places to see and do in Nanaimo and area
Sightseeing
A quick walk from our doorstep, Neck Point Park is one of the most beautiful areas in Nanaimo. Serene and peaceful, you will enjoy all that the park has to offer.
143 locals recommend
Neck Point Park
1055 Morningside DrA quick walk from our doorstep, Neck Point Park is one of the most beautiful areas in Nanaimo. Serene and peaceful, you will enjoy all that the park has to offer.
Pipers Lagoon Park is a 2 minute drive or 15 minute walk from our home to one of the nicest beaches in Nanaimo. Take a picnic and your swimsuit and spend the day relaxing, soaking in the sun and enjoying the scenery.
118 locals recommend
Pipers Lagoon Park
3600 Place RdPipers Lagoon Park is a 2 minute drive or 15 minute walk from our home to one of the nicest beaches in Nanaimo. Take a picnic and your swimsuit and spend the day relaxing, soaking in the sun and enjoying the scenery.
short easy walk along mill stream river. Bowen Park offers family amenities such as picnic shelter, volley ball nets on sand, outdoor swimming pool that the kiddies would love.
46 locals recommend
Bowen Park
500 Bowen Rdshort easy walk along mill stream river. Bowen Park offers family amenities such as picnic shelter, volley ball nets on sand, outdoor swimming pool that the kiddies would love.
Short 1/2 hour drive North to this quaint little town with many great shops, beautiful sandy beaches, warm ocean water for swimming in the summer, large park area for kids right at the beach. Amazing boardwalk for strolling, trails (Rathtrevor) for hiking & biking, mini golf & bumper boats. A town you surely will enjoy.
94 locals recommend
Parksville Community Park and Skate Park
193 Beachside DrShort 1/2 hour drive North to this quaint little town with many great shops, beautiful sandy beaches, warm ocean water for swimming in the summer, large park area for kids right at the beach. Amazing boardwalk for strolling, trails (Rathtrevor) for hiking & biking, mini golf & bumper boats. A town you surely will enjoy.
Nanaimo's most famous walk along the ocean front. Take a small ferry to Newcastle island. Have an ice cream cone along the boardwalk. sit and relax on the grassy knoll while the kids play on the monkey bars.
20 locals recommend
Swy-A-Lana Lagoon Fishing Pier
Nanaimo's most famous walk along the ocean front. Take a small ferry to Newcastle island. Have an ice cream cone along the boardwalk. sit and relax on the grassy knoll while the kids play on the monkey bars.
Great for the athlete in you. 6.3 km walk bike or run trail around Westwood lake. Popular beach area for families couples or anyone wanting to just take in a lake swim or sit in your lawn chair and read a book.
82 locals recommend
Westwood Lake
Great for the athlete in you. 6.3 km walk bike or run trail around Westwood lake. Popular beach area for families couples or anyone wanting to just take in a lake swim or sit in your lawn chair and read a book.
Coombs is North about a 40 min drive from Nanaimo, small local country market, great bakery, awesome donuts, local artist shops and goats on the roof. great place to visit.
112 locals recommend
Coombs
Coombs is North about a 40 min drive from Nanaimo, small local country market, great bakery, awesome donuts, local artist shops and goats on the roof. great place to visit.
Great little town. Do some shopping. great little restaurants. Take in the famous murals. you won'tbe disappointed. 40 Minutes from our place going South.
67 locals recommend
Chemainus
Great little town. Do some shopping. great little restaurants. Take in the famous murals. you won'tbe disappointed. 40 Minutes from our place going South.
Another quaint little town. with beautiful ocean views, great small town shopping and the best bakery on the island that makes amazing cinnamon buns, among other items. Ladysmith is famous for their town light up at Christmas time.
34 locals recommend
Ladysmith
Another quaint little town. with beautiful ocean views, great small town shopping and the best bakery on the island that makes amazing cinnamon buns, among other items. Ladysmith is famous for their town light up at Christmas time.
This is fairly new to Vancouver Island. we have not done it yet. Halfway to Victoria about 50 minute drive South. Beautiful views at the top. if your not afraid of heights I would highly recommend.
108 locals recommend
Malahat SkyWalk
901 Trans-Canada HwyThis is fairly new to Vancouver Island. we have not done it yet. Halfway to Victoria about 50 minute drive South. Beautiful views at the top. if your not afraid of heights I would highly recommend.
This is for the adventurer in you. From zip lining, to bungy jumping, you will have a blast. Only 25 minutes South from Nanaimo. I highly recommend.
95 locals recommend
WildPlay Nanaimo
35 Nanaimo River RdThis is for the adventurer in you. From zip lining, to bungy jumping, you will have a blast. Only 25 minutes South from Nanaimo. I highly recommend.
Only a 30 minute drive North to Rathtrevor Beach/Parksville. beautiful scenery of the ocean and lovely easy walking trail alongside the ocean. Nice & relaxing.
165 locals recommend
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park
1240 Rath RdOnly a 30 minute drive North to Rathtrevor Beach/Parksville. beautiful scenery of the ocean and lovely easy walking trail alongside the ocean. Nice & relaxing.
Hikes
beautiful hike into Ammonite falls. Extensive renovation of bridge work an stairs was just done. couple different access points on Google map. You won't be disappointed. moderate to hard depending on which way you choose. you can also find it on the alltrails app.
37 locals recommend
Ammonite Falls
beautiful hike into Ammonite falls. Extensive renovation of bridge work an stairs was just done. couple different access points on Google map. You won't be disappointed. moderate to hard depending on which way you choose. you can also find it on the alltrails app.
beautiful hiking trails through dense trees some are 800 yrs old. this is about a 1-1.5 hr drive North towards Port Alberni/Tofino. Great day trip. Take a picnic wit you
163 locals recommend
Cathedral Grove
British Columbia 4beautiful hiking trails through dense trees some are 800 yrs old. this is about a 1-1.5 hr drive North towards Port Alberni/Tofino. Great day trip. Take a picnic wit you
for the kids
great for family outing. 40 minutes North to Parksville, BC. This place is for the kid at heart. bumper boats, mini golf, video games, concession. Make a day of it. you will love it
52 locals recommend
Paradise Mini Golf and Fun Park
375 Island Hwy Wgreat for family outing. 40 minutes North to Parksville, BC. This place is for the kid at heart. bumper boats, mini golf, video games, concession. Make a day of it. you will love it
Great for the kids. Interactive. Learn all about butterflies, take a stroll through the gardens. 40 Minutes North to Coombs
32 locals recommend
Butterfly World Coombs
1080 Winchester RdGreat for the kids. Interactive. Learn all about butterflies, take a stroll through the gardens. 40 Minutes North to Coombs
This is a great way to relax on a hot summers day. 45 minutes South to Cowichan river. Google "the tube shack" where you can rent inner tubes and float for the day. Great fun for everyone.
40 locals recommend
Lake Cowichan River Tubing
109 S Shore RdThis is a great way to relax on a hot summers day. 45 minutes South to Cowichan river. Google "the tube shack" where you can rent inner tubes and float for the day. Great fun for everyone.