Mini Golf has never been this Kitsch

• Author: WantsToTravelMore
• Accommodation: Parksville Accommodations

Parksville as a town was always a bit more commercial than its neighbour Qualicum Beach. In recent years with more swanky resorts appearing in Parksville, you start to see the shift away from the classic beach, sunburns, ice cream and burger stand kind of holiday.

To prove this all wrong, there’s Paradise Mini Golf and Fun Park. It is a combination of faux castle, mini golf, water bumper cars, a games room, a cheesy gift shop, and RV Park and a Motel (Paradise Seashell). It’s awesome.

The mini golf has two courses which can be very annoying. It’s the only game where on one hole you ace it and another it takes 11 strokes. The decor is, as expected, totally cheesy and you have the fun of a loud pirate voice insulting you after your last stroke on the 18th hole.

It’s $10.75 for adults and $8.15 to play both courses, so it’s not bad for a fun way to spend a couple of hours. The trick for financial management is to tell the kids the ice cream, gift shop and games area are off limits. Because, how many cute porcelain dog figurines do you need?

It’s located 375 W. Island Hwy and given the large shoe in the foreground, you’d really have to not be paying attention to miss it!

Apparently if you stay there, the mini golf is free. However, I don’t know if that’s what I’d call a restful seaside vacation. Then again, the kids might thank you!