AS we lost ourselves over some exquisite, endless tapas, a wine pairing and soft music, while ensconced by a tranquil arbutus and Douglas fir forest, I had to keep reminding myself I was wearing absolutely nothing but a fluffy robe.
It was easy to see where some liberal, European guests of the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Resort and Spa got confused by the “Dining in the Fluff” experience (now called "Dip 'n' Dine") and turned up for dinner naked — or so the story goes.
Either way, my wife and I had just “endured” an hour of utter calm below the restaurant in the stillness and waterfalls of the Parksville resort’s Grotto Spa and we happily slipped into the character of every other bathrobed guest as the occasional waft of fresh air gently breezed through the Treetops Tapas and Grill’s window.
SET in 22 acres of the aforementioned forest, Tigh-Na-Mara (Gaelic for “house-by-the-sea”), is a seaside jewel in the crown of Parksville on Vancouver Island’s east coast, known best for being Canada’s mildest year-round climate, having the country’s warmest ocean swimming waters and, not least, being the B.C. capital of mini-golf.
The resort has luxury log cabins, cottages and rooms, many of which boast panoramic views of the Strait of Georgia and Coastal Mountain range.
Tigh-Na-Mara is also every parent’s dream, with the Island’s most extensive resort recreation summer program, coupled with the adult-sized fun at the Grotto Spa.
While the kids are off at the art studio, indoor pool, sports day, dance lessons, dinner & movie, cosmic bowling, go-karts or music by the Sea, mum and dad — or mums and mums — can partake of the spa, Dine-in-the-Fluff, three kilometres of glorious, sandy beach, yoga classes or the cozy Cedars restaurant and lounge.
Tigh-Na-Mara seemed to have something for everyone when we were there and the two nights and three days in our cozy, luxury cabin, with real log fire, was probably a day or two shy of fully appreciating everything the resort and its surroundings had to offer.
TALKING of surroundings, the area immediately around the resort is wonderful for long walks, hikes, beachcombing; whatever takes your fancy.
In fact, the Oceanside trail network snakes its way past Tigh-Na-Mara’s entrance and connects the dense onshore woodlands to the likes of the magnificently rustic Rathtrevor Beach. Indeed, as we picked our way along Rathtrevor, we noticed a group of large objects breaching the surface of the Strait, disappearing briefly before reappearing every 50 yards or so.
From a distance, it looked like a pod of orcas and we were, naturally, very excited.
It turned out, however, to be a family of sea lions. Then we noticed a similar disturbance a few hundred yards to the south, then another and another and on it went for as far as the eye could see as hundreds of them migrated north for the summer.
Other major attractions nearby include a plethora of cartoonesque mini-golf courses that all ages will love, daytime and often in the evening, when many of the courses are lit up.
You can also explore the incredible old-growth forest of Cathedral Grove at McMillan Provincial Park or visit Englishman River Provincial Park; Little Qualicum Provincial Park, as well as going hiking, mountain biking, caving, kayaking or fishing.
Parksville and the adjoining Qualicum Beach maintain much of their post-war seaside vacation charm and you can usually keep everyone in the family entertained for up to a week, but I wouldn’t stretch their attention span beyond that.
A morning or afternoon visit to the tiny village of Coombs is recommended, with its famous “Goats on the Roof” attraction, where its goats do, frequently, get on the roof and eat the grass or moss growing on the Old Country Market.
For the latest information and deals, go to www.tigh-na-mara.com and www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com.
