Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort #parksvilleuncorked

I was invited a few weeks ago to cover the Parksville Uncorked Wine and Food Festival in Parksville, British Columbia, and I gladly accepted. I’ve done other media trips before (Sidney by the Sea and Salt Spring Island), and this one focused on an area of Vancouver Island I have never explored before (Northern Vancouver Island).

I was lodged at the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, and as soon as I heard the word “spa” I thought “Yes! Woohoo!” (I’m pretty sure that’s what I said, heh). The Tigh-Na-Mara is a 22 acre resort with an assortment of cottages and cabins. I stayed in a cottage room that was about twice the size of my current apartment. I’ve included some photos of my room in my Flickr set.

Particularly impressive to me was the commitment to implementing sustainability initiatives at the Tigh-Na-Mara. I noticed right away with the temperature controls, the energy-efficient measures, water saving devices, etc. I will fully admit that they had me at wooden cabin. I was raised in a household where wood was associated with warmth and family values, so the cottage room where I stayed brought me fond memories of my parents’ house (which has a lot of wood in it).

When I arrived, I’ll admit I was a bit shocked. I didn’t realize this resort was so popular. By the time I arrived on Friday, I saw the resort’s parking lot bustling with activity, people arriving and bringing their luggage. Clearly, this is a favorite destination for vacationing folks. I don’t blame them at all. My stay at the Tigh-Na-Mara was superb. I had a jacuzzi in my suite, a full kitchen (not a kitchenette, but a full-blown kitchen). I could have easily brought two other friends along with me to stay and we would have fit without a problem.

The Tigh-Na-Mara not only has the Grotto Spa, but also a fully equipped gym and a swimming pool (which was great because I really wanted to exercise and swim – I didn’t want to get out of my routine). There were a myriad little details that made my stay really comfortable, but there was one that I really valued. At every point during my stay, everyone in the staff (and by everyone I mean, every individual from the maid who cleaned my room to the servers to the lady who was helping deliver the buffet-style breakfast) were incredibly attentive to detail and generous.

I will, definitely, come back and stay at the Tigh-Na-Mara on my own dime. I was really impressed, and I am pretty sure everyone who stayed there at the same time felt the same way. I had the chance to chat with some of the folks who were lodged there and they seemed to share the same impression of excellent service and kindness on the part of the TNM staff.

I will be writing separate entries for the Mission Hill Winemakers dinner and the Swirl event, both of which were really a lot of fun, and very much worth the money. If you want to read what me and others thought of Parksville Uncorked, you can read the Twitter Search stream here.

Disclosure: My stay at the Tigh-Na-Mara was sponsored very generously by the resort. My expenses to travel to and from Parksville were covered by the Oceanside Tourism Association. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this media trip was to report on the event. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

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