Pettinger Legacy Lives On – Tourism Bursary Awarded

If you ever met Bill Pettinger over the years, you’d remember… especially his kindness and generosity, his passion for life and his love for Pacific Sands. It was Bill and his wife Joan that discovered and bought “Pacific Paradise Motel” in 1972. Bill was a legendary visionary that knew ambition when he saw it. Which is why it’s not surprising Bill made sure “big dreams” were a part of him and his beloved’s legacy. In 2007 The Bill and Joan Pettinger Tourism Bursary was established – we’re thrilled to announce local graduate Emily Lamarche is the 2011 rebursary.

Tofino Air Now Flying From Downtown Vancouver

No question the drive to Pacific Sands is a must-do on the spectacular scale, but when you just want to get here, flying is a brilliant way to be at the resort faster than you can say “let’s hit the beach”. There are scheduled and chartered flights to Tofino from both Vancouver and Seattle with a variety of airlines, but for the ultimate in convenience from downtown Vancouver, Tofino Air now operates out of the new Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre.

Tofino Brewing Company Now Pouring

Just in time for Stanley Cup hockey playoff action, Tofino Brewing Company is serving up their new handcrafted ales to rave reviews. Specializing in small batch, sustainably produced ales, the brewery offers tours, merchandise and frosty tastings with two signature beers on tap.

Tofino Voted #10 Top Destination in Canada

The accolades from TripAdvisor travellers are rolling in and we’re excited! Tofino is still celebrating being voted #1 Beach in Canada in the 2011 Travelers’ Choice Best Beaches Awards last month…and NOW Tofino has been voted the #10 Top Destination in Canada in the 2011 Travelers’ Choice Destination Awards.

Beach ‘n BBQ – Catered Events May 18 & 25

The only thing better that the slap, sizzle and smell of a BBQ is enjoying it at the beach! Add to that someone ELSE doing the cooking (and clean-up) for you and your family so you can relax, watch the surf and enjoy a refreshing libation… and you’re now in the range of BBQ nirvana.

Staying with us during FEAST! Tofino-Ucluelet? We’re celebrating with Catered Beach ‘n BBQ’s on Wednesday May 18 & 25 at our beachfront Gazebo.

Tofino Beaches Voted #1 in Canada

We’ve always had a feeling the beaches around Tofino were pretty special (wink)… turns out we’re not alone. The votes are in and Tofino was ranked #1 in Canada in the 2011 Travelers’ Choice Best Beaches Awards on TripAdvisor – the World’s largest travel website for unbiased travel reviews. Award winners all over the planet were based on the most highly rated beach destinations by travelers. (We’re so humbled…)

FEAST on This!

What do you get when you combine a renowned, regional hotbed of seafood and a month-long marathon of fun foodie events? Introducing FEAST! Tofino-Ucluelet… a culinary celebration and collaboration of local chefs and restaurants, fishermen, activities and accommodation from May 8 to June 4.

TV Times in Tofino

Tofino has been tearing up the TV networks lately with some fantastically funny coverage! From winter surfing with Rick Mercer on CBC to Dungeness Crab adventures with Chef Lynn Crawford on the Food Network, our lively local hosts did a great job showing off the area.

Whale of a Spring Break – Pacific Rim Whale Festival

March is a celebration of many things… the arrival of spring, more daylight, new blooms, and all-things-fresh. It’s when Mother Nature takes her coat off and exhales a deep, warm breath. In these parts, March is also all about whales… lots of them actually because March is when we celebrate the arrival of over 20,000 grey whales as they migrate north from the Baja Peninsula, up our coastline on their way to Alaska.

Every Day’s Valentine’s at Pacific Sands

Nothing against Hallmark but it’s Valentine’s Day every day at Pacific Sands. We offer our Pacific Romance Package year round for a reason. Day after day love stories unfold here, and it’s been that way for decades. So hopeless romantics that we are, we decided to have a “Tell Us How You Met Your Sweetheart Contest” on Facebook. We invited fans to post their story… the “most-liked” story with the highest number of votes would win a 2-Night Romance Package.

Welcoming Special BC Families with “Oceans of Love”

When a child in BC is diagnosed with a progressive, life-limiting illness, two very magical places are there to assist with pediatric palliative care services for the child and their entire family – Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in Vancouver and Victoria General Hospital. As a tribute to the incredible work these organizations do and the families involved, Pacific Sands is honoured to be a partner in the “Oceans of Love” program.

Pacific Sands Named One of the Top 3 Places in North America to Spend New Year’s

We did a bang-up job welcoming 2011 with a fireworks celebration for the record-books! The moon was shining over Cox Bay as the festive spectacle lit up the surf in a dance of colours to ooh’s and ahhh’s from the crowd. Turns out we’re not the only ones who think Pacific Sands is a magic place to bring in the New Year – travel bloggers Alex and Luke voted the resort one of the Top 3 Places in North America to Spend New Year’s Eve.