Parksville is a small, welcoming town on the east coast of Vancouver Island, about two hours north of Victoria. It is known for its wide sandy beaches and unusually warm ocean water — at low tide the sand flats stretch hundreds of metres out and the shallow water warms in the sun, making Rathtrevor Beach one of the best family swimming spots on the island.
The town makes a good base for exploring the central island. Cathedral Grove's ancient old-growth Douglas firs are a short drive inland, Englishman River Falls is just a few kilometres upstream, and the trails around Mount Arrowsmith offer more serious hiking. In summer the town hosts the Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition, drawing surprisingly impressive entries.