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Oceanside
Take three -- days that is, to vacation on Vancouver Island’s eastern shore, located two hours northeast of Victoria. This region known as Oceanside, has been nicknamed the Canadian Riviera by those in the know. With sandy beaches, rainforests and eccentric delights, it is a great place for a family holiday that won’t be soon forgotten. Here are three ways to spend your days:
Look Up. Way Up!
Upon entering the town of Coombs, visitors will come across this sign: Tourist Attraction – Goats on the Roof. Not Fiddler on the Roof…the sign says goats! And that is exactly what it means.
Visit the Old Country Market and you can eat a generous meal while watching a family of goats nibble on the grass that is firmly planted on the roof of the building. Kristian Graaten, founder of the Old Country Market, started the tradition in 1973 when a family of goats found themselves without a home after the annual Coombs Fall Fair wrapped up.
His business already had grass on its roof, emulating homes in Norway so introducing the homeless creatures to the thatched roof made plain sense, at least to some anyway. It turned out to be a stroke of genius and the goats are now the town’s greatest tourist attraction.
If visitors get tired of watching the goats’ antics, there is still a lot to see in the market and great food to try. The prices are reasonable, especially at the Gelato bar. Huge cones of delicious ice cream, available in an astounding 69 flavours, can be had for as little at $3 each.
Sand and Sunsets
Beachcombing becomes an extreme sport on the shores of Oceanside, with its 19 kilometres of sandy beaches, ripe with a bountiful of sea treasures. Along with beautiful, misshapen pieces of driftwood, collectors will find pearly white shells, colourful starfish and hermit crabs running for cover.
After wandering the sands, there is still more to do at Oceanside’s beaches. Parksville Beach has a huge playground for the little ones, a BMX/skateboard park for teenagers and tennis courts for the adults. Qualicum Beach has great beachside seafood restaurants and events, such as “Tent Theatre”, happening all year long.
And don’t plan on leaving the beach too early, you wouldn’t want to miss the spectacular sunsets served up on that side of the country. Grab a blanket, find a spot on the beach and take in the sky bursting into a palette of colour to the sound of gentle waves.
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