Qualicum Beach is known as Vancouver Island's "garden village." The temperate climate produces an extraordinarily long growing season with upwards of 280 frost-free days annually. Local officials and residents are dedicated to keeping the town verdantly green and authentically pretty. Take in an eyeful, on a relaxed wander through town. Many residents avidly tend their own gardens while also volunteering for civic beautification projects that continue to make Qualicum Beach a perennial winner in the "Communities in Bloom" competition at provincial, national and international levels. The downtown streetscape is a riot of colour for much of the year. More than 200 hanging baskets are watered daily. Adding to the fragrant charms are curbside displays and back alleys lined with shrubs and flowering trees.
Community Park & Heritage Forest
Parks and green space account for more than 12% of the town. The winding footpaths in the Qualicum Beach Community Park (adjacent to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre on the town's western edge) is a favorite spot for a gentle stroll. Keep an eye out for the rare white ravens that have nested here in recent years. 
One prized civic treasure is the Heritage Forest. Saved from developers in the mid-1990s by concerned citizens, the 20 ha/50ac forest allows townies and visitors alike to wander happily through a pristine, old-growth ecosystem. The vast forest is accessible from Crescent Rd. East across from Qualicum Memorial Golf Course – just minutes away from Qualicum's town centre.
Milner Gardens & Woodland
Milner Gardens & Woodland (2179 West Island Highway) is a 28ha/70ac heritage property now operated as a teaching facility by Vancouver Island University's horticulture department. From the parking lot, visitors stroll through a thick old-growth forest before reaching a splendid garden famous for its rhododendrons. Milner House, at the ocean's edge, is open for tours. Enjoy a scone and afternoon tea (served from 1-4 pm) in a home that over the decades has hosted a who's who of British royalty, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and the late Lady Diana Spencer included. Milner Gardens is open from April to Thanksgiving and hosts a number of special events.