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Town in British Columbia, Canada
Photo: Dave Bunnell, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Lighthouse Country is a rural area northwest of Parksville/Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island that includes the communities of Qualicum Bay, Bowser and Deep Bay. Quieter and less busy than communities to the south, it has some fantastic scenery (particularly around Deep Bay) and Horne Lake is known for its caves and spelunking.
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The harbour, framed by the marina and Coast Mountains, is a beautiful spot to stop at for a few minutes or a few hours. There’s a small gift shop and restaurant (Ship & Shore) by the boat ramp with a small but tasty selection of ice cream.
A working research station operated by Vancouver Island University. There are exhibits on marine conservation issues and local marine life, including touch tanks and a whale skeleton. Guided tours are available as well as self-guided information sheets. The deck looks out over the Baynes Sound and provides some nice views.
Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park
A provincial park with a number of caves and a 3 km hiking trail interpretive trail that explains the caves and geology of the area. The Outdoor Centre offers a number of guided tours to the caves, ranging from 60 minute family-friendly excursions to 5 hr adventures that mix caving and rappelling. Visitors are allowed to explore some caves on their own, but it is limited to the entrance area of the Main Cave, the Lower Cave and Andre’s Annex — a tour is required to see the other caves. A helmet and lights are recommended if you explore the caves on your own (there's no light inside them) and can be rented from the park Visitor Center. The Visitor Center also includes a small gift shop and the Cave Theatre. The caves are cold — about 8°C — and wet, so dress accordingly.
All day breakfast bagel plus sandwiches, paninis, baked goods and a large selection of coffee, tea and espresso drinks.
Known for its generous amount of toppings and lots of cheese. Take out or delivery only.
Roadside shack overlooking the beach that serves up tacos and burritos. Options include beef, fish, prawns, Thai chicken, veggie and vegan, with the fish tacos the most popular. Portion sizes are good but not huge. The kitchen area is small so wait times for food can be 30-60 minutes when busy.
Suspended, completely spherical tree houses built out of fiber glass and wood. They're designed to vaguely look like huge nuts or seeds. They can be rented out overnight for the treehouse experience.
Small motel right on the water and the road. Rooms can accommodate 2-4 adults and some rooms have full kitchenettes.
Shop with a variety of locally made crafts, jewelry and artwork.
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Qualicum Beach · Regional · XQU
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