I stayed at the Tygh na Marna resort. It's an adorable resort that is reminisce of Scotland. It overlooked the Georgia Strait in Parksville on Vancouver Island, North of Nanaimo... so beautiful!! I learned that Tigh na mara means --Home by the Sea --so named by the settlers because it reminded them so much of their bonnie Scotland.

I also visited the Little Qualicum Falls. They are sooo pristine! Stroll through the Old Growth Forest, Cathedral Grove and also, Millian Park. You will begin to feel like a polywog in the ocean :) These majestic trees are over 800 years old!! They're huge! --hello!? If you are a lover of nature (like me) you're going to be haunted forever by these wonderful old trees marked to become chopsticks!! (I discovered these words on a post board in the park that people used to describe this, last of it's kind, old growth forest... --sublime, humbling, supernatural, haunting...) You will see why there is such a ruckus to SAVE THE OLD GROWTH FOREST... (please..?)

But... God's Playground is --Tofino! When I visited, Autumn, 1998, I stayed at the Wickaninnish Inn... WOW!! ..a combination of elegance and rustic beauty. Go only if you want to totally be spoilt! Check out the Pointe Restaurant where they serve barnacles for appetizers. Also, the Wickaninnish Center, Pacific Rim Natural Park on Vancouver Island is really beautiful, as well. It is a combination, Natural Art Museum, restaurant (the food is killer!) and it's located right on the Qualicum Beach... Yeah!!!

If you're looking for something cultural to do, check out the Eagle Aerie Gallery. The local art is wonderful! Roy H. Vickers is the Man!! If you're interested in a day of Adventure, then you simply must go whale watching in Tofino. I had a blast!! I saw.. Grey whales, porpoise, seals, bald eagles, killer whales, humpback whales, schools of salmon, colonies of starfish.. beautiful sunset... bring your Camera! :)

Oh yeah, and if you want to meet fun, interesting people, check out the Hot Springs Cove. It was Way too much fun for this little grandma!! As usual, I fell in Love :)

One last bit of trivia... I learned from a man who is a descendant of the Aboriginal people, the lesson of the Eagle Feather... (which you will see represented all over Tofino) It is the ancient Symbol of the Right to Speak so Socrates, yes?

Take only memories, Leave only Footsteps..

Nanci