|
Hillcrest House is just 2 minutes from the beach. The
water is warm in the summer - and a gradual drop off
permits easy swimming for all ages.
The 4 kilometer beach makes for lovely morning, afternoon
and evening walks.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Walking/Hiking/Biking/Birding
> |
|
There are gorgeous trails up Englishmans River, as
well as both the Qualicum and Little Qualicum Rivers.
Trails from Port Alberni are also very special. In total,
there are eleven National/Provincial Parks within easy
driving distance; and your hiking/biking/birding can
be as short as 40 minutes or as long as two days (or
even longer if you wish).
|
|
|
The best whale watching is from Ucluelet or Tofino.
We recommend Jamie’s Whaling Station and Adventure Centre
(jamies.com). Jamie’s runs a 65 Ft. Leviathan with departures
at 10 am and 1:30 pm daily. They also have a 29 Ft.
Zodiac which is not for the faint of heart (and that
includes most seniors, pregnant women and children under
6). The drive from Hillcrest to Jamie’s takes about
2 hours. It is do-able in one day.
Excellent Whale and Bear watching tours from Campbell
River
(75 minutes from Hillcrest House) are also available
from Eagle Eye Adventures.
Recommended Sites:
www.jamies.com
www.eagleeyeadventures.com
|
|
|
|
Qualicum Beach has two live theatres: Bard to Broadway
during the summer months, and Echo Players at the Village
Theatre during the remainder of the year. Their programs
are available at b2btheatre.bc.ca
and www.qualicumbeach.net/echo
respectively.
Both theatres are known for selecting good, mostly light
theatre; and the performers and the performances are
generally of a very high calibre.
In addition to the two theatres in Qualicum Beach, it
is a one hour drive from Hillcrest House to Chemainus.
The Chemainus Theatre is on par with the best theatres'
in Canada and the United States (including Stratford,
Niagara by the Lake, Toronto, Boston and New York).
|
|
|
Many theatre goers like to enclude a visit Milner Gardens
on the following day. They are lovely and (if you wish)
you can have afternoon tea in the Milner House drawing
room overlooking the Georgia Strait (Charles and Di
did).
Recommended Site:
Milner
Gardens & Woodland
|
|
|
|
Mount Washington is a one hour drive from Hillcrest.
It has excellent downhill and cross country facilities.
There is ample snow from the beginning of December through
to the end of April. Cross country trails are groomed
and some extend as long as 50 Kms. There are four chair
lifts. The mountain has a vertical drop of 500 meters.
Tow rates tend to be less than elsewhere.
Lessons and equipment rentals are available.
Recommended Site:
www.mtwashington.ca
|
|
|
|
|
The Nanaimo world class diving center is 25 minutes
by car from Hillcrest House. In 2001, readers of Rodale
Scuba Times named British Columbia the best dive destination
in North America.
There are now two wrecks – the Destroyer HMCS Saskatchewan
and the 441’ HMCS CapeBreton – which have become prolific
artificial reefs and make for a truly sensational diving
experience.
Recommended Sites:
www.sundowndiving.com
www.oceanexplorersdiving.com
|
|
|
| |
|
Seadog Sailing and Kayaking run Half-day, Full
day and Sunset Tours as well as multi day trips.
No Kayaking experience or equipment is necessary.
Seadog Sailing and Kayaking is also delighted
to custom design group packages to meet the needs
of both experienced and novice Kayakers.
Union Bay Dive and Kayak rent fully equipped Kayaks
on a short and long term basis.
Recommended Sites:
www.seadog.bc.com
www.seashelldiving.com
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
