From Nanoose in the South to Deep Bay in the North, the towns, villages, and islands of the region are strung like pearls scattered in the sand along the slower paced 'Oceanside Route' of the original coastal Highway 19A and the ocean is just the beginning. Meandering the scenic back roads leads to many of our area's most interesting attractions. Antique hunters will think they've found the Bermuda Triangle in the area surrounding Coombs. Arts and cultural activities are everywhere, from roadside studios open to the public to galleries and workshops to over 150 annual events and festivals. Outdoors, hikers and mountain bikers will love the parks and trail systems and any day is a good day to go fishing, whether trolling for the big one from the back of a boat in the Strait of Georgia, fly fishing in a secluded backwater pool, or casting into a pristine mountain lake.
Golfers can play a different course every day of the week and kid-friendly activities abound.
In fact, the words 'I'm bored' have been officially removed from the local vocabulary. No matter what your interest, from kayaking to golf, rodeo to relaxing on the sand, Oceanside has it all. Spend a week and you will want to return forever. For more information on any of the region's communities, click on the appropriate button in the left column. The 2nd Annual Parksville Beach festival, featuring the Canadian Open Sandsculpting Competition, drew over 32,000 people to Parksville Beach during its 2 week run.