| Dog Salmon! Hard to imagine what it might | | | | goes out, it feels like we can walk half-way |
| look like. Four-legged fish with floppy ears | | | | to the mainland.Everywhere you go in Qualicum |
| running up and down the beach! I don't think | | | | you see immaculate gardens, so we decided to |
| so.The Coast Salish (First Nation people) on | | | | check out some of the attractions. Milner |
| Vancouver Island called Chum or Keta Salmon, | | | | Gardens and Woodlands is a rare property |
| Dog Salmon. Chum salmon develop a very hooked | | | | perched on the shores of the Strait of |
| jaw with fierce teeth at spawning time. | | | | Georgia. It has a 10 acre garden complete |
| Perhaps that is why they were called Dog | | | | with a character home that is used primarily |
| Salmon. Chum, on average, weigh eight to ten | | | | as a tea-house. The garden is surrounded by |
| pounds and measure about 40 inches in length. | | | | 60 additional acres of Coastal Douglas fir. |
| Their ocean coloration of silvery blue green | | | | Malaspina-University College acquired the |
| changes at spawning time to splotchy purplish | | | | site from Veronica Milner in 1996. Veronica's |
| red and with distinct yellow and pink | | | | mother was a cousin of Winston Churchill. |
| vertical bars on their sides. They are one | | | | Much of the Royal family has visited or |
| ugly fish!When we arrive at Qualicum Beach | | | | stayed at the gardens.From the tea-room and |
| (which means, "where the dog salmon run"), | | | | gardens you can enjoy super-natural views of |
| the last image that comes to mind is Dog | | | | Georgia Strait and the Coastal Mountains on |
| Salmon. Qualicum Beach is a quaint village in | | | | the Mainland. The Gardens and Woodland is |
| the middle of absolute paradise. Everything | | | | operated by a non-profit horticultural |
| is beautiful from the endless expansive sandy | | | | society with a mission to maintain and |
| and pebble beaches to the beautiful | | | | restore the gardens and buildings. Volunteers |
| snow-capped mountains that provide a backdrop | | | | and students carry out much of the |
| to the area. The town has worked hard | | | | maintenance of the gardens under the |
| preserving its heritage which is obvious | | | | supervision of horticulture staff. I |
| walking through the downtown area. A heritage | | | | recommend these gardens and walks through the |
| style design is predominant, providing a | | | | woodlands.Looking for a tourist trap? Well, |
| friendly village atmosphere. Everywhere we go | | | | the best little tourist trap in BC is the Old |
| from the spectacular heritage designed | | | | Country Market in Coombs. Just a few |
| Quality Foods grocery store to the funky | | | | kilometers out of Qualicum you will find a |
| Smithford's, we meet very friendly people.The | | | | country market with goats living on the roof. |
| town hall in Qualicum Beach | | | | This eclectic market has something for |
| | | | everyone. My favourite is the ice cream bar. |
| Photo by Ron KirsteinFinding a place to stay | | | | It is no ordinary ice cream bar. It is about |
| is not difficult. The area has an abundance | | | | 40 feet long and offers many choices of ice |
| of accommodations from bed and breakfasts to | | | | cream, sorbet and gelato. A single cone cost |
| motels and resorts. We chose the Seaview | | | | me just $3.00 and I swear that it had a pound |
| Beach Resort because we are having a family | | | | of ice cream in it. After eating the mound on |
| get-together. The quaint cottages range from | | | | top, I gobbled ice cream to the very bottom |
| 1-3 bedrooms and come fully equipped. When we | | | | of the waffle cone. I consider myself an ice |
| walk out our door, within seconds, we are | | | | cream aficionado and I have never seen a |
| right on the beach. The Seaview is well off | | | | place so generous. This is a shop till you |
| the road and sits among modern residential | | | | drop market with vegetables, meats, food |
| properties. It is very quiet and peaceful. | | | | specialties, clothes, toys, unique gifts and |
| Across the road we discover a large Federal | | | | a whole lot more. It also has a very fine |
| Wild Life Sanctuary. As we walk down the | | | | restaurant which seems to efficiently serve a |
| beach and the roadway we are drooling over | | | | never-ending line-up. It has my vote for the |
| incredible new oceanfront homes. My wife is | | | | best little tourist trap in the world!The |
| scoping out the fire pit where she will roast | | | | area boasts some of the best of BC Provincial |
| her marsh mellows just as soon as the sun | | | | Parks. If you like to camp, hike, explore the |
| goes down.One of the beautiful homes along | | | | beach or visit spectacular waterfalls you |
| the sea shore | | | | should check out Rathtrevor Beach Provincial |
| | | | Park, Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, |
| Photo by Ron KirsteinNow we are settled in | | | | Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park and |
| to our cabin by the sea. Besides the obvious, | | | | Cathedral Grove Provincial Park. Other |
| we check around to see what we can do while | | | | attractions can be found throughout the area |
| we are in paradise. Locals inform us that you | | | | by checking the web at Kirstein is the owner |
| can beach walk almost continuously for about | | | | of a Canadian Travel & Tourism Web |
| 50Km (30 miles) along the coast line with the | | | | |
| exception of interruptions by two rivers, the | | | | site (since 1995). |
| Englishman and French Creek. When the tide | | | | |