We All Scream for Ice Cream in Parksville Qualicum Beach

Create life-long memories with your friends and family as you enjoy a refreshing ice cream cone on the beach from one of the region’s many delightful ice cream shops.

Qualicum Beach

Ice Cream Dreams on the Qualicum Beach Boardwalk is definitely what ice cream dreams are made of. Start by choosing your base (vanilla, chocolate or vegan coconut) and then let your imagination run wild with your “mix-ins”—like cotton candy, Twix bars, blackberries and more. Choose one, two, or even more (we won’t judge!) and then add on toppings like sprinkles or strawberry sauce. A little farther south and you’ll find Swell Sweets (142 2nd Ave W). New owners took over the long-standing sweet shop in 2020 and changed the name but have continued the legacy of sweets. They also sell delicious handmade gelato—and gelato cakes perfect for any celebratory occasion. Nothing says “congratulations” like a raspberry Belgian chocolate gelato cake!

Meanwhile, Shore Restaurant (2831 Island Hwy W) is an ice-cream lover’s ultimate destination. Dip your soft serve in chocolate or butterscotch, or order up some Dole Whip (vegan, gluten-free soft serve from Hawaii). They also have decadent sundaes and milkshakes, and specialty treats called “Tycoons”—their creamy vanilla ice cream mixed with candy favourites like Skor and Smarties. Finally, you can’t miss The Cone Zone (5970 Island Hwy W). They serve 32 flavours of premium Island Farms ice cream (which uses BC milk that is free from artificial growth hormones and antibiotics) and Foothills Creamery flavours, like blueberry cheesecake, frosted choco malt and banana fudge swirl.

Parksville

Down in Parksville, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks (403 Lowry's Road) is a must-visit, but they are only open seasonally so plan your visit accordingly. Enjoy some chocolate or vanilla soft serve (or both!) that they make onsite with their very own farm-fresh milk. For more family-fun activities, enjoy a round of mini golf at Paradise Fun Park (375 Island Hwy W, Parksville), then satisfy your sweet tooth with their ice cream and snow cone offerings.

At Realm Food Co. (Unit 2 – 180 Craig Street), order up some Burnt Honey Ice Cream. Made in Nanaimo by ice-cream maker extraordinaires Kara and Fiona Shedden, the delicious handmade ice cream features local ingredients. You can even add salted caramel or chocolate ganache to top it all off. And at 1000 Resort Drive in Parksville, you’ll find yourself with two great ice cream stop options: The Log Cabin General Store is the perfect pit stop for ice cream and Riptide Lagoon Adventure Golf is the perfect place to cool off with a cone and have some family fun.

Coombs

A ten-minute drive from Parksville will bring you to the popular town of Coombs. Billy Gruff Creamery & Bistro at Coombs Old Country Market (2326 Alberni Highway, Coombs) offers a wide assortment of ice cream, gelato and sorbetto—there’s a flavour for every taste palette. And they’re always experimenting with unique flavours so you can try a new scoop every time. Coombs Ice Cream Parlour at the Coombs Emporium (2300 Alberni Hwy, Coombs) is just next door, where you can satisfy your sweet tooth with ice cream—and slushies, milkshakes and more. Come hungry—they have a reputation for serving massive scoops!