Located on Vancouver Island, the beautiful seaside resort town of Parksville is known for its stunning beaches and outdoor adventure. Our guide to the best things to do in Parkville with kids will help you discover all the family-friendly activities to make unforgettable memories.
When we travel as a family, we always make sure we have cultural learning opportunities built into the itinerary for the kids to continue their curiosity about the world around them.
Take short hikes to marvel at tumbling waterfalls and rumbling rivers. Access kilometres of sandy beaches and spy the local wildlife. Experience forest bathing at its finest with towering Douglas Fir trees in the old-growth rainforest at Cathedral Grove. Stop to play mini golf at Paradise Fun Park, which is open rain or shine.
Try a flight of local hand-crafted beer at Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company, then end the day with a leisurely stroll on the beach to watch the sunset with views of the Coastal Mountains over the Salish Sea.
Don’t forget to check out our guide to 10 best family-friendly things to do in Nanaimo
Best things to do in Parksville
We love visiting Vancouver Island in the summer. The kids always have a blast and recall the fun we have all year long! Parksville is an easy favourite, with the beach, Parksville Museum, Sand Sculpting Competition Exhibition, Old Country Market—Goats on the Roof, Paradise Fun Park and more.
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park offers one of the most family-friendly beaches. The sandy beach is a great, safe place to explore. You can walk to the shoreline at low tide, which extends almost a kilometre. Check the tide schedule here.
It is a wonderful place to picnic. Walk trails through the forest and along the beach, bird watch and discover marine life along the beach. If you’re quiet, you often see curious deer and rabbits. Look for the interpretive signage to learn about the ecosystem of the area. Check out the Rathtrevor Nature House and its programs during the summer months. We found many sand dollars and scurrying crabs on our beach strolls.
Campsites and picnic areas are available in the park.
One of the best things to do in Parksville is to visit Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Parksville Community Beach
The Parksville Community Park has a wonderful water park, playground, a beach with stunning ocean views, trails and picnic areas.
Parksville Community Beach is a great spot for beachcombing. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Parksville Beach Festival
The Parksville Sand Castle Competition is outstanding and should not be missed. It’s part of the 5 1/2 weeks of summer fun at the family-oriented Parksville Beach Festival. The exhibition and festival run from mid-July until the third week in August. Find out more.
Incredibly skilled and passionate master sculptors from around the world compete in the annual competition as solo or dual team.
We arrived just in time to see the winners announced for the competition.
In 2024, Manuel Campos from Colombia won first place for solo. His brilliant creation is shown in the image and video below.
One of the 2024 winners of the popular sand sculpture competition in Parkville during Beachfest. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Craig Heritage Park Museum
Enjoy fun interactive exhibits for an exceptional learning experience at the Craig Heritage Park Museum. The kids loved it, and we spent two full hours exploring the Mosaic Pavilion, exhibit hall, and eight heritage buildings, some of which date back to 1885.
Craig Heritage Park Museum in Parksville provides many interactive experiences. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Inside the old school house at Craig Heritage Park Museum. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
At the Mosaic Pavilion, they learned about the Vancouver Island forest, which has the highest concentration of cougars in the world, and how to read a tree’s rings to mark its growth.
Mosaic Pavilion at Craig Heritage Park Museum Parksville. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Pentlatch Art Gallery
Discover Indigenous art from across Canada by well-known artists and rising stars. The beautiful Pentlatch Art Gallery is the first Indigenous art gallery in Parksville. Owner and curator Gerald Fuller, a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation (Coast Salish), opened the gallery in May 2024 and named it after the Pentlatch people who once lived in the area.
We found a small piece of framed artwork to purchase. The gallery is located at 552 Pioneer Cr.
Display at the Pentchlatch Art Gallery in Parksville: (L) Ojibwe artist Mark Anthony Jacobson, Sioux Lookout, Ontario. (R) Snuneymuxw First Nation artist Gerald Fuller, owner and curator of the gallery.
Paradise Fun Park
Note: If you stay at the Coast Parksville Hotel, as we did, hotel guests receive complimentary unlimited mini-golf!
Paradise Fun Park is across from the Coast Parkville Hotel. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Paradise Fun Park is across from the Coast Parkville Hotel. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Little Qualicum Cheese Works
Visit the farm at Little Qualicum Cheese Works and take a self-guided tour to see sheep, goats, cows and other animals. Learn about the milking robot and if you are lucky, look through the window to see the cheese plant in action. In the store, there is a wide range of artisan cheeses and local products. You can fill up on fresh milk from their bottling machine.
Little Qualicum Cheeseworks is one of the best things to do in Parksville. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Cameron Lake
This is Melanie’s favourite lake from her childhood memories of visiting here with her grandparents. You can take a swim or have a picnic at this beautiful freshwater lake. The B.C. Scientific Cryptozoology Club claims a creature lurks in these clear waters. Cameron Lake is part of Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park.
Top things to do on Vancouver Island take a swim in Cameron Lake. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park
Little Qualicum Falls offers many short, easy hikes through the old-growth Douglas fir forest to view the upper and lower falls and the river. Campsites and picnic areas are available in the park.
Little Qualicum Falls is an easy hike on Vancouver Island and easily accessible on a day trip from Vancouver. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Englishman River Falls Provincial Park
Take a hike through the lushly forested area of Douglas fir trees to discover two waterfalls at Englishman River. One of the waterfalls drops into the narrowest BC canyon related to a waterfall. Mist from the waterfall provides a perfect spot for maidenhair ferns to thrive.
Englishman River Falls Upper Falls. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Cathedral Grove Old Growth Rainforest
Experience towering old-growth rainforests as you walk among giant Douglas Fir trees that have stood for at least 800 years at Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Provincial Park. In 1997, a huge windstorm swept through the park, toppling hundreds of giant trees.
Look around as you follow the trails and boardwalks through the park and you will see evidence of nature’s powerful blow. The downed trees have become nurse trees. As these trees begin to rot, they provide a nurturing environment to new life and regrowth in the forest. Download a map of the area. This is a very busy place and it may be challenging to find parking. Be very cautious when crossing the busy highway or pulling out of the parking spot.
North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre
The centre is home to 60 non-releasable animals and those that will return to their homes in the wild. You can see eagles, owls, bears, turtles, ravens, hawks, and turkey vultures here.
North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre helps animals of all kinds near Parksville, BC. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Where to Stay
Coast Parksville Hotel
We stayed at the boutique-style Coast Parksville Hotel. It was perfect for our multigenerational adventure, with an excellent location to enjoy all the area’s attractions. The hotel is within walking distance of the beautiful beach, parks, and places to eat. As an amazing bonus, all hotel guests will receive complimentary unlimited mini-golf at Paradise Fun Park, which is a huge saving for families.
We were impressed right away at check-in when they handed us hot, moist towels to freshen up, something you do not often find even at the most luxurious 5-star resorts. The hotel staff was very friendly, and we found it perfect in every way. In fact, our youngest traveller, age five, said, “This hotel has everything we need, just like it’s our home.”
It is stylishly renovated and, as their branding says, “Refreshingly Local™.” The spacious, clean rooms can accommodate a family nicely and have a small kitchenette. There is a welcoming outside area with barbeque for guests with tools and tables. In the summer, the communal ice chest is filled in the afternoons, waiting to keep your beverages cool.
There is a business centre near the comfortable lounge area, which has a convenient complimentary coffee/tea/hot chocolate and water station. Cafe Latte or espresso, anyone? Yes, please and this is available 24/7. There is also a big-screen TV to watch and assorted games to play.
The hotel is family-friendly, pet-friendly and offers a seniors discount year-round.
Coast Parksville Hotel is across the street from the Paradise Fun Park in Parksville. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Coast Parkville Hotel is in the perfect location and near to everything you need. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Where to Eat
Make a plan since not all establishments are open daily, and some close earlier than most. We already have a list of a few restaurants we want to visit next time because they were closed.
Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company and Arrowsmith Smokehouse
Try a flight of locally hand-crafted beer at Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company and some Southern-style BBQ. Everything is made and smoked in-house. The aroma as you drive up makes your mouth start to water. There is a wide selection of menu items and a reasonably priced kid’s menu. There is a wide selection of games available to play at your table.
Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Co. is a great spot to eat and try craft beer while the kiddies play games. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Coombs Old Country Market – Goats on the Roof
Coombs Old Country Market is always a popular and busy spot. The main market store, famous for its goats on the roof, has a wide variety of food, baked goods, and novelty items. The ice cream shop is always busy, and Billy G’s Doughnuts sell out fast. Try their Nanaimo Bar or Gimme Smores doughnuts, twits, fritters and crullers. There are also several boutiques, clothing shops, and places to eat.
One of the top things to do in Parksville on Vancouver Island is to visit the famous Coombs Market Goats on the Roof and Billy G’s Donuts. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Purebread Cafe and the Ice Cream Shop at Paradise Fun Park
For breakfast, lunch, coffee or if you are craving ice cream, Purebread Cafe recently opened inside Paradise Fun Park. We stopped here for breakfast and a snack for the road. Everything was delicious and fresh.
Delicious treats are available at Purebread Cafe and the Ice Cream Shop at Paradise Fun Park Parksville. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
If you go:
Getting to Parksville on Vancouver Island is easy from Vancouver via the scenic BC Ferries route from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay or Tsawwassen to Duke Point terminals. Be sure to make ferry reservations to avoid peak season waits.
Coming from Victoria, it’s a less than two-hour drive north via Trans Canada Highway 1, and Island Highway BC-19, then take exit 15.
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Wendy Nordvik-Carr and Melanie were guests of Coast Parksville Hotel which did not preview this story.
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About the Author:
Wendy Nordvik-Carr is a highly regarded travel writer who produces quality, well-researched articles with stunning photography and video.
She seeks out authentic experiences showcasing the people, culture and history that make each destination unique. Her focus is on solo, couple and multigenerational travel through cruising, air and road trip adventures.
Wendy is the editor & writer for LifesIncredibleJourney.com, an award-winning travel site that encourages exploration of destinations near & far.
She is a TMAC Director, Chair, National Governance Committee and Chair of TMAC's BC & Yukon Chapter, as well as a member of SATW, IFWTWA and NATJA.
Melanie Lomond is an experienced travel writer from Vancouver with an excitement for budget, local, and women’s travel. Since starting a family, Melanie hopes to inspire the travel bug in her children and write more about family travel. She has a particular interest in the natural world, food, people and cultures. Melanie has been published in the Vancouver Sun and on numerous blogs. She has travelled extensively in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Caribbean, United States, and Canada. When not travelling, Melanie is the founder/writer of West Coast Fresh, a blog dedicated to family activities and cooking.
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