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Nanaimo Museum
This popular museum just off the Commercial St main drag showcases the region's heritage, from First Nations to colonial, maritime, sporting and beyond…
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Nanaimo
Vancouver Island's 'second metropolis,' Nanaimo will never have the allure of tourist-magnet Victoria, but the Harbour City has undergone some quiet upgrades since the 1990s. It's seen the emergence, especially on Commercial St, of some good shops and eateries, plus a popular museum. With dedicated ferry services from the mainland, the city is also a handy hub for exploring the rest of the island.
Explore Nanaimo
- NNanaimo Museum
This popular museum just off the Commercial St main drag showcases the region's heritage, from First Nations to colonial, maritime, sporting and beyond…
- WWild Play Element Parks
The perfect spot to tire your kids out, this tree-lined adventure playground is packed with adrenaline-pumping fun, from bungee jumping to scream…
- NNewcastle Island Marine Provincial Park
Nanaimo's rustic outdoor getaway (also known as Saysutshun in the indigenous language) offers 22km of hiking and biking trails, plus beaches and wildlife…
- OOld City Quarter
A steep hike uphill from the waterfront on Bastion and Fitzwilliam Sts delivers you to a strollable heritage 'hood of independent stores, galleries and…
- GGabriola Island
Woodland trails, rugged coastlines and quiet little beaches make this bucolic little island a popular rustic day trip for visitors. It's a 20-minute ferry…
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Nanaimo.
See
Nanaimo Museum
This popular museum just off the Commercial St main drag showcases the region's heritage, from First Nations to colonial, maritime, sporting and beyond…
See
Wild Play Element Parks
The perfect spot to tire your kids out, this tree-lined adventure playground is packed with adrenaline-pumping fun, from bungee jumping to scream…
See
Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park
Nanaimo's rustic outdoor getaway (also known as Saysutshun in the indigenous language) offers 22km of hiking and biking trails, plus beaches and wildlife…
See
Old City Quarter
A steep hike uphill from the waterfront on Bastion and Fitzwilliam Sts delivers you to a strollable heritage 'hood of independent stores, galleries and…
See
Gabriola Island
Woodland trails, rugged coastlines and quiet little beaches make this bucolic little island a popular rustic day trip for visitors. It's a 20-minute ferry…
Guidebooks
Learn more about Nanaimo
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