Qualicum Beach
Friendly Qualicum Beach Real Estate
By NanaimoRealEstateTeam.com

North of the beautiful Nanaimo real estate in British Columbia, visitors come from around the world to see firsthand the remarkable Town of Qualicum Beach on the Strait of Georgia.  Known as “Canada’s Carmel”, Qualicum Beach real estate is a veritable paradise on Vancouver Island.  A scrumptious array of savory beaches, rivers, mountains, and fir forests lend themselves to shelling, diving, boating, rappelling, fishing, bird watching and a feast of recreational activities.  Add the rich cultural heritage, fascinating shops, live theater, and hometown camaraderie and find out how special it is to own a primary or second home in Qualicum Beach real estate.

Dramatic waterfront Qualicum Beach homes with spectacular ocean views, secluded horse properties with lush acreage, “Mediterranean” villas on an exquisite golf courses, and Qualicum Beach houses near the quaint, pedestrian-friendly town— all are greeted by the legendary hospitality that makes this paradise extraordinary.  The prices for resort-like Qualicum Beach real estate meet every budget and expand to fit every dream.  Qualicum Woods is a friendly, family-oriented neighborhood developed in the 70s and 80s convenient to town.  Eaglecrest, an upscale golf-course neighborhood developed in the 70s, is just minutes from town.  Chartwell, a newer development with many fine homes recently incorporated into the town, is also very popular.  Hermitage Park, located within a short walk to town and schools, is ideal for convenience with a very nice cross-section of homes.

According to Salish Indian legend, the name Qualicum means, "where the dog salmon run.”  Subsequent to that era, the Hudson's Bay Company ventured to Victoria in 1843 and Nanaimo in 1852 spurred on by the profitable fur trade.  They also inaugurated the Horne Lake Trail into the beautiful area past the Qualicum River.  In 1894, a road into town ensured better access; the railroad followed and by 1913, a railway official had built golf links and a hotel eventually used for a soldiers' convalescent hospital during WWI.  The museum complex at General Money Square explores in detail the region’s exciting history and heritage.

The region comes up big in terms of attractions that appeal to the entire family.  Music has its moments in the sun with regularly scheduled performances at a variety of nightspots as well as annual events like the Coombs Country Bluegrass Festival, the Extravaganza Stage (also known as Music in the Park) attracts 25,000 spectators, and Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH) offers Music on Sunday featuring jazz and classical artists.   Bard to Broadway, the premier, summer-repertory theatre-company, is a tradition for many of the local theatre troupe’s dedicated loyalists.  The Old School House Arts Centre displays local, regional and international artists.   Self-guided tours of home-based studios and galleries are also intriguing.   “Rambling Rosie,” aged 70,000 years is also on exhibit in the vicinity—the most complete Ice Age walrus ever found on North America’s west coast.

A winner of Communities in Bloom, the Provincial 5 Blooms, Best Community of its Size in 2001, the National Capital Commission Floral Award among others, the locals take pride in their little piece of paradise.  The BC Orchid Gardens located at Butterfly World feature a dazzling 800 varieties of orchids.  Additionally, Milner Gardens and Woodland is home to 10 acres of lush gardens surrounded by an old-growth forest, and the two-week Rhododendron Days event all pay tribute to the beauty ensconced in the hearts of the people.

So, imagine the fantastic golf courses.  With incredible scenery, geography, and great weather perfectly suited for golfing, six nearby championship courses beginning in 1913 with the famous Memorial Course offer challenges for every level of golfer.   Spectacular miniature golf courses add to the fantastic options for practicing.

Tides and currents combine with the topography of the ocean floor to create huge, flat expanses of sand on the beaches.  When the tide is low, passersby observe barefoot jogging, sand castles, beach volleyball, sunbathing, and fishing for starfish, crabs and prized sand dollars in the intertidal pools goes on.  When the tide is high, people head to the paved promenade and its picnic tables and shade trees that fronts one of the island’s most storied beaches.

Skipping along miles of tree-lined pathways featuring magnificent Coastal Douglas Fir and walking the miles of sandy beaches at low tide are inviting for residents and visitors alike.  The town is accessible by sailing on the BC Ferries fleet system, by flying into several airports that dot the island, and by driving up the new Island Highway 19 to the intersection of Highway 4.