I can't remember a time when I did not know about Willows Beach. This is a beach in the municipality of Oak Bay, close to the Oak Bay Marina. The sand is as good as any beach in the city. It is a long enough beach that you could walk from one end to the other and consider it a "good walk."
The length of beach also incorporates Willow Park, a joyous place to spend a sunny afternoon, with slides, swings, and jungle jim equipment--any child's dream! If you are hungry and forgot your lunch there is the Kiwanis Willows Beach Tea Room, where you can buy all manner of foods and drinks.
As well as the play equipment and the sand and water, there are also acres of level grass which lends itself to bocci ball game enthusiasts as well as to volleyball teams. Yesterday, when I took the photos below, there were eight high school volleyball teams playing their hearts out and lots of enthusiastic whooping and hollering as points were being earned by each side of the nets.
Willows Beach and Willows Park are the hosts to the annual Oak Bay Tea Party, held on the first weekend of June. This is an annual event of enormous magnitude which draws thousands of people on Saturday and Sunday which begins with the Oak Bay Parade, and incorporates a midway-style fair with rides, games, cotton candy, corn on the cob, etc. As well, there is an air show involving military jets and helicopters as well as WWI biplanes, sea rescue demonstration and skydivers landing on the beach.
Willow Beach -- looking East towards Cattle Point & San Juan Island in background.
Willow Beach -- looking South East towards Washington State.
Willows Beach -- looking South towards the Oak Bay Marina.
Kiwanis Willows Beach Tea Room.
Volleyball at Willows Beach/Park.
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