Location: Nanaimo
Top Things to do in Nanaimo
Countries
Top 10 Things to do in Nanaimo, Canada
Vancouver Island's second-largest city is a picturesque oceanfront town with fabulous mountain views and a busy harbor. Home to events like the harbor's Bathtub Race, the city of 75,000 offers outdoor opportunities from full-moon kayaking to golfing. Boat-fresh seafood graces tables at an ever-increasing number of restaurants. This gateway to island adventures is easily reached by fast ferry or floatplane from downtown Vancouver or by scheduled ferries from Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen.
Restaurants in Nanaimo
1. Neck Point Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 305 reviews
Reviewed By Rettmer
Neck point is an Oceanside park in Nanaimo. The entire walk is about 3 or 4 km. The trail follows the ocean shoreline with small Beaches and rocky head lands Then the trail goes through the forest for a kilometre or so. There are often seals and sea lions near the shorelines. There are pit toilets by the parking lot. There are good views of the Straight of Georgia and the Mainland. Over all very pleasant little hike.
2. Harbourfront Walkway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 508 reviews
3. Westwood Lake Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 171 reviews
Reviewed By 354janicee - Nanaimo
My friends and I meet every Saturday at Westwood Lake for a run/ walk and chat. It is an exceptional place all year around. The beauty is exceptional from all angles. Runners delight in a few challenging areas but there is a walk fro everyone, a lake to swim in during summer and flora and fauna to paint or photograph.
4. Newcastle Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 340 reviews
Reviewed By 123HJ - Whistler, Canada
I was told the average person spends 2-4hrs on the island. I gave myself 5hrs and it wasn't near enough. I'm an avid explorer. There are lots of trails, hidden gems & history to explore on the island. In good weather pack a lunch & take the whole day. You can camp on the island - which I didn't realize.
5. Pipers Lagoon Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 261 reviews
Reviewed By Scuba s
You can’t take away from the beauty of this area. Next to the parking lot there is a grassy area good for recreation or picnicking as is the mostly rocky beach.
When the tide goes out, the lagoon is a mud flat so go when the tide is high if you can so it’s more visually appealing.
Going out to the peninsula area is where things get challenging- this is the amazing part of the area that people with accessibility issues, small children and the elderly will have issues.
Keep this in mind and you will have an enjoyable visit.
Oh and on most summer days the parking lot is full so go early.
6. Maffeo Sutton Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 161 reviews
Reviewed By gbmontreal - Pointe Claire, Canada
This is a nice park with lots of activities for children to play. It has many benches and view points over the bay. Great for a little picnic or a nice stroll along the water front
7. Nanaimo Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 151 reviews
Nanaimo Museum: Discover Nanaimo’s fascinating history in our new museum located in the VI Conference Centre. The main gallery offers a sense of what life was like for Nanaimo's earliest settlers and the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Our award winning replica coal mine is a special treat. The museum also manages the Bastion, an original Hudson's Bay Company post built in 1853. Don’t miss the gift shop!Museum Hours: 10am - 5pm Monday to SaturdaySummer Hours: Open Daily 10am - 5pm
Reviewed By David D
Even though being a pastry chef, I was really only after the oldest known recorded Nanaimo bar recipe, this museum was full of other interesting things. The history of Nanaimo is actually quite interesting in that it is directly tied to Canada's oldest corporation, The Hudsons Bay Company. The museum is full of information about Canada's mining history and the staff is friendly and accommodating. One of the volunteers even travelled with us for a good chunk of time explaining some of the finer details of the exhibits. Plus it is inexpensive and its location places it in close proximity to many very good lunch spots and cafes. If you find yourself in Nanaimo, its worth a look for sure.
8. Protection Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By Allan & Amy T - Edmonton, Canada
This is an island located just off the main island strip
It is about 10 minutes by boat
It leaves 10 minutes by the hour everyday
There is a boat house which serves as a waiting area,protect you from heat in summer and the cold
You can park your car at the street level and walk down the ramp
Please note the max. Parking allowed is two hours, but I don,t think anybody will check you
Go down the ramp and purchase your tickets inside the boat
Upon arrival you past through the only floating Dingy Dock pub and restaurant( the fish and chips is excellent)
When you arrive you can see there are parked golf carts and bikes everywhere in a traffic circle,and there are only two parked cars which belong to Telus and Shaw
There is a super mailbox with nine stalls with sixteen mailboxes in each stall
There are lots of nice vacation houses,cottages and huge mansions along the water front
There is a fire station in the neighborhood
The inhabitants have their own routine
Their either drive their own boat to shore for grocery shopping or bring in their workman for house repair by boats
The cost of the boat ride is 9 dollars return trip,senior is 8 dollars
You can see lots of birds nest on the tree top most of them are from the herons
As you walk along the shoreline, you realize when the tide recedes,there are lots of live oysters....( bring a bag ...)
You can stroll the island which is about a mile long...
Stop on your way back at the pub to have their home made ale or try their fish and chips,TASTY!!
9. BC Ferries
Overall Ratings
4 based on 206 reviews
BC Ferries provides passenger and vehicle ferry services to 45 ports of call across coastal BC, with sailings to and from Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, the Gulf Islands, and Northern BC. BC Ferries Vacations also offers over 100 travel packages, including return ferry and accommodation. When on board BC Ferries, there are plenty of options for food and shopping, along with great wildlife and sightseeing opportunities.
Reviewed By MaryCarmichael - Vancouver, Canada
We use the Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)-Nanaimo (Departure Bay) route a few times a year. We often travel during school holidays like summer, Christmas and spring break.
We always get a reservation. During really busy times we get 2 Reservations each way. That way, depending on traffic, we are covered. The Reservations are about $17 on top of the price of a ferry ticket but with young children it’s priceless.
On the ferry there is a room for small children with play structures and a tv playing cartoons as well as Seating for parents. Older children can visit the arcade or browse the gift shop which carries magazines, etc...
The food is hamburger & chips fast food from White Spot. If the line for hot food is long, you can skip the line and grab something from the refrigerator line sushi, salads, sandwiches and pastries.
10. Bowen Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
Reviewed By TheJets0ns - Nanaimo, Canada
Bowen Park is an amazing city park with gorgeous grounds, huge trees and many facilities including an outdoor pool, bowling green, tennis courts, volleyball and disc golf. There are countless scenic trails, some through ancient rhododendron Gardens and some alongside the Millstream River. A Nanaimo gem.
