Thank you to our friends on Facebook for helping us create this list of Romantic Sunset Spots in our Parksville & Qualicum Beach region! Here they are in order from East to West!

1. Beachcomber Regional Park

Take Northwest Bay Rd to Claudet Rd, then Marina Way. Spectacular views west across Craig Bay to Parksville and Mount Arrowsmith and north across the Strait of Georgia to the mainland coastal mountains.

2. Madrona Point

Take Northwest Bay Rd to Beaver Creek Wharf Rd, then left on Madrona Drive till the end. Enjoy the sunset from this rocky outcrop!

3. Rathtrevor Provincial Park

Access to Rathtrevor Provincial Park is off Highway 19A towards the east end of Parksville. You can stay at one of several hotels/resorts located adjacent to the park on Resort Dr including Beach Acres, Oceanside Village Resort, Ocean Trails, Madrona Beach Resort, Tigh Na Mara, Ocean Sands, and Sunrise Ridge - click here for more info! One of our Facebook friends suggested taking to the water by kayak for the ultimate in sunset viewing!

4. Parksville Beach

Access to Parksville Beach is off Highway 19A in mid-town Parksville. There are several great places to stay on Parksville Bay including Beach Club Resort, Quality Resort Bayside, Paradise Sea Shell Motel & Paradise Adventure RV Park and the Sea Edge Motel - more details here! Our Facebook friends noted a couple of favourite sunset-gazing spots along this expanse of shoreline - the boardwalk that starts at The Beach Club and the old hovercraft pad at the east end of the Parksville Community Park.

5. Little Mountain

Just outside of Parksville, turn onto Bellevue Rd from Highway 4A, then left onto Little Mountain Rd. You can enjoy expansive views towards Mount Arrowsmith from here!

6. French Creek Marina

Located just off Highway 19A as you head west out of Parksville, this tends to be an under-hyped location for enjoying the view! A great spot to watch the sun go down.

7. Columbia Beach

Just past the French Creek Marina, you'll find Columbia Beach. Turn onto Columbia Drive to navigate to the water. This is a nice, level neighbourhood, perfect for a leisurely stroll or bike ride before you settle into your perfect spot to catch the last rays of the day!

8. Yambury Beach

Off 19A between Parksville & Qualicum, turn off on Yambury Rd to discover a local favourite beach. A great spot to relax and enjoy the last part of your day!

9. Qualicum Beach

Enjoy your drive along the stretch of 19A that runs through Qualicum Beach, right next to the water! Lots of places to pull over and soak the sunset colours in. Consider popping into the Shady Waterfront Restaurant & Pub, Thalassa at Qualicum Beach Golf Course or The Windmill Dining Room at the Old Dutch Inn for a drink or appies - they've all got amazing views!

10. McFeely & Surfside

Before you drive west out of Qualicum Beach, turn right onto Kincade Rd and head towards McFeely and Surfside Drives. A couple of great access points here - pick your perfect spot!

11. Mount Arrowsmith

Feeling ambitious? How can you beat a mountaintop for a sunset view? Access to Mount Arrowsmith Massif Regional Park is near Cameron Lake, for the most part gained via road and trail on private forest lands.

12. Qualicum Bay & Bowser

Lots of great spots as you travel through these oceanside towns - awesome photo ops and drool-worthy scenery! There's a reason why 19A through these Vancouver Island communities is called the "scenic route"!

I hope you get a chance to enjoy all 12 of these sunset spots! Do you know one we missed? Let us know in the comments below!