Beaches & Swimming
Kids swimming (Picture BC photo)
Ocean water doesn't get any warmer north of California.
Thanks to Qualicum Beach's sheltered position on the Strait of Georgia, summertime ocean temperatures can reach a high of 21°C/69.8°F - considerably more toasty than the year-round average of 12°C/53.6°F.
Whatever the season, the beachfront topography allows one to stroll on sand flats as far as 1,000m/1093 yards out towards the tideline. Waders acclimatize to the chill by slowly immersing themselves at foot, shin and knee levels before deeper water appears.
Qualicum's Historic Beach
The historic beach that put Qualicum Beach on the map is a c-shaped scoop of postcard scenery used by many residents for their daily constitutional. The 3km/1.86mi promenade can be circumnavigated when the high tide erases the beach. Food concessions, public toilets and other amenities line the route.
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Unlike the wide expanses of hard-packed sand further south at Parksville's Rathtrevor Beach, the shoreline northwest towards the community of Bowser is rockier and requires solid footwear to prevent barnacle burn. Favourite pastimes include sandcastle building and beachcombing for rare sand dollars (flat, round marine animals whose unique shell is imprinted with a leaf-like pattern).
Secret Beaches and Indoor Swimming
A "secret beach" favored by locals is Columbia Beach off Yambury Road in the Eaglecrest neighborhood (just past Milner Gardens on Qualicum Beach's eastside).
Swimmers who'd rather not brave the ocean can frolic at the Ravensong Aquatic Centre - a modern salt-water playland that features a 25-metre Olympic short course, whirlpools, leisure pool and steam room. A pool-length mural of the nearby beach decorates one wall. While parents do laps, kids can splash in the spray jetting from the tail of a plaster killer whale.
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Things To Do
Water Activities