The Grotto Spa is a can't miss. (Courtesy Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre)

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PARKSVILLE, B.C. -- Just when we thought life couldn't get any better, it kept getting better.

There was the sleep-inducing, hour-long massage.

Then my wife had a spa wrap that was second to none.

Then there was a revitalizing, 15-minute dip in the Mineral Pool.

Then we devoured the delectable tapas dishes until our stomachs could take no more.

Then we washed it down with some B.C. wine.

And the view from our table, three storeys up near the tops of the cedar and fir trees, was incredible.

The real world seemed so far away, we weren't even sure it still existed.

And we did it all in only our bath robes. More on that later.

Simply put, Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre is a must when you travel to Vancouver Island. Located on the southern edge of Parksville, a tiny seaside town about a 90-minute drive north of Victoria, the family-owned resort offers everything from high-end spa treatments to world-class dining to a bucolic, log cottage adventure. Take your pick.

The fine folks at Tigh-Na-Mara use the term "the natural choice" often, and that's the perfect way to describe the 8.9 hectare layout. You can walk down to 3 km of sandy beaches or go swimming in their indoor pool or devour some of the freshest seafood in the Cedar Dining Room.

But if you're into being pampered -- and, really, who isn't these days? -- then the Grotto Spa is a can't miss.

Stay in one of the luxurious spa bungalows, which surround the Grotto, and it's only about 20 steps to heaven.

I must disclose this fact: The spa experience at Tigh-Na-Mara was a first for me. My wife, on the other hand, has been to one or two in her life, and she reports that the Grotto Spa is, by far, the best she's ever experienced.

Being a somewhat uncomfortable first-timer, I ended up feeling remarkably more at ease than I thought I would. The staff is there when you need it, but the rest of the time it lets you relax in peace.

The Mineral Pool, carved among the granite walls, is 232 square metres alone. It features waterfalls and minerals imported from Hungary. The entire spa building is more than a whopping 1,858 square metres.

Then it's off to -- well, whatever you want. A massage? Check. A wrap? Check. Manicure? Check. Pedicure? Check. And many more.

My wife and I tried the couples massage, and I almost booked another one right then and there. The knots in my back vanished, and by the end of it I was trying to figure out how I could relocate to Parksville and get one every day.

But our day was far from done. It was time for the highlight of the Grotto Spa experience.

After 15 minutes of sipping beverages and savouring the after-effects of our massages in the lounge, we were led to our table in the Treetop Tapas and Grill -- still wearing nothing but our robes.

Another admission: I had no idea what tapas was before I sat down at our table. It turns out tapas is one of my new favourite things -- small servings of mouth-watering food.

There are nearly 30 menu items from which to choose and $45 for all the tapas you can eat. Menu items change seasonally. Prawns, salmon, crab, salads, venison, breads, cheeses, desserts -- you name it, it's on there. And it's not your mother's spa food, either; it's rich, delicious and satisfying.

Hey, go for it. You deserve it. And at Tigh-Na-Mara, you get what you deserve.

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MORE INFORMATION

Parksville is an easy drive from Victoria or Nanaimo. Rates vary depending on type of room and travel dates. Seasonal spa specials are also available and can be found at www.grottospa.com. Contact tigh-na-mara.com for more information.