About Parksville

Parksville is a beautiful city on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Often called The Jewel of Vancouver Island, it is located along provincial highway 19A, 150 kilometres (94 miles) North of Victoria, and 37 kilometres (23 Miles) North of Nanaimo, lying between breathtaking Englishman River and French Creek.

For thousands of years the area was inhabited by the Coast Salish First Nations people and was left undiscovered by Europeans until 1792 when Captain George Vancouver sailed by. It is said that in the early 1850s an Englishman died crossing an unnamed river, and soon after the entire area was known as "The River" or "Englishman River". Later in the 1860s a trail was pushed North from Victoria to Comox, opening the area up to settlers. It was not until 1886 that the first family arrived, lead by John Hirst. Parksville was named officially named in 1877 after the area's first postmaster, Nelson Park, in 1877 and was not incorporated as a village until June 19, 1945. Parksville became a Town on April 1, 1978 and a City on June 1, 1981.

Today Parksville is a buslting tourism and retirement hub, with over 10,000 full-time residents. With two world famous sandy beaches, Parksville Beach and Rathtrevor Beach (part of Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park), innumerable public parks, an expanding downtown core and a vibrant social scene, it's no wonder that that this amazing little city has experienced it's unprecedented growth year after year.

About Coombs

Coombs Village, just west of Parksville BC is a must stop for any visitor to the area because the village is an educational trip into the past and leaves you with a totally different impression of the area. Coombs it is a trip into the hippy-notic past offering eclectic opportunities shopping the one-of-a-kind stores like the store with the goats living on the roof... while your children enjoy the theme park on a thrill ride or playing the mini golf course.

A popular stopping point for tourists on the way to the west coast, the little village of Coombs is dotted with several heritage buildings, small gift and craft shops and antique stores. Coombs is also known for the family of goats nimbly grazing on the grass rooftop of the Coombs Old Country Market.

Down the street on either side of Coombs Village centre are art galleries, farm markets, more eclectic shops, rodeo grounds, pub, gas station, restaurant and a butterfly exhibit. In the summer months Coombs has many events that draws people from around the world to Arrowsmith Country.

About Nanoose Bay

The rural community of Nanoose Bay is a hot spot for golfers, clam diggers and water sports enthusiasts. Nanoose Bay enjoys a country atmosphere while being close to the city amenities of Parksville and Nanaimo. The peninsula's large, protected harbour is a popular destination for visiting boats from around the world, and is home to an assortment of marinas, one as large as 400 berths. The Nanoose Bay area is a vacationer's paradise, offering a wealth of activities, including hiking, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and fishing.

About Qualicum Beach

Qualicum Beach gently spreads in front of one of the most pleasant small towns on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Pause here at any of the numerous beachside pullouts and smell the salt air intermingled with the perfume from the many private and public floral displays.

Steeped in quaint British heritage and famous for its local arts, crafts and beautiful English gardens, modern day Qualicum Beach offers visitors the same gentle countryside and golden, seemingly endless, sandy beaches. Six provincial parks are located within thirty minutes drive from Qualicum Beach.

A beautiful waterfront community best viewed on foot exploring down a paved walking path fronting the coastline of the region's sandy beaches. During low tides, when the tides recede almost a 1/4 mile, people flock to Qualicum Beach or to, nearby, Columbia Beach located north of Parksville, BC. beach destinations where tidal pools form, sandcastles are built, frisbees are thrown and children play all under the watchful eyes of the seabirds and eagles patrolling high above.

The Qualicum Beach walking path leads to outdoor patios, ice cream stands, Totem Poles, picnic tables, grassy areas, birdwatching platforms, accommodations, restaurants and many viewing benches.

The Qualicum Beach village centre is very pedestrian-friendly with sidewalks leading people in and out of the many cute gift shops, art galleries, cafe houses, boutiques, community parks and restaurants. The quaint storefronts, many painted in pastel colors are alive with floral scents from the hanging flower baskets and gardens. In the Qualicum Beach region are some wildlife wildlife recovery centres to visit and some wonderful floral gardens and tea rooms to explore. Qualicum Beach is an enjoyable step back in time and has been rewarded for their hard work internationally winning the "Communities in Bloom" award.

The Oceanside region is a popular destination for activities like relaxing, golfing, caving, spas, waterfall parks, sandy beaches and hiking. People flock every year to nearby Rathtrevor Beach, for example, for a chance to play at low tide . Englishman River Falls and Little Qualicum Falls are some waterfall parks with groomed paths leading over wooden bridges looking down canyon walls at rushing rivers surrounded by forests (best season is late winter and early spring when water levels are the highest). Or... you can never go wrong by taking some time to visit the Horne Lake Caves for a day of spelunking and exploring middle earth.

About Bowser/Deep Bay

The small waterfront community of Bowser is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island overlooking Georgia Strait. Named after William John Bowser, B.C. Premier in 1915-16, Bowser is a favourite stop for clam and shellfish diggers.
Bowser is part of Lighthouse Country, a stretch of Highway 19A that runs along the oceanside from Qualicum Beach to Fanny Bay across from Denman and Hornby Islands.

Bowser area recreational activities include swimming, hiking, golf, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, cave spelunking, kayaking, boating and fishing. Bowser attractions include clam and oyster picking, whale watching and many galleries and artisan in the area - every activity imaginable is within driving distance of Bowser.

About French Creek

The bustling marine community of French Creek is situated on Highway 19A, which runs along the east coast of Vancouver Island beside the open water of the Strait of Georgia.
French Creek's working harbour is home to a large commercial fishing fleet and many charter operations that can take visitors fishing, sightseeing, and diving. French Creek Marina offers sheltered moorage and yachting amenities for sailboats and pleasure craft.

Situated halfway between Parksville and Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island's "Oceanside Route" Highway 19A, French Creek is a bustling marine community with a Federal Dock complete with facilities for visiting boaters, moorage, fresh seafood sales, charter companies, the Creek House Restaurant, as well as home base for the walk on ferry over to Lasqueti Island. French Creek is a popular Vancouver Island marina for its central location.

French Creek is an annual stop on the Cadillac Van Isle 360 international yacht race that circumnavigates Vancouver Island every summer. The Cadillac Van Isle 360 runs at the same time as French Creek Harbour Days festivities offering fun for everyone.