Top Things to do in Parksville
10 Free Things to do in Parksville That You Shouldn't Miss
Established in 1910, Parksville is one of Canada's most popular summer destinations for families. Everyone loves Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, with its beaches, tidal flats and pools, wildlife, and campgrounds; and several other provincial parks are within half an hour's drive. Follow Vancouver Island's Highway 19 (Island Highway) to reach nearby Qualicum Beach and the Comox Valley.
Restaurants in Parksville
1. Englishman River
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 96 reviews
Reviewed By SandraK635
The beach is nice soft and sandy. The river is fun and can get quite deep. The kids love jumping from the rock ledges and if you are really brave you can try the rope swing into the river!!!
2. Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 917 reviews
Reviewed By Gemma_Gilday - London, United Kingdom
The tide goes out on this beach to stretch for what feels like miles! There are many pouches of water to entertain little people who are learning about the creatures of our marine life, with micro-crabs and sea life. Perfect sand dollars can be found if you walk a little further out. The sand is wet though, we struggled to find a patch that wasn’t, so if you’re looking for sandy beaches to sun bathe, might not be the place (or could just be our experience?) In either case, we were very happy with our experience!
3. Little Qualicum Cheeseworks
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 385 reviews
Morningstar Farm is home to Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and Mooberry Winery. Guests can enjoy free self-guided tours, a farmgate store, seasonal "calfé", small and large animals to see, and Canada's first "milk on tap" dispenser. Open daily year-round.
Reviewed By oldtiredandretired - Ottawa, Canada
Nice selection of cheeses Wednesday is fresh curds day Great friendly staff This is a working farm and great to visit
4. Parksville Community Park and Skate Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 439 reviews
Reviewed By lindams - Parksville, Canada
Endless vistas of stunning ocean views, great seaside boardwalk, playground and water park for kids, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, baseball fields, open air bandstand, washrooms, food trucks and more!
5. Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Located at the entrance to Parksville, the Parksville Visitor Centre is conveniently located just off Highway 19A (Exit #46), between the Craig Heritage Park Museum and Rotary Peace Park. Our courteous and knowledgeable staff provide professional visitor counselling, customized itinerary planning, accommodation and activity reservations, helpful travel information including transportation and community information on all areas of British Columbia. The Visitor Centre is accessible.**COVID19 update: We assure you that our staff and visitors’ health and safety is a top priority. All entrance traffic will use the South Door (Northwest Bay Road side) and exit through the North Door (Island Highway side). A limit of two (2) visitor parties with no more than two (2) people per party will be imposed until further notice. Contactless delivery area will be at the North Door. Waiting space outside the South Door will be marked to ensure physical distancing of a minimum of 2 metres (6 feet).
Reviewed By haroldw148 - Parksville, Canada
We stopped by to ask a few questions about what is good to see in the Parksville area. The young lady at the counter was excellent. Very friendly and knowledgeable. If you have questions this is the place to get some back ground info. If they don't know, they can find. Ask away.
6. Top Bridge Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 90 reviews
Reviewed By rlmptl - Lloydminster, Canada
we got directions from parksville recreation number on how to get to the interesting suspension bridge without the super long hike. they have paved the road the directions say it is unpaved which threw us off and there are NO SIGNS you have to know how to get there on this back way. There was lots of people there with fair amount of parking. People with blow up rafts floating and kids jumping off cliffs...if you go to the right its quieter and there are low rocks to jump off ...only complaint was the picnic tables obviously in dissuse for years with moss all over them cause we wanted a picnic and no bathrooms but maybe i was not paying attention. Its nice on the right hand side close to the river which felt cold ...most people on the other side of the bridge with the high cliffs
7. Robert Held Art GLass
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By lovecanada59
WOW! Took a glass blowing lesson and fulfilled a bucket list item. It was an incredible experience and of course you get to keep what you make.
8. Morningstar Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By H8169CDmichaelf
This is a working dairy farm that you can watch all the action as you wander around, kids will love it. They also have a great cheese shop with several varieties more of their cheese than you see at local supermarkets. Bring an empty clean milk bottle and fill it with fresh whole-milk, real milk!
9. Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41 reviews
Join us in our tasting room for a flight, sleeve, or pint of fresh, local, Mount Arrowsmith beer. Fill your Growler for the upcoming weekend or take home a mixed pack of bottles or cans. You can expect all of our delicious core beers to be available fresh and cold, as well as limited release brews that will be available exclusively in our tasting room! Arrowsmith Pizzeria is now open Tuesday - Saturday's from 2 - 8pm!
Reviewed By 872carliej - Vancouver, Canada
We stopped here for a flight while staying in Parksville and we were not disappointed. The beers were great and they had a good selection. We enjoyed the Pumpkin Spice Porter, the pineapple sour and the Hefeweizen the best. We also were lucky enough to buy a growler that happened to be a beautiful limited addition design. They do serve food but not on Sunday/Monday so we didn’t try it but the menu looked great. We would highly recommend this place if you are in the area.
10. French Creek Harbour
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By johnmV9074SY - Qualicum Beach, Canada
A one minute detour off the main road, this location allows close-up viewing of working vessels, fishboats and some yachts.
