Qualicum Beach Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
town in British Columbia, Canada
About Qualicum Beach
Qualicum Beach has a population of 9,000 (2016), and sits at the foot of Mount Arrowsmith, along the Strait of Georgia on Vancouver Island's eastern coast. Qualicum's natural environment and proximity to Victoria and Vancouver have made it a tourist destination, with rental cottages along its coast. It is also a retirement community, and has one of the oldest average populations in Canada. The name "Qualicum" comes from a Pentlatch language term that means "Where the dog salmon (chum salmon) run." In May 1856, Hudson's Bay Company explorer Adam Grant Horne, with a group of Indigenous guides, found a land route across Vancouver Island from the Qualicum River to the Alberni Inlet. In 1864, the botanist and explorer Robert Brown led the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition through the area.
Top Attractions in Qualicum Beach
Explore the best things to see and do in Qualicum Beach:
- ★ECHO Players Village Theatre
- ★Milner Gardens
- ★Qualicum Beach
- ★Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Course
- ★Qualicum Beach Museum
Where to Eat in Qualicum Beach
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Bistro 694
- 🍴French Press Coffee Roasters
- 🍴Giovanni's Ristorante
- 🍴Lefty’s Fresh Food Restaurants
- 🍴Shady Rest Pub & Restaurant
Where to Stay in Qualicum Beach
- 🏨At Nautica Tigh Bed and Breakfast
- 🏨Buenavista by the Sea
- 🏨Casa Grande Inn
- 🏨Crown Mansion Boutique Hotel
- 🏨Ocean Crest Motel
- 🏨Qualicum Beach Inn
Qualicum Beach Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: