Looking for unique Vancouver Island experiences? Go beyond the usual with our guide to a luxury spa in Parksville, epic nature tours in Campbell River, and idyllic coastal vibes in Qualicum Beach. Start planning your next island getaway!

PARKSVILLE IS FOR SPA-LOVERS

If “spa town” isn’t what comes to mind when you think “Parksville," think again. Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort debuted its fully revamped Grotto Spa last year, injecting $2.5 million into a full makeover with outdoor cedar-barrel saunas, a garden patio, a hot tub, lavish changerooms, and a huge mineral pool in a space that mimics a natural-rock cave grotto. It’s magic, minus the mustiness, and a treat for all six senses. It also brought the historic property—which opened in 1946 with a single tent and has grown to 192 rooms spread over 22 forested acres—to the forefront of spa stays on Vancouver Island.

Book a two-hour self-guided session where you’ll float through as if on a cloud, staying hydrated by the high-tech water filter which allows you to select not only a custom natural-fruit flavour, but also the level of sparkle in your water. A spa guide will gently let you know when to wrap up or, better yet, head to your massage. Forest-bathe under cedar and Douglas fir trees on the walk back to your handbuilt log cabin or luxe waterfront suite. The resort borders Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park and the Salish Sea, where the sandy-beach vibe reminds us of Tofino only with warmer water for a saltwater swim—the perfect nervous system reset.

Bucket List Experience: Ever dined in a restaurant in your robe and sandals? Post-spa, book Tigh-Na-Mara’s signature endless fine dining experience, in which you eat a nine-course tasting menu wearing just that. The indulgent meal comes with 2-oz wine pairings, if you wish, and feels like a community experience because, well, everyone is eating their five-star food in plush robes with messy spa hair. The “endless” part: guests have carte blanche to re-order favourite dishes, and it’s all included. Our server tells us that only one person is known to have re-ordered the whole menu again; we went for an extra serving of cedar-baked Kuterra salmon with house-fermented black mustard.

Where (Else) to Eat: Dine oceanside off vintage-style floral plates at the airy, greenery-filled Nanoose Bay Cafe, a 10-minute drive from the Tigh-Na-Mara. With a coffee shop on one side, resto on the other, and an artisan market at the entrance, the new-ish restaurant is known for its live music nights, off-the-charts West Coast-Asian menu, and sweeping water views. Our favourites? Spicy braised beef fried rice, gnocchi with prawns and scallops, and bright-magenta ube cheesecake to finish.

CAMPBELL RIVER IS FOR NATURE-LOVERS

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Two hours east of Nanaimo sits this “salmon capital of the world”, but Campbell River is also the launchpad to some of BC’s wildest natural excursions. The city still has semi-hidden-gem status, but it’s only a matter of time until it gets Tofino-busy summers. So, take the scenic Oceanside Route along Highway 19A, bald eagle-spotting along the way, then check into Naturally Pacific Resort. Open since mid-2024, it gave the city the large hotel it needed with luxurious perks like outdoor fire pits, a giant chess board, a mineral pool with aromatherapy rainfall showers, a virtual golf driving range called Velocity, an 18-hole golf course, and a 20,000-square-foot vegetable garden that supplies its restaurant.

Naturally Pacific is certainly the comfiest jumping-off point to choose-your-own-adventure wildlife tours. From whale watching trips to grizzly bear excursions with the Homolco First Nations, to gorgeous waterfall hikes, day trips to Quadra Island (BC Ferries leaves from downtown), and world-class salmon fishing, there is something for everyone. If you don’t want to pick up a fishing rod yourself, get a taste by watching locals fly-fishing waist-deep in the flowing Campbell River itself before devouring a smoked salmon benny at old-school-adorable Ideal Cafe (circa 1940s) across the street.

Where to Eat: Order a box of filled Scandinavian-style croissants at poetically named Freyja, The Croissant Story and eat them on Discovery Pier before heading to Shelter Point Distillery to test their single-malt whisky; it’s one of the only locations in the world growing their own grain, “farm-to-flask” style. For steak and cocktails, return to Carve Kitchen + Meatery at the hotel, which transforms into a breakfast joint in the a.m. serving plates like banana bread french toast with Nutella ganache.

Bucket-List Experience: Two words: chase waterfalls. When you’ve done the grizzlies, salmon, and whales, discover the 70+ waterfalls scattered between Campbell River and Gold River. Do some research and plan a day-trip, starting with nearby Elk Falls, which has a suspension bridge for easy viewing.

QUALICUM IS FOR SMALL TOWN-LOVERS

Quaint may feel like an antiquated term, but it truly is the word to describe Qualicum Beach, a seaside town with a population just shy of 10,000, bordered by forests and farmland. Its beautiful beachfront is part of BC’s largest coastal wildlife management area, a 17-kilometre stretch that lines the coast of Parksville and Qualicum, and its petite downtown core packs a hefty dose of small-town nostalgia with been-there-forever shops like The Bookcase, known for its rare books, and a locally loved year-round Saturday Farmers’ Market.

A short drive out of town, visit Little Qualicum Cheeseworks’ to self-tour the working farm with goats, calves, bunnies—oh-so-quaint—and Canada’s first on-tap milk dispenser, where you can fill a bottle with buttery fresh milk at the press of a button. Back in town, book into Qualicum Beach Inn, a luxuriously converted motel on the water. Drop your bags, then stroll down past the blue-umbrella’d patio to the beach across the street. Unfurl a blanket and watch paddle boarders, swimmers, and seals glide by; return only when hunger strikes.

Where to Eat: In its previous iteration, Qualicum Beach Inn was The Dutch Inn motel; at the family-run in-house restaurant, Qualicum Beach Café, that explains why the room is uniquely windmill-shaped. Order a Saturn cocktail with gin and passionfruit puree, a choose-your-own charcuterie board with homemade focaccia and whatever meats and cheeses strike your fancy (Bleu Claire from Little Qualicum is a must), and housemade gnocchi. For morning coffee, French Press Coffee Roasters is the place. Owned by former professional violist Jeremy Perkins, its small-batch coffee was awarded “world champion of espresso” status this past spring after taking the top prize at the Golden Bean World Series in Guatemala, and the Carrot Cake is baked with more carrots than flour.

Bucket-List Experience: This one’s easy. Grab your buckets, towels, and snacks and hit the sand for an unplugged afternoon by the water.

HOW TO GET THERE

All locations are accessible via BC Ferries. From either Horseshoe Bay or Tsawwassen terminals on the mainland, hop on a ferry to Nanaimo; Parksville and Qualicum Beach are about a 40-minute drive, and Campbell River is a 2-hour drive.