Often compared to the California town of Carmel, Qualicum Beach offers the Vancouver Island visitors a taste of history, fine architecture, the arts, and natural beauty all rolled into one.
Qualicum Beach sits serenely on the hill overlooking its wide sandy beaches, and commands a stunning panorama of the Strait of Georgia, Texada and Lasqueti Islands, and the mainland coastal mountain range. The Village is a short walk from the historic railway station that first brought holiday seekers to this magic spot to enjoy the mild climate and warm sandy beach nearly 100 years ago.
Although many new buildings have been built in the ensuing years, a strong sense of heritage, culture, and civic pride has allowed Qualicum Beach to maintain and develop its unique character in the face of the bland sameness of our modern world. A rarity in North America, Qualicum Beach is a town without a proliferation of franchises. Instead of following the crowd, the creative town planners and entreprising merchants have fashioned a pedestrian-friendly downtown, filled with interesting quality shops and a streetscaping program that has won the town “Four Blooms” in the 2000 National Communities in Bloom Competition. Private residences and public buildings, shops or schools, it seems everyone in Qualicum Beach has a green thumb, and visitors who appreciate hanging baskets, flower gardens and lush landscaping will love strolling through town. If raw natural splendor is more to your liking, a natural forest area is just a short walk from the town centre.
Along the shoreline are the stately summer mansions of “Judges Row” that reflect the tastes and styles of an earlier age and a majestic promenade under cool trees that follows the beach. Enjoy the spectacular sunsets, relax at a seaside picnic, rent a kayak or a beach toy for the day. Vehicles can pull right up to this million-dollar view, and the wide walkway is perfect for a walk’n’ roll – bring a baby stroller, a wheelchair, or a scooter – there’s plenty of room and lots to do in Qualicum Beach!
- excerpt from the Oceanside Tourism Site
http://www.oceansidetourism.com
