Nanaimo is an urban oasis that sits comfortably between the Strait of Georgia to the east and a surrounding Vancouver Island landscape of peaks, valleys and forested wilderness. The result is the best of both worlds as cosmopolitan pursuits are balanced by a vast range of recreational opportunities.
All the urbane pleasures of a modestly big city – dining, shopping, museums, festivals and art galleries included – can be enjoyed here.
Self-guided walking tours allow visitors to discover Nanaimo's rich history while exploring a smartly restored downtown streetscape that circles from the inner harbour up the hill to the Old City Quarter.
A focus of activities is the remarkable waterfront in the centre of "Harbour City." Take a morning, noon or evening stroll along the Harbourfront Walkway, which stretches for 4km/2.5mi from the downtown harbour to Departure Bay. Shop, dine, grab a designer coffee, cast a line off the fishing pier, picnic at Maffeo Sutton Park or take a dip in saltwater Swy-A-Lana Lagoon along the way. The pedestrian-only Lion's Great Bridge allows one to march on towards the ferry terminal.
Harbour Islands and Island Hopping
Island hopping begins from the downtown side of the harbour promenade. Newcastle Island, a provincial marine park, dominates the view when looking out from the Hudson's Bay Company's Bastion fortress. After a 10-minute ferry ride, visitors can hike or bike densely forested trails, then relax on sandy gravel beaches. Concession services are available during the summer at a 1930s-era pavilion built by the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company. Regularly scheduled dances are also held in the pavilion on summer weekends.
Two other islands are within easy reach. The Protection Island ferry (near Port Place Mall on the waterfront) takes foot passengers to Canada's only floating pub, the Dingy Dock. At low tide, it's possible to walk from Protection to Newcastle islands.
The Gabriola Island car ferry is a little further southeast along Front Street. Some 5km/3.1mi east of Nanaimo, Gabriola is home to 4,000 full-time residents, several dozen accommodation options, a handful of good restaurants and scores of artist studios.
Land and Water Activities
Unlike many cities, nature is close at hand – either along Nanaimo's long stretch of accessible waterfront or a short drive away in the hinterlands. Hikes up Mount Benson, bird-watching at Buttertubs Marsh, full-moon kayak trips, yacht charters, sports fishing, swimming and mountain biking could all on the agenda.
Scuba divers have long treated Nanaimo's cool, clear waters as a second home, and definitely so now that they can explore three artificial reefs in the harbour. Daredevils can also take the plunge with a bungee jump, navigate a tree-top obstacle course and/or climb indoor rock walls by visiting several unique activity zones.
Parks and Trails
Many of Nanaimo's 200 green spaces are mapped out in the City of Nanaimo's official Parks and Trails brochure, available from the Visitors' Centre. Hikers can explore such North Nanaimo waterfront gems as Neck Point Park and Piper's Lagoon. The Morrell Nature Sanctuary, Westwood Lake Park and Colliery Dam Park (with its waterfalls, swimming spots and access to the Trans-Canada Trail) are popular westside escapes.
Golf and Sports
Some 19 golf courses are located within an hour of Nanaimo. The temperate climate ensures nearly 365 days a year of tee-it-up action and green fees drop by upwards of 40 percent in the winter months.
Provincial and regional sporting tournaments are held regularly at the city's new hockey arena (the Nanaimo Ice Centre) as well as its swimming complex (the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre) and multiple playing fields – all clustered on Third Street, a "street of dreams" near the Nanaimo Parkway (Highway #19). Lacrosse, historically the city's trademark sport, continues to be played by the Nanaimo Timbermen. Junior hockey (the Clippers) and football (the Redmen) teams also play their share of home games in season.
Performing Arts
Music is a mainstay in a region that has produced the likes of jazz musicians Diana Krall and Ingrid Jensen (both graduates of Vancouver Island University's renowned jazz program), blues guitarist David Gogo and singer-songwriter Alison Crowe. Bar bands and acoustic acts play most nights of the week in cafes, pubs and nightclubs.
The Vancouver Island Symphony performs at the 800-seat Port Theatre downtown and headlines the hugely popular "Symphony in the Harbour" in early August. Theatre One, a professional troupe, presents adult and childrens' productions at the Vancouver Island University Theatre. The community players of the Nanaimo Theatre Group stage comedies, thrillers and musicals at the Bailey Studio (2373 Rosstown Road near Beban Park).
Driving Routes
Explore Nanaimo's vibrant downtown with its many restaurants, shopping boutiques, museums, festivals and art galleries while venturing out any one of four interesting driving routes. Learn more about driving routes through Nanimo here: Driving Routes.
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