Parksville, Coombs, Tofino and Ucluelet
If you’re looking for fun things to do on Vancouver Island then you must visit Parksville and other areas such as Coombs, Tofino and Ucluelet. We’ve included some of our favourites that we’ve personally have enjoyed and/or activities and sites that we know are a must see and do while in the area.This article is not sponsored in any way. Unless otherwise noted all photos were taken by Powered by Mom.
Things To Do On Vancouver Island – Enjoy Quirky Fun In Parksville And Coombs
Parksville – On the Northeastern coastline – and Coombs – same area, slightly inland.One of my favourite things to do in on Vancouver Island is to visit the areas of Parksville and Coombs as they are quite small and so close to each other but there’s so much to do there. Parksville boasts a population of around 12,000 and Coombs – 10 km inland from Parksville – is home to just over 1000 people. But these towns manage to pack a whole lot of fun into a small place. In fact, some of the most unique things to do on Vancouver Island are found right here. For example:
Goats on the Roof at the Old Country Market
Starting as a fruit stand in 1973 until it grew into the store you see today, the Old Country Market has become a pretty famous place to tourists. That’s because this homey building has a green grass roof that is tended to by goats! No need to risk life and limb trying to mow this roof – the friendly and nimble goats keep it quite tidy.And once you are finished checking out the goats, there are all kinds of other fun things to do. Wander a wide variety of shops filled with wonderful products, snack on yummy treats of all kinds, and if you really want a meal, there are three restaurants to choose from. You can spend a whole day here and not quite see everything there is to see!
Things To Do On Vancouver Island – Explore The Horne Lake Caves
There are over 1000 caves all over Vancouver Island, but the Horne Lake Caves are the only ones that are safely accessible to the public, making them a great choice for families. Stunningly beautiful, there is much to see in this underground wonderland. It’s also the winner of the “Remarkable Experience Award” from Destination BC! So it’s definitely on of those things to do on Vancouver Island that you need to put on your list if you can!There are several different tours available, depending on your budget, the type of experience you want to have, and the ages of people in your family. The simplest tour is for ages 5 and up – the most challenging for ages 13 and up. You don’t want to miss this one!
Visit Morningstar Farms in Parksville
We like to stay in places where we have a kitchen so we can enjoy local goodies like these and eat out for meals of our choice, the best of both worlds.
Bask in the Beauty of Butterfly World in Coombs
This is only an idea of the many experiences you can enjoy on Vancouver Island. The longer your vacation time, the better. But even a short visit to this beautiful place is well worth your time.
Things To Do On Vancouver Island – Enjoy The Surf And Sea In Tofino And Ucluelet
Tofino and Ucluelet – Pacific Rim Highway – Southwestern side of Vancouver IslandThis area of the island is one of my absolute favourites. There is just no beating the stunning landscapes. I could take photos all day of the oceanside, the majestic sunsets and well pretty much all of the scenery in this area. We have gone several times of the years as a couple and as a family with our dogs too of course which is when the photo below was taken.
If you love nature, there is much to enjoy here, from hiking trails to whale watching and more! There are so many things to do and see in this area as well as a ton of small restaurants, there’s a lot of good food to be eaten, especially if you love seafood! A few of the highlights you’ll find are:
Explore the West Coast Hiking Trail
I’m not going to lie this is not an easy hike and I did it ahem well over 20 years ago when I was in excellent shape. Sadly I have no photos of my own as I didn’t want to haul a camera with me and at the time I didn’t have a digital camera, if there were even small ones at the time I can’t recall lol Fortunately, Parks Canada has provided us with some amazing photos to show the true beauty of this trail.For hiking enthusiasts, The West Coast Hiking Trail is an amazing experience. This challenging trail is a multi-day experience involving backpacks and camping and is not for the faint of heart.
If you are traveling with small children or people with physical limitations, this trail is probably not the best choice for them, as it requires a lot of endurance. But if you love to hike and have been looking for a place of great beauty, far away from the things of man, you’ll want to keep this amazing hike on your To Do List.
Go See the Ucluelet Lighthouse
Go Whale Watching in Tofino
Discover a New Favorite Restaurant
Tofino and Ucluelet have both become rather well-known for their restaurants. Seafood restaurants abound, but you’ll also find Italian, American, and Canadian cuisine of every variety – most of them rated 4 and 5 stars among tourists. Bring an appetite!I’ve taken my family and friends at different times to introduce them to this restaurant and I recommend it all the time, so much so I was beginning to think I should ask for a commission every time I sent people there haha. There are some other great restaurants especially in the market area where Cuckoos is and the Coombs market which I always stop by to see what they have.