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Parksville
Parksville is located 35 km (22 miles) north of Nanaimo and 11 km
(7 miles) south of Qualicum Beach
on Hwy 19A. Parksville, along with Qualicum
Beach and the smaller community in-between called French
Creek, form the region on the east side of Vancouver Island
called Oceanside.
Parksville
Bay
Parksville is an ideal ocean waterfront community located along
a large beach parallel with Hwy 19A called Parksville Bay. Situated
in town are grocery stores, hotels, motels, resorts and tourist
services. Most of the residences live off Hwy 19A towards the west
with an exception of a small section situated on the east side towards
French Creek.
Hwy
19A
As you travel through Parksville on Hwy 19A, there are number of
fast food restaurants, motels, resorts and general items. The main
intersection is at Hwy 19A and McMillan which takes you towards
the Alberni Hwy to Port Alberni,
and across Hwy 19A is the Parksville Community Park.
Parksville
Bay Community Park
This beautiful park is located along Parksville Bay with a view
east towards Sechelt. The park features the arena, a sandy beach,
Lions waterpark-play arena, concession kiosk and a grassy field
and plays host to a number of events throughout the year. The entrance
to Parksville Community Park is located at the traffic lights along
Hwy 19A at Corfield Street.
Rathtrevor
Provincial Park
One of British Columbia's premier parks, Rathtrevor Provincial Park,
is located approximately 3 km (2 miles) south from downtown Parksville.
Here you can find a fairly large campground featuring very private
campsites situated next to a large sandy beach along Craig Bay and
Ballenas Channel.
Craig
Bay
The beach and day-use area for Rathtrevor Provincial Park is absolutely
beautiful. The interesting thing here is when the tide goes out,
the beach becomes an incredibly large playground for everyone to
beachcomb and play in the sand. Towards the south end of Craig Bay
outside of the park, the beach carries along the shoreline towards
luxury resorts, spas and condominiums.
Craig
Heritage Park
Situated on Hwy 19A at the south end of Parksville near the Info
Centre by Northwest Bay Road is the entrance to Craig Heritage Park
Museum and Archives. Here you can find valuable archives, photographs
and artifacts dealing with the settlement of the surrounding area
including Parksville, Nanoose Bay, Coombs,
Errington, Hilliers and French Creek.
Parksville
Beach Festival
All throughout the summer months you can find events taking place
in Parksville. If you happen to come in late August, the Parksville
Beach Festival is on for a few weeks featuring lots of fun and enjoyment.
During this time, a main event dating back to 1982, is the Parkville's
Sandcastle Competition.
Top
Bridge Community Park
This park is the hidden jewel in Parksville. Beautiful trails along
a river gorge, nice forests, petroglyphs, a mountain-bike circuit
and excellent swimming holes. Top Bridge Community Park was once
the site of a vehicle bridge over the Englishman River and the original
transportation route to Port Alberni.
Getting
Here
There are two ways to drive into Top Bridge Park. The preferred
way is to drive south of Rathtrevor Provincial Park on Hwy 19A,
go past the exits for Nanaimo and Qualicum
Beach and turn right onto Kaye Road, then quickly onto Chattell
Road, then 1.5 km (1 mile) to the parking lot.
Little
Mountain
The other route is to take Hwy 4A, turn onto Bellevue Road, then
travel on Allsbrook Road for 10 km (6 miles) to a parking lot. If
you go this way, take the time to go up Little Mountain. Rather
than turn at Allsbrook Road, take the next road called Little Mountain
Road for the best views of Errington, Coombs
and Parksville.
Top
Bridge Trail
There is also a great trail called Top Bridge Trail that takes you
from Rathtrevor Park for approximately 5 km (3 miles) to Top Bridge
Park. The trail follows Northwest Bay Road, crosses the Hwy 19A
at Tuan Road, then takes you through almost Okanagan-like conditions
then follows the Englishman River under the E&N trestle into
the park. From here, the trail continues across Englishman River
on a pedestrian bridge situated at a popular swimming hole at Top
Bridge known locally as the 'The Nose.'
Horne
Lake Caves
If you enjoy going into some caves, try the ones at Horne Lake.
Located just north of Qualicum Beach,
Horne Lake Provincial Park features the Horne Lake Cave experience.
This is a guided tour of various lengths where you get to learn
and see some unique formations under the ground.
Regional
District of Nanaimo
Other communities around Parksville belonging to the Regional District
of Nanaimo for you to explore are: Nanoose Bay, Lantzville, Coombs,
Errington and French Creek. The RDN
also operates and maintains various parks, trails and recreational
facilities in the area including Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Qualicum
Beach.
Lasqueti
Island
If you have time, take the passenger-only ferry from French
Creek over to Lasqueti
Island and hike around this beautiful place. Lasqueti
Island is very unique in that there are few cars and the island
is off the BC Hydro electrical grid and power has to be partly generated
by wind and solar means.
Private
Resorts
Besides Rathtrevor Provincial Park, there are a number of private
resorts that are close to the beaches along Craig Bay. For motels
and RV camping, there are a number that are close to town, Rathtrevor
Provincial Park and Englishman River.
Information
on Parksville
Tourism
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