It's the peacock park! Plenty of peacocks flexing their tails. Well maintained. There's also the…read moreanimals area for kids. Well maintained.

Beacon Hill Park is such a beautiful and vast park! Our party of four had to break our exploring of…read moreit into two different rounds and each time it was great! There are beautiful ponds and fountains here in amongst lush trees. There are paths that lead you into all sorts of park adventures! On the first excursion we saw a juvenile owl in a tree and got some pictures of it as well as well as the Moss Lady statue as extra bonuses. On the second excursion we went to a wonderful rose garden, the Children's Farm which consists of various animals which are primarily barnyard types. We then went to the south end of the park and went to Mile Zero for the Trans Canadian Highway and a gorgeous view of the water from the Straight of Juan De Fuca. And we saw more juvenile owls out and about in the trees. Definitely a park to go to and it's the kind of place that will bring in tourist sightseers but will have locals or residents as well because it's clear it's a park that is loved by all.

About 15 min drive from Qualicum. We spent an hour walking…read morein a loop on the trail around the falls Watch your step Wear good shoes Did not see a bathroom ! Don't leave valuable in your car Very beautiful place Kids liked it too Nice place for a picnic

Nice, easy outdoor activity with beautiful scenery. The lower falls are only a few flights of…read morestairs down from the parking lot. There's a nice bridge to cross and you can go further down stream for a better look at the area. The higher falls are a further walk but are worth it! The walk isn't tough and the trail well kept. There's a series of falls and different look out points along the way. Very beautiful!

I hadn't planned to visit Lime Kiln Point State Park while staying on San Juan Island, but our BnB…read morehost INSISTED we include a visit to the park in our itinerary. Lesson learned; always trust the guidance of locals when visiting a new place. This park is a gem! Visitors will find this gorgeous park located on the west side of the Island, perfectly situated to offer stunning views of the Salish Sea. The park is named for its historic lime kiln used by settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. An interpretive center has displays and activities about orcas and the area's lime kiln industry once important to the region. The coastline is incomparable! A five to ten minute downhill walk from the parking lot reveals remarkable views of the Olympic Mountains and an expansive view of sparkling water stretching far into the distance. It's said this site is one of the best whale watching locations in the islands, where visitors will most likely be able to see orcas! We weren't fortunate enough to find any during our visit, but the scenery was rewarding enough. The trail continues along the rocky shoreline, passing several pristine coves and thickets of madrones with twisted, curling red bark. The trail soon reveals a beautiful lighthouse on a rocky bluff, and the lime kilns in the distance. There is a well-curated gift shop back at the parking lot, as well as picnic tables, information kiosks, and public restrooms. There's a whole lot of beauty packed into this 42 acre park... something you won't want to miss!

Truly a picturesque park with beautiful coastal hikes. We certainly enjoyed walking along the…read morecoastline while taking in the scenery. Walking to the lighthouse was a perfect adventure and not strenuous if you are looking for a pretty easy hike. Stop and look out for whales (we didn't see any) and also check out the tide pools!

This park is fairly close to downtown Nanaimo with its charming restaurants and bookstores and home…read moreto a beautiful waterfall. They gave a map of the area in the visitor center as the other reviewer kindly noted it had a duck pond, fountains, and a waterfall. On the snowy day that we were there we also noticed many sledding and a few intrepid photographers hoping to capture the perfect shot. The waterfall isn't tall but perfect in its nature setting and made our youngest quite happy to see its beauty.

Bowen park is a long park with the entrances mainly on Bowen. The park has a creek running through…read moreit as well as several ponds. The park is great for trail running or just walking around or taking photos. Through out the park has many informational landmarks about nanaimo.

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!

Beacon Park lies at the foot of Sidney's Beacon Avenue, near the city's waterfront. For us, it,…read moreand immediate surrounding area, offered a lovely, scenic spot for some short walkabouts to catch some waterfront sights & sounds, on our way to catch the ferry back home at Swartz Bay. Wow, what a lovely spot, and our stop here provided a nice, but too brief time to really absorb and experience the offerings, but we did what we could, and sure enjoyed the views. And a fun plus for us, was chatting with some of the local residents out for their morning walks with their dogs!! Within the Park, there is art (some 'fun and clever' sculptures associated with the 'Sidney Seaside Sculpture Walk' begin here), a small pavillion, picnic tables, and walkways along the waterfront (to really enjoy the seaside views). And nearby, the boardwalk out onto the Sidney Wharf (with fish market, restaurant, access to boats/ferries, and such), and the back-side of the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre (with it's own great nature-related sculptures, set on the living tide-pool setup). We now know what's there, and next trip will plan better, to enjoy a little more of what Sidney's Beacon Park, and area has to offer. edit to add: stopped by again, April 27, on the way to catch the ferry. Shot a few pictures of the sculptures.

If you love nature, you will absolutely love coming here. It's worth the ferry ride and drive from…read moreVancouver. It's stunning, we did a few hikes, and they were all so different. They have the Forrest side, as well as the beach, so the variety of hikes are fantastic. Unfortunately we didn't have time to do the longer ones, but we were very satisfied with the ones we did. The boys enjoyed them, we didn't do hard ones, all were easy to moderate. We recommend the rainforest trail, radar hill (if it's clear), and south beach. I really recommend all if you have time.

If you are looking for the true West Coast Experience, this is it…read more The park consists of 3 Units: The Long Beach Unit The Broken Islands Unit The West Coast Trail Unit I have been to the Long Beach and West Coast Trail units, and plan to one day kayak the Broken Islands. Long Beach is a popular spot for those going to Tofino or Ucluelet, and is a pretty amazing beach. Even if you aren't into surfing, just watching the waves roll in and strolling the sandy beach is worth the trip. The West Coast Trail is a truly amazing experience. I have been twice now, and it's a tough, but rewarding right of passage. The trail is a 75 km trek across beach, up and down ladders, across rivers and trails through bog, forest and stunning scenery. Some people are so in love with the trail they do it every year. Despite the mud, roots, logs, and ladders! Or maybe because of them. It takes planning and money, though, so not for those who like to do things on a whim. The peak season is June 15th to September 15th, but the trail is open as early as May 1st and goes to September 30th. You won't ever catch me out there that early. I don't care if there are less people on the trail, the weather can be downright nasty! Reservations during the peak season are highly recommended, though there are limited spots available at each trail head for standby spots on the trail. The WCT is NOT for those with: A fear of heights Knee or back injuries Limited mobility Big egos and no experience Children accompanying The inability to clean up after themselves My only complaints about the WCT are the lack of info regarding parking areas at the trail heads, and ignorant people that do the trail with their kids (min age of 12 is still too young for this trail. 15 should be the minimum), or those who leave their garbage around (pack it in, pack it out, and burning your plastic food bags is not cool). Tips: Parking at the Pachena Bay trail head is not recommended, as there are many break-ins to vehicles that occur, despite being able to park on Parks Canada land. Parking in Port Renfrew for the Gordon River trail head is not on park land, and you either go to the Port Renfrew hotel in town, or the Gordon River Campground 1 min up the road from the trail head. This spot is also called Soft River (very confusing at 7:45 am). There are some places on the reserve (some guy's yard) that offer parking, too, but aren't open that early. Book the Trail Bus early to get to your trail head starting position. Park at the end you intend to finish, take the shuttle to your start. Hike back to your car. The shuttle picks up at the Port Renfrew Hotel (and trail head and Gordon River campground) and if you park there you can get a free ride back to your car from the trail head when you finish. This is your cheapest option. I parked at the Gordon River campground since it is closer to the trail head, not knowing you get the free ride back to the hotel. Despite being more expensive, it was safe. I accidentally left a window fully open, with all my friend's belongings in the trunk, and not a thing was touched. The bears didn't even take the half empty bag of Tostitos under the open window. Bonus! We ate these when we got back to the car.

Came here while on vacation and we had so much fun! The walk was so nice and cool for July. A bit…read moreof a hike but totally worth it. The place is well maintained as people seem to care for the area while visiting and keeps it clean. People stay on the trail too. Does seem like people wander the area for walking and very light hiking, but they don't stick around long. Seems like a fun area.

Talk about an unexpected, slightly creepy, yet cool find!…read more On the list of things to do on San Juan Island was this spot, and it seemed intriguing, so the bff and I decided to make the drive on over to check it out. Parking was easy at the adjacent gravel lot on the perimeter of Roche Harbor airport. The ~1 mile dirt path takes you through a few family grave sites, and there are ample signs leading to the mausoleum itself. When you get to the mausoleum, expect to be wowed by how well-kept the structure is despite being so isolated. It was a bone-chilling experience to see how John S. McMillin decided to preserve his family's memory. Note that there is only a portal potty on site. It's not exactly wheelchair friendly, either. Definitely take a visit!

This first regional Park of Nanaimo area offers magnificent views but limited parking. The initial…read moredescent is steep but worth it. A bench is at the tip. Numerous short trails crisscross the area. No mooring or campfires allowed. Portapotty on site.