have the opportunity to see much, but it was a nice, relaxing, much-needed mini vacation. One of the things we did was walk along the beach, and we saw several eagles and a heron, in addition to many, many geese. There were also a ton of tiny crabs skittering about on the sand, and we had to be careful to ensure that we did not step on them. I would like to go back and see more of Qualicum Beach, although as a non-driver, I would need to get a ride with a friend who drives. There is technically transit in Qualicum Beach -- I saw some bus stops, and once, I saw a bus -- but essentially, you need to have access to a car to get anywhere.

As its name might suggest, Qualicum Beach is a seaside community centered around - prepare yourself…read morefor it - the eponymous beachfront. It's easy to see what originally drew visitors and settlers to the area, and what prompted world-weary retirees to stay. The Island Highway (Hwy 19) snakes up from Nanaimo and Parksville past some spectacular views of the Sunshine Coast, an endless parade of powder blue Coast Mountains and slate islands rising from the waters of Georgia Strait. As the long, pebbled shingle sweeps around in an arc, jagged peaks of the coastal Vancouver Island range scrape the clouds. Some of the prettiest mid-Island scenery is before you. Do as the Qualicum Beachers do, and pull out your trainers or your bike to enjoy the show. A long paved trail connects one end of Qualicum Beach up towards the other, though a few old-time motels have refused to provide connection points around their property (annoyingly requiring diversions). Lots of seniors walking their dogs or pushing grandkids in strollers regularly traverse the route. At least two ice creameries/cafés anchor the route, so you can enjoy a sweet treat after all that energizing fresh air. Anyone expecting a golden stretch of sand as far as the eye can see will be disappointed - you want Rathtrevor Beach or the public beach in Parksville for that. Qualicum Beach is stonier and laden with bleached driftwood shaped into intriguing forms. Sandy spots are snatched up by kids on beach blankets in the summer. The gentle slopes are ideal for a long, pleasant walk, and the north end of the beach seems to be better suited for splashing around and swimming. Several large shade trees provide a spot to get out of the sun or hide from the rain - this being the Pacific Coast, you can feasibly have both in an hour. Parking is provided all along the strand, but those spots are hotly contested and you may find yourself trying to back out into a line of highway traffic eager to snatch your spot up or bypass the person waiting. Exercise patience and caution along with your legs.

A very nice scenic and relaxing beach and a very nice place for a nice relaxing walk.read more

Lovely public space on the neck of the park. The water isn't very clear, but it's nice and warm in…read morethe summer. Goose Spit is surrounded by a lot of sand and mud bottoms, making it great for wading in the water. Access from Hawkins Avenue by car, or the Hawkins Greenway on foot. There is ample free parking beachside, fire pit rings, and porta potties. At the tip/end of the Spit is the Naval base and civilians are restricted from visiting. If you want nice views, head for the Nob Hill Greenway. The trail begins with a set of stairs near the beginning of the Spit which lead up to residential areas. If you keep going along the narrow blackberry trail, you get even wider vistas.

Absolutely beautiful! One of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We lucked out and had a sunny…read moreafternoon bike ride down from Tofino, the path/trail was rolling hill ride.

Long Beach in Tofino is a jawdropper. I came to this beach through a short hike in Pacific Rim…read moreNational Park. The name is true to its meaning. It's really long, yet very different from other beaches that are long. It's very wide, very clean, and the sand is very firm. You'll see a lot of little cute shorebirds gathered on the sandy beach near the shoreline feeding. It's a wonderful beach to have a jog without worry too much about sand in your shoes. The sounds from the ocean were music to my ears.

My parents live 5 mins from here, so it tends to be our go-to for one of our Island Beach Days!…read more They have a really great playground & water squirt park, clean change/rest rooms. The beach itself isn't bad, but it can be quite rocky so I would strongly suggest to wear a cheap pair of rubber flip flops on the beach and wear them in the water! Also, the water is COLD! You can swim in it, but it's a rough go on the way in! Another thing to be aware of is the tide. At times you can walk and walk and walk before you get to swim. However, the tide will come in quickly, so watch your bags, towels etc. When we were there the first week of July, we decided to go onto a rock mass that was above sea level by quite a bit and had a Tee Pee on it! It was quite private as there was only another coupon on it at the time. We swam (froze) but generally had fun. We had waded across below the knee level to get to it. When we decided to leave, it was no longer knee level- it came up past my chest (I'm 5-8) I slightly panicked as I didn't know how we were going to get back to the beach. Luckily my husband is 6-2, but he had to carry the bags above his head in order for him to safely get across without getting our phones etc. wet! Funny after the fact, not so much at the time !!

This is a huge park! There are plenty of parking all over. We parked somewhere in the middle near…read morethe children playground. Lots of families were there on the day we went. There is a green space in the middle where the arboretum is. It feels peaceful to walk in the greenery under the cover of the trees. During low tide, you can see the seabed as far as the eyes can see. Families will take the opportunity to be out there with their beach towels. I did not venture out there but I think you will also see shellfish in the seabed. The advisory was not to harvest them as they are contaminated. My favorite part of this park is at the end where there is a Legacy Labyrinth. It is quieter here. You can meditate while walking the labyrinth. There are also many cairns set on the logs. Pretty neat to see them.

A beautiful park with great views and the dirtiest washrooms--floors have tons of dirt around the…read moreedges (and everywhere else). Showers grubby.

Such a beautiful place...magical really. That's why it's so heartbreaking to see it so poorly…read moremaintained and run. No toilet paper, no hand soap, only cold showers, garbage all over the grounds, people camping off site under trees, no accountability for partiers, dirtiest bathroom imaginable (including garbage everywhere and raccoon poop), dirty underwear at our campsite and on the beach. Just so sad! I picture it how it COULD be and sadly, it is being trashed.

I'm going to let the secret out to everyone! Tonquin beach is the most beautiful small beach in…read moreTofino. Secluded, exclusive, and private, yet free access for everyone. I came here in October during the evening, and there was only one person sitting on the beach. I was expecting more people because it was so beautiful. It was so quiet and peaceful too. I could only hear the waves and the wind blowing. The sands were almost completely untouched by beachcombers; so pristine, and very clean. The sunset on the beach was like a Roy Henry Vickers painting.

Amazing little spot…read more It is a quick drive from the Tofino town center. I would even say within walking distance. The whole park has just recently been completely updated with new trails, walkways and beach access. Parking is pretty limited. Walk down the path, down some cool stairs to the beach. It is quaint and very much undiscovered from the general tourist population. Talk about stereotypical west coast beauty. The rocks and trees make for a beautiful little cove. When you get down to the beach from the path, another trail picks up to another set of wooden stairs up to a wonderful trail system through the park. The trail walk took my wife and I about an hour with lots of breaks to enjoy the views and explore the surroundings. It was a great pre-lunch walk to build up our appetite to eat at Sobo nearby (best food in Tofino... scratch that, one of the best places on the Island!) This was my first discovery of the park/beach after seeing it on Yelp and it did not disappoint. Tonquin Park will be one of the places I will visit every time I go to Tofino from now on.

Beautiful beach, stunning views. Fantastic at low tide to explore tide pools and plenty of sandy…read moreplaces to play and swim. Breathtaking place to spend the day. Picnic tables for your lunching needs and public bathrooms and rinse showers available.

Great family campground. We stayed here for two nights with our three kids. Lots of other families…read morethere and our kids made friends in the park right away. Not a wilderness campground but our site was far enough we couldn't see our neighbors on either side. Short walk to the beach, saw deer on the campground. Great weekend away.

For an easy, scenic walk with ample parking, come to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park! You can walk…read morethe trails, on the beach and sit on one of the many beautiful benches they have provided. Vancouver Island is simply beautiful and scenic and reconnecting with nature is so easy in this lovely land. Highly recommend and will definitely return, eh!

While we were at Parksville on Vancouver Island, we took a morning stroll along a good length of…read morethe Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. This is a beautiful place whether you want to stay for a couple of hours, or camp overnight (we didn't, so I couldn't tell you where the campsites were). Washrooms are conveniently spaced apart, there are lots of trees and shaded areas, and dozens upon dozens of solid picnic tables galore. I could imagine hauling all of our food with lots of friends/family down to this beach and NOT worry about having to find parking or a picnic a spot. There are plenty of trees to provide ample shade, and the sandy beach is never more than a minute away. The beach is the most awe inspiring and beautiful when it is low tide; you will see a stretch of sandy flats as far as the eye can see!

Took a trip out to the island to attend a foraging event put on by the university and we found this…read morelittle gem which is only a 10 min drive away from the Marine field station. Bev is the owner and she is very kind! She rents out the separate suite in the lower half of her beautiful home. There are two bedroom - one with a queen size bed and the second with two single beds. There is a full sized bathroom and a nice living room with a gas fireplace for those chilly night. The couch pulls out into a queen bed as well so you can easily sleep 6 people in this suite. It looks our onto the beautiful Strait of Georgia - we honestly were sad to leave! There is a fully stocked kitchen all you have to do is bring your own food and drink and you can relax and have a great time! We plan on brining our kids next time and staying to enjoy the beautiful view some more. Bev was kind enough to offer a bottle of white wine which was nice after our long day out on the beach foraging for shellfish. This place is a gem for sure and we would recommend it to anyone looking to get away and stay on the island.

From the owner: Oceanside Haven is a private, quiet place to stay with all of the comforts of home and…read morebreath-taking views across the Strait of Georgia. Centrally located on Vancouver Island, this two bedroom oceanfront vacation suite is the perfect accommodation for your romantic getaway, wedding, honeymoon, family vacation or anniversary.There are many Golf Courses nearby as well as Fishing, Scuba Diving and Kayaking (for more fun local attractions, see our Vancouver Island Activities page). If you feel like exploring, you can visit Horne Lake Caves, take a leisurely walk on our beach and explore the tide pools brimming with life, watch the Eagles soaring in the sky above, the Blue Herons catching their fish and the Seals and Sea Lions playing in the Pacific Ocean.