MooBerry Winery, both located on the picturesque Morningstar Farm. And it still holds huge appeal for family holidays in British Columbia (and adult getaways too). But of course, we were also keen to check out some of the The story? Another fun stop is Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and the When we gazed up, following our guide’s flashlight beam, our jaws dropped as we took it all in. Families might like the self-contained cabins. You can also taste some of the popular brie, feta, blue and other Little Qualicum cheeses, as well as various fruit wines. We had a lovely visit! Read useful trip planning info! We have reviews of the best places to see in Parksville. We stayed at the Beach Club (right in the center of Parksville) and Tigh-Na-Mara (just outside Parksville). Now there are many fun things to do in Parksville and neighboring Qualicum Beach. (You can read about some of them here.). Dip and dine: Tigh-Na-Mara’s “dip and dine” package includes entry to the Grotto mineral pool and a seating of endless tapas. Victoria is B.C.’s craft brewery capital (and home to Canada’s first brewpub). Mark Chandler – City of Parksville Councillor. Photo credits: 2, 3, 13, 21 and 22 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Photos 1 and 17 Tigh-Na-Mara | Photo 4 Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism | Remaining photos courtesy of the respective Parksville attractions. There are more than 1,000 caves on Vancouver Island. Pastas at the Cuckoo restaurant are home-made, and the rich A decidedly different grotto experience awaits you at the Tigh-Na-Mara Join the journey! It’s one of the best beaches in Canada – certainly one of the top beaches in B.C. As professional travel writers, we can always report freely on our travel experiences without influence. If you make a booking or purchase through our site, we’ll earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Hours: Cuckoo is open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Rad video too. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Top Places to Visit in Parksville, Canada: See Tripadvisor's 3,337 traveller reviews and photos of Parksville attractions. Later in the evening, the tide came in right up to the shoreline. Your email address will not be published. Once upon a time, when our son was much younger and so were we, there was a quirky, one-building grocery shack in Coombs – with goats nibbling on its grass roof. Our Travel Resources Guide | Get airline booking tips! “Riverbend Explorer” tour: This two-hour guided tour is the easiest and most popular tour, offered year-round. Outside, it’s fun to pet the rabbits and other farm animals. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in South Africa. Goats on the roof at Coombs Country market #explorebc #explorevictoria #coombs #goatontheroof #imagesofcanada #sharevi #sharethecoast #thankyoucanada #tourismvictoria #canadathenorth #canadaday #globalbc #vancouverisland #, A post shared by Doug Clement (@dougclementphotography) on Aug 25, 2016 at 10:49pm PDT. Whether you are visiting solo, with a special someone or with your family there is something for you to do. Parksville boasts the warmest ocean swimming in Canada. Pssst! We could have sat inside the authentic Italian villa at Our cottage resort is in a close convenient location to these activities. We first wrote about all the crazy fun things to do in Parksville and Qualicum Beach for a local Canadian newspaper. Hours: Wednesday from 5 to 9 pm and Saturday from 1 to 5 pm. And it packs people in with its popular local market (shades of Whole Foods), buzzing Italian trattoria, expansive ice-cream parlour, garden center, clothing boutique – and even a furniture gallery. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in November. See reviews of the Beach Club on TripAdvisor. Italian restaurant at the Coombs Country Market. Things to do in Parksville and Qualicum Beach. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in October. Everywhere you look, there are glistening crystalline ice “draperies,” thin delicate tubes and stalactites. Then you’ll love the Joffre Lakes trail near Whistler (maybe you’ll see bears?). We used to vacation as a family in Parksville. Here’s our newspaper story. Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George share their travel experiences on Sand In My Suitcase. It was a sleepy little town with not much more than the goat-topped store in nearby Coombs and a couple of rustic resorts with cabins on the beach. (Wine and alcohol is extra.). Time: Allow 3 hours for the whole experience. Tip: Ask for an oceanview-facing unit; they’re worth the extra cost. GetYourGuide | Check out local tours and book “skip-the-line” tickets to attractions. Parksville or looking at the beach from the deck…, Are you a beach baby? See reviews of Tigh-Na-mara on TripAdvisor. Of course, this setting won us over. The menu is fixed – a selection of 16 tapas, all made to order and creatively presented, one after the other. The top attractions to visit in Parksville are: What are the best outdoor activities in Parksville? Top Things to Do in Parksville, British Columbia: See Tripadvisor's 3,339 traveller reviews and photos of Parksville tourist attractions. The best outdoor activities in Parksville according to Tripadvisor travellers are: What are the most popular things to do in Parksville with kids? The beer is good, and word has spread about his Vancouver Island brewery. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. more. relaxed evening to go for dinner straight from the shower with wet hair and no Technology allows you to stay connected 24/7, but time spent in Parksville Qualicum Beach will help you strengthen the connections that matter… with your family and friends, nature, our … ), A post shared by @ samnugentphotography on Mar 26, 2017 at 10:24pm PDT. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Things to Do in Parksville, Vancouver Island: See Tripadvisor's 3,339 traveler reviews and photos of Parksville tourist attractions. The only restaurant of its kind in Canada, the Treetop Tapas Restaurant demand for his beer is more than Dave wants to produce. VRBO | Get your own apartment or villa, instead of a hotel. Booking.com | Score a “wow” hotel (or at least a decent one!). Pssst! In the park itself, there are shady picnic tables on the lawn. Now there are many fun things to do in Parksville and neighboring Qualicum Beach. Tigh-Na-Mara is a seaside spa resort just outside Parksville. fill you in on what you see now. Parksville vacations aren't just for the summer. Season: The Coombs Country market is open seasonally from March to November. Blink as you’re driving along the Island Highway and you could miss it. Gazing out through cedar-framed windows at the serene forest, we oohed and ahhed over fresh crab meat wrapped in zucchini slices, and duck with camembert polenta and mustard greens. Some units have no view (they face other buildings). Fortunately, Parksville attractions are in close proximity to each other so you can visit many on your visit and Oceanside Village Resort is located conveniently nearby many of them. ), epic hikes, taking the ferry between Vancouver and Victoria, the best time to visit and more…. So here’s what to do in Parksville and Qualicum Beach today: Since we started with the Coombs goats on the roof, let’s How did we miss actually swimming in the water all those years ago? If you’re looking for a Parksville spa for a little “me” time, you’ll naturally want to check this grotto spa out! Situated right on sandy Parksville Beach, it has contemporary studios and large one-bedroom units with full kitchens, air-conditioning, gas fireplaces and large balconies. ), The wine-and-cheese tastings are free. You could easily spend half a day at this delightful market and not get bored. Thanks for this=). time. Things to Do in Parksville, Vancouver Island: See Tripadvisor's 3 281 traveller reviews and photos of 15 Parksville attractions. (But the cabins don’t have ocean views.) We could have spent our whole getaway on this beach in Thanks! Love Shack Libations is probably the smallest craft brewery in B.C. and creamy spaghetti carbonara hit the spot – as did our Parksville and Required fields are marked *, Wings clipped for now, we’re award-winning travel writers staying close-to-home (Canada). But we’re still tasting and virtually discovering the world. Every visitor to Parksville Qualicum Beach, in some way, talks about the connections they make here. The best outdoor activities in Parksville according to Tripadvisor travellers are: What are the most popular things to do in Parksville with kids? We visited the two resort towns recently for a sunny getaway. But don’t miss reading about the Coombs goats and where to eat in Parksville (hello Cuckoo) and Love Shack Libations (you’ll love their beer!) restaurant is reserved exclusively for robed spa guests. The Beach Club is newer – with bigger, more modern accommodations. ft. spa was named the top spa in Canada for 2018 by Spas of America. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in November. Essentially, you run along a shallow pool of water, drop in a skimboard (a piece of specially …