Your Own Private Beach House on the Bay

The 2000 square foot Beach House has 3 bedrooms as well as an observation porch sofa bed (sleeps 2) and a sofa bed in the living room (sleeps 2) so the house can accommodate up to 11 guests. On the ocean side of the house on the main floor is the master bedroom. There are 2 bedrooms upstairs with 1 twin and 1 queen bed in one room and 1 queen bed in the other. Next to the master bedroom is the main bathroom and then a full kitchen. The kitchen patio doors open up onto a large covered deck with a 6 person private hot tub, 2 patio tables with chairs and a large gas barbecue and wood fire pit. Just past the deck is an apple orchard often visited by the local deer and bunnies. Next there is a cozy dining room that seats up to eight with a natural gas pedestal stove inserted into a brick chimney facade. Past the dining room is the main entrance and mud/laundry room. The living room, which faces the ocean, comfortably seats 8 people  and has an entertainment centre. Opening from the living room is the front porch with a breathtaking view of the ocean, coastal mountains and marina and is only surpassed by a short walk to an almost completely private beach. This is an ideal country beach getaway without leaving the city.

It is possible to walk to Parksville city center along the beach (approximately 3 km.) I have done it many times although good shoes and the right tides are needed before venturing out. Qualicum Beach is about the same distance but the town center is not on the beach and you must cross the creek first if you are to walk there. Qualicum Town center is about 1/2 km inland and boasts live theatre, an indoor saltwater pool, a large public market, many bakeries and an art center.

There are many places to eat within walking distance of The Beach House. Only a short stroll along the beach, the marina offers a  grocery store, pub and restaurant . Directly across the road is a world class Japanese Sushi Restaurant. Beside this is a bakery with a coffee shop that offers daily lunch specials. There is also a seafood store at the main dock where you can purchase fresh prawns, Alaskan smoked cod, fresh oysters, crab and halibut just to name a few of the delightful BBQ treats.

Down the road, about a five minute walk towards Parksville city centre, is a bakery and store complex. Five minutes past that is a mall with 2 eateries, a large supermarket, a liquor store and many more shops.

The places that I would recommend visiting are many and they all depend on your interests and time schedule. Some are quite close such as Rathtrevor Provincial Park, Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, Little Qualicum Falls and the town of Coombs with the very popular Goats on the Roof Market. Also close by are Cameron Lake and MacMillan's Cathedral Grove with huge trees that have to be seen to be believed.

The Horn Lake Caves, about a 25 minute drive north, have tours that are available for the entire family. Summertime swimming in Spider Lake Park or in the river at Top Bridge or Little Qualicum Falls Park all are amazing places and are very close. Long Beach, on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, and Strathcona Provincial Park, closer to Courtenay, are breathtaking but involve a full day trip. Closer (across the beach at the Marina) there is a ferry to Lasqueti Island which is also an enjoyable day trip. Charter trips are also available from the marina.