Tigh-Na-Mara a Family and Pet-Friendly Resort

Our Family Beach Fun this Summer

Yes it’s true fall is officially here but with it comes the beautiful colors as the leaves change, crisp sunny mornings and for those of us who had dry hot summer weather some much needed rain. As we settle into the fall I still just have to share our favourite summer experience this year. I want to share it not just because it was our most memorable trip this year but because it’s also somewhere you can enjoy all year long!

One of the many amazing beach views at the Tigh-Na-Mara resort

Pssst Tigh-Na-Mara is such a beautiful spot to visit and I took so many pictures that I simply can’t put them all in this post. That’s why I’ve created another Tigh-Na-Mar Photo album that you can go and enjoy HERE. Also make sure to read to the bottom and find out about Tigh-Na-Mara’s amazing Vacay It Forward Challenge!

I can’t share enough of the stunning beach pictures at Tigh-Na-Mara

In fact you may have seen my previous article on the fabulous Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort where I had mom’s getaway with two of my closest friends in the month of November. If you haven’t seen it check it out HERE, the pictures alone are worth taking a look at. No matter what time of year you go to Tigh-Na-Mara whether it’s in autumn like I went to for the mom’s getaway or the summer it’s a beautiful place to visit.

Our “rustic” pet friendly cabin at Tigh-Na-Mara

Family Summer Fun

This summer my family and I including our beloved dogs Luna and Little Zeus had the opportunity to go the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort. While this was not my first time to this fabulous resort it was the first time for my family and the first time I’ve ever gone in peak season. I have to admit I was a bit worried about how busy the resort would be since it was summer. I know we’ve all experienced those crazy busy places packed to the seams during the summer. I’m happy to say it did not feel or look like that at all at Tigh-Na-Mara even though the resort was full while we were there!

My daughter with our dogs LZ and Luna on the porch of our rustic cabin at Tigh-Na-Mara

Now you may wonder how is it possible that a resort that has a conference centre, spa, swimming pool, gym, restaurant, tennis courts, spa bungalows, rustic pet friendly cabins and waterfront rooms could not feel crowded. Well a big part is that they’re all located on 22 acres of property and it’s all been designed to keep complement nature not obscure it. In addition every building has been well planned out, nicely laid out amongst the forest and in my opinion just well thought out.

Hanging out in our cabin cul-de-sac which is surrounded by forested area.

Before I go on too much about how much I love Tigh-Na-Mara let me show you more of the “rustic” pet friendly cabin we had the pleasure to stay in. First off my daughter was so impressed with the cabin that the first thing she said when she walked in the cabin was how “fancy” it was. Now that does not sound rustic does it. Well check out the slideshow of pictures below of our two bedroom pet friendly cottage and judge for yourself. I know you’ll agree it’s quite lovely and we could quite happily live there all year long!

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Dogs welcome

To welcome us and our dogs Luna and LZ there was even a nice little gift for our dogs. I heard that all families who arrive with their furry family members receive this nice little welcome package. They loved it and we appreciated the little doggy towel to wipe off their paws after our many visits to the beach.

There was even a nice welcome package for my daughter who was over the moon to have something made up just for her! The snacks did not last long and she used those bubbles every time we went to the beach. I thought that was a nice touch as I wouldn’t have thought of bubbles but she had lots of fun with those on the beach.

Beautiful surroundings

Even though every cabin in our cul-de-sac (there were 4 cabins if I recall) had a dog, not once was it every noisy and everyone was respectful and taking care of their dogs. We also did not feel over crowded in our area as there was lots of room in between cabins so we all felt like we were in our own little forested paradise. I know our dogs enjoyed sniffing around the forested area right in front of our cottage, it felt like home for them but just quieter, oh so quiet and lovely.

Our dogs liked to of course sleep right beside our bed each night. 

Room to explore and more

Remember I said it never once felt or looked crowded during our stay at Tigh-Na-Mara? Being on 22 acres that really helps and the beach is so big that it felt the same there, especially when the tide was out. Just check out some of our pictures during our beach time, it doesn’t look busy does it? These were some of my favourite moments this summer, just hanging at the beach with my family and dogs, it was peaceful and fun. Dogs did run loose on the beach (leashes are required but..) but they were not unruly, everyone had their own area and the dogs were having too much fun running to really notice each other.

My hubby and our dog Luna strolling on the beach.

Oh the beach!

When the tide was out it made the beach seem endless and vast. I loved that there were small pools of water that were so warm and great for puddle jumping. We also had a great time collecting sand dollars when the tide was out, the beach was littered with sand dollars, now that’s litter we don’t mind, it was very cool!

You never know what you’ll see!

During one of our visits to the beach while the tide was out we event spotted this little guy, can you guess what he is?

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We just had so much fun at the beach as there’s lots to explore, enjoy the beauty of it all and just sit back and relax, whatever catches your fancy or like I mentioned early go blow some bubbles :). Can you see how the beach seems to go on forever when the tide is out? Now that makes beach time so much more fun!

It’s not easy to keep a teenager occupied but my daughter enjoyed her time on the beach too!

Check out the town of Parksville & Coombs

Tigh-Na-Mara is located near the lovely town of Parksville where you will find grocery stores, town stores and lots of restaurants. While we there this summer there was also an amazing sand sculpture competition! You can read about that HERE but here a few pictures for you to see below. A little farther away but not too much farther is Coombs known for it’s goats on the roof, yes sometimes the goats really are on the roof eating the grass on the roof. I’ve seen them I promise it happens, there’s also the well known Coombs market and one of my favourite restaurants Cuckoo in Coombs. It’s definitely worth the short drive!

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Tigh-Na-Mara = Fun Family Time with Pets Too!

As you can see we enjoyed our family time at Tigh-Na-Mara and while they have lots of activities for the family and kids like the kid’s club, going to the Go-Karts, Food Tour, Music by the Sea and so much more you can also just have a lot of fun hanging out at the beach, enjoying the fireplace in the cabin or using a bbq on the porch. You don’t run out of things to do at Tigh-Na-Mara and it can fee like a solitary oasis or an activity filled resort, it can be whichever one you want it to be as you have choices and more than all the comforts of home at Tigh-Na-Mara.

Hubby and our dogs just strolling.

Remember I mentioned Tigh-Na-Mara’s Vacay it Forward Challenge? It’s yet another reason that I think this resort is awesome and not just for their accommodations but how they give back too!

Vacay it Forward

The people who deserve a vacation the most are often the very last people who have the opportunity to take one. Now, Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort has created a social corporate responsibility initiative to change all that with the Vacay It Forward Challenge.

“Those of us in the hospitality industry are in the business of creating wonderful experiences for our guests. We also value our special relationships within our communities by supporting a number of different charities. By creating the Vacay It Forward Challenge, Tigh-Na-Mara and our hospitality industry can work together to help make a difference and reward those who do so much to make the lives of others better,” says Luba Plotnikoff, Marketing & Media Relations Manager at Tigh-Na-Mara.

The rules of Vacay It Forward are simple. Tigh-Na-Mara is challenging seven hospitality properties to select the charity of their choice, determine a recipient and Vacay It Forward.

Kudos to Tigh-Na-Mara for giving back to the community and those who could truly use and deserve a vacation!

Now we leave you with one last picture but don’t forget you can check out our full Tigh-Na-Mara summer vacation photo album HERE!