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Nanaimo (/ n ə ˈ n aɪ m oʊ / nə-NY-moh) is a city of about 100,000 on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. "The Harbour City" was previously known as the "Hub City", which was attributed to its original layout design with streets radiating from the shoreline like the spokes of a wagon wheel, and to its ...
Welcome to Nanaimo, BC. The city of Nanaimo is a classic West Coast community, offering natural beauty at every turn, and vast recreation potential. Nanaimo has one of the longest shorelines in Canada, and a forested mountain backdrop just outside downtown.
- Walk the Harbourfront Walkway. As a seaside city, it makes sense to explore the beautiful Harbourfront Walkway, which runs along the waterfront below Front Street.
- Explore Downtown Nanaimo. With just 90,000 people, Nanaimo has a charming little downtown with lots of boutiques and retail stores, as well as restaurants, museums, and pastry shops.
- Go Whale Watching. Canada is a great place for whale watching and Vancouver Island is one of the best places in the country to do one. Home to Orcas, Humpbacks, and Seals, as well as incredible mountain scenery, Vancouver Island is such a great place to do a whale-watching tour.
- Snorkel with Seals. While whales are quite common to spot, it’s much more common to see seals. Harbour Seals can be seen all over the place, including on the docks and relaxing on the rocks that line the coastline.
- Go whale watching. While the ocean water off the coast of this Canadian city is certainly cold, it is packed full of amazing marine life. Water temperatures in the area are around 11°C (52°F), so don’t jump in, but definitely get out on the water in a boat.
- Ride in a seaplane. See Nanaimo from the sky on a fun seaplane tour of the area. The views around Nanaimo will not disappoint! This area is packed full of natural beauty with mountain and forest views as you glide overtop of the open ocean and the many islands in the area.
- Explore the Nanaimo Old City Quarter. Nanaimo is one of the oldest cities in British Columbia! The downtown core has an area referred to as the Old City Quarter.
- Visit Dinghy Dock Pub on Protection Island. Enjoy a patio drink on the floating (yes, I said floating!) Dinghy Dock Pub. Offering a unique perspective of Nanaimo, we had a blast drinking beer and eating delicious fish tacos while enjoying the coastal views.
- rlmptl. Lloydminster, Canada 1,152 contributions. a must see to lounge, hike and have a picnic by the ocean. This was easy to find and a hidden gem. besides the gorgeous views there are hiking trails and viewpoints.
- Joanna C. 7 contributions. Very interesting museum. This small museum showcases the history of Nanaimo and includes a walk through a recreated coal mine. It is full of interesting artifacts that are beautifully displayed and described.
- Ellen Akins. Port Alberni, Canada 8 contributions. good. It was really good I went there with Choices my Day Program in Parksville and had a picnic lunch their.
- Danika DiStefano B. Quebec, Canada 123 contributions. Go-to in Nanaimo. Such a cute spot for a short walk - bring your dog! Very scenic routes and not too busy.
Nanaimo is the central hub city of Vancouver Island in BC, Canada. It is the second largest city on the island and has the second biggest harbour. In many ways it is the smaller cousin of Victoria.
Rich in First Nations and industrial-age history, this downtown marine park caters to families with its beaches, playground, geocache treasures, hiking and bike trails, and a well-equipped campground. Plus, you can learn more about the island’s important connections to the Snuneymuxw First Nation.
