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Nov. 3, 2006
Island's all-in-one resort stay
Get a mud wrap, attend a conference or have a beach bonfire.
BAILA LAZARUS
Swinging off the Island Highway and down Resort Drive, the smooth
pavement soon gives way to the crunch of gravel, log cabins pop
up in the scenery, tucked into the forest, and just on the horizon
is the quietest night you'll ever spend sleeping at a resort.
Located at the south end of Parksville, about 40 minutes' drive
north of Nanaimo, Tigh-Na-Mara is a cross between a luxury resort
and a summer camp.
Make no mistake, there will be no portaging canoes and drinking
bug juice here; the connection to camp lies only in the woodsy aroma
of the bungalows, the (good) feeling of isolation, the fresh forest
smell, campfires on the beach and the array of stars that can be
seen at night. Beyond that, it's pampering and entertainment all
the way, perhaps with a meeting or two thrown in.
Tigh-Na-Mara is making a statement as one of the most complete resort
facilities in Western Canada, with the inclusion of a full 13-room
conference facility, a three-storey spa, a restaurant, lounge and
grill and 192 rooms.
Though recent expansions and renovations, particularly of the Grotto
Spa, have really put Tigh-Na-Mara on the map, the history of the
resort dates back to 1946, when a tent and log cabin were the first
structures on the site. The first resort was built in 1951. It changed
hands several times, with the Gaelic name Tigh-Na-Mara, meaning
"House by the Sea," being given to it in 1956. Joe and
Jackie Hirsch bought the property in 1981 and started building it
up, both in land area and in accommodations. The famous Grotto Spa
was built in 2003 and expanded last year.
Today, the Hirsches' son, Dant, is the general manager, and he's
not resting on any of the laurels the resort has received. Plans
are already in the works to upgrade the accommodation rooms, build
a new pool and recreation centre and aim for a dining experience
that will make the 22-acre resort known as much for its food as
for its spa.
In a way, Tigh-Na-Mara is like three separate facilities in one.
The resort offers a range of rooms, from ocean-view studios to two-bedroom
suites, in bungalows, log cottages and three-storey condominiums.
Depending on the style and location, rooms might have gas fireplaces,
Jacuzzi tubs, kitchenettes or full kitchens, full dining areas and
private patios with barbecues. Facilities may be overlooking the
Georgia Strait and Coast Mountains, or might be further inland,
closer to the spa.
The conference area offers rooms that can be arranged to hold up
to 360 people in a theatre style, or 160 for banquets. It contains
a small business centre with computers, Internet access (charged
by time), a fax machine and photocopier.
The Grotto Spa has recently added its third storey and expanded
to 20,000 square feet. It includes a 2,500-square-foot mineral path,
16 treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge and a tapas and grill restaurant,
accessible only to spa guests. Spa services include facials, massages,
mud wraps, stone treatments, waxing, hydrotherapy and a full-service
hair salon.
The location of the resort on the beach and its being within an
hour's drive of numerous towns and facilities means that recreation
in the area is abundant. Visitors can participate in golf, mountain
biking, swimming in the ocean, paddle boating, beach campfires,
tennis, fishing expeditions, winery tours and, particularly popular,
massage classes and yoga on the beach (weather permitting).
Adding to the entertainment are special packages that offer a twist.
One of the best values I've seen at a resort is the "Guilty
Pleasures for Desperate Housewives" package. It offers a weekend
of relaxation, starting with martinis and dessert in the lounge
at the Grotto Spa, two nights accommodation, a spa treatment and
a bottle of wine, starting at only $150 per person, based on quadruple
occupancy.
In addition, the "Women that Rock" package allows girlfriends
to combine accommodation, spa experience and breakfast at Tigh-Na-Mara
with a guided three-hour cave tour at Horne Lake Caves. This latest
venture garnered the resort a tourism partnership award.
Tigh-Na-Mara also makes an excellent effort to cater to families
with children. Activities are available for all ages, and packages
that combine a mini-manicure, martini and milkshake for the "girls"
and golf for the "boys" allow bonding for mothers and
daughters, fathers and sons.
For more information on Tigh-Na-Mara, visit www.tigh-na-mara.com
or call 1-800-663-7373.
Baila Lazarus is a freelance writer, photographer and
illustrator living in Vancouver. Her work can be seen at www.orchiddesigns.net.
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