Tubbing in the Park

#ExploreNanaimo Blog Post

By Guest Blogger Nancy Shields

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I was first introduced to the World Championship Bathtub Races when I stumbled across a video of Frank Ney, the Mayor of Nanaimo in the 1970s, on Facebook. After watching this video, I knew I had to check the scene out for myself:

This past weekend was the 50th annual races and they did not disappoint. The weekend kicked off on Friday night with a rocking performance from legendary Canadian rock band Trooper, along with Chilliwack, Valdy and more. Fans flocked into Maffeo Sutton Park and got their groove on late into the evening.

– See more at: http://explorenanaimobc.com/?p=735&preview=true#sthash.DMhxUA5e.dpuf

Get to Know the Tourism Staff: Evangeline

Let the fun continue! Today on the #ExploreNanaimo BLOG, we meet Evangeline. You’ll find Evangeline working hard in the Bastion or up at Northfield, or possibly even manning one of our booths at a local event. Stop her and say hi next time you see her!

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In your opinion, what is Nanaimo’s best kept secret?

I believe Nanaimo’s best kept secrets are part of the Trans Canada Trail, the Haslam Creek Suspension Bridge & the Abyss. They are well known to some and unknown to others. When the bridges are built to connect the trail it’s sure to be a favorite trail for many!

Haslam Creek Suspension Bridge (South Nanaimo)

The Abyss (earthquake fissure)

What’s one place/event/activity in Nanaimo that you have not yet participated in but would love to one day?

One thing on my ‘To-Do’ list is to join a Dragonboat team for the Annual Dragonboat Festival here in Nanaimo. I have recently returned to school where I unexpectedly discovered a new love for the water. I have had a few amazing opportunities and obtained some certs for kayaking, canoeing & SUP along the way!! Being a coastal gal, on the water is where I love to be!!

Finding my happy place on the water

If a visitor was only in Nanaimo for one day, what would you recommend they must see?

That’s an easy one.. I’d definitely recommend one of our many parks or trails depending on the visitors interests; For the ocean views Jack Point Park, Piper’s Lagoon or Neck Point, for the freshwater views Colliery Dam Park, Westwood Lake or Buttertubs Marsh. Two of our favorite trails to do as a family are Neck Point Park, as it has the gnome homes(one even has a “Give a little ~ Take a little” sign for kids to trade little toys and trinkets) & the Cable Bay Trail as it is also known as the dinosaur trail (all plastic dinosaurs of course, for display only, please leave for the next little explorers 😉 ). It’s sooo hard just to pick one, all are amazing & are one of the main reasons of why we relocated to this beautiful city!

Piper’s Lagoon

 What’s the most interesting/surprising thing you’ve learned about Nanaimo since working for Tourism Nanaimo?

As many of my answers there’s no way to name just one.. Every day brings new surprises!! Whether it’s a new hike, a new family activity, a new swimming hole, or a new destination, this job reminds me every day of why we choose Nanaimo to be our family ‘home away from home’.

Having fun at Colliery Dam Park

Adventure on!

~Evangeline

 

 

 

What’s Up in Nanaimo: July 28-Aug.3

What’s Up in Nanaimo This Week

 July 28-August 3

For more local events, visit www.tourismnanaimo.com/events

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Featured Event: SUNSET TIME

Credit: @jthrifty via Instagram

With the long weekend upon us and the stunning weather forecast, catch one of Nanaimo’s stunning sunsets. Some of the best spots to sit and relax and see the sun go down are: Neck Point Park, Piper’s Lagoon Park, Blueback Beach, Sebastion Beach or Jack Point and Biggs Park. The sun sets at the moment around 9pm.

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CONCERTS and LIVE MUSIC

Live at Longwood, Thurs @ 8PM, Longwood Pub. Free. Live at Longwood (July 28^th) Texas Radio & The Big Beat, Josh Gellman. Enjoy local music and door prizes.

Jimmy D Lane Blues Show, Sat @ 7PM, Queens Hotel, $18 at the Door. Jimmy’s music is on the rockin’ side but tempered with just the right amount of Blues. Opening act will be Summer and the Simmers with Frank Alexander. This will be a great show!

Summertime Music Series, Thurs @ 12PM-1PM, Old City Quarters, FREE

Bring your lunch and listen to some great local, live music!

FUNNYFEST on Tour Comedy Night, Thurs @ 8PM, Windward Pub. $15 Featuring:  JOE KING – The King of Comedy.  Every show is different; just like Stuey * Great Food & Early Bird Specials * TASTY BEVERAGES * Prizes and Fun!

KIDS ACTIVITIES

Harry Potter Party, Friday @ 1:30PM. Nanaimo Harbourfont (Downtown) Library. Free.

Join  the fun and enjoy an afternoon in the magical world. Activities include: Harry Potter stick puppet show; Sorting and button-making; Scavenger hunt; Quidditch demo, Magical wizard photo classes; Wizard Rock Dance Party & Wizard Rockumentary; Dueling Club Costumes and much more!!

Art Lab Studio, Sat @ 9:30-12:30, Nanaimo Art Gallery, $12/child

Let your kids connect with artists, experiment with materials, learn new techniques, and have fun with art making.

Summer Activities at the Museum, Wed & Fri@ 1:30-3:30pm, incl. in admission

These drop-in hands-on programs are ideal for children ages 5-12. It’s a great opportunity to keep your kids engaged and explore the Museum.

Morrell Nature Sanctuary Summer Day Camp. Mon-Fri @ 9am-3pm. Morrell Nature Sanctuary $25/day.

Learn about; Fast Flyers and Mighty Mammals, ICKY Insects, Slime Time or become a Forest Detective or Mad Scientist.

Summer Playground Program, Mon-Fri @ 10AM, Various Locations. Free. Hey, kids 5-12! Drop into one of our neighbourhood playgrounds this summer for FREE family fun! Activities could include crafts, activities, games, sports & arts.

 

Drop-in Tabletop Gaming, Sat @ 1PM. Nanaimo Harbourfront (Downtown) Library. Free.

Bored? Like games? Why not check out our Board Game Afternoon? Drop by the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library, where we have a wide variety of games available for you to play.

Strategy Board Game Night, Tuesday, August 2^nd @ 5PM, FREE.

Love to play board games? From Settlers of Catan to worker placement, a librarian will be on hand to moderate and play. Bring your games, bring your opponents or come alone and meet others who share your hobby.

SHOWCASES and TOURS

Newcastle Island Walking Tour, Sun and Mon @ 1:30 &3:30PM, $10 for Adults, $5 for Kids, *2 for 1 Special*, no reservations required.

Explore Newcastle and all its history and culture with a local expert on this guided tour.

Historic Pub Tour, meet at the Bastion, Thur @6:45pm, $25

You get two funky old pubs, loads of historic and quirky facts about our ever-evolving liquor laws in BC, beer, a slice of Mambo’s pizza and an eclectic guide to bring it all to life!

Nanaimo Art Gallery presents: Trusses Thurs – Sun @ 10AM-5PM, by Donation

Trusses is an exhibition of works by contemporary artists and architects that explores how buildings resonate through their uses and their intersections with other forms of culture.

The Story behind the artifact, Mon-Fri @10am-5pm, Admission$0.75-$2

The artifacts on exhibit range from ordinary household object to those that have survived fatal accidents.  They cover hundreds of years of Nanaimo’s history, from First Nations stone tools to surveying instruments used up to the 1990s.

Blue, Month of July, Art 10 Gallery, Free. Landscapes, florals, decorative and functional pottery and art cards showcase the multiple talents of artists of this cooperative gallery all with a cohesive theme of the colour blue.

The Joy of Summer, Lantzville Art Gallery, Wed-Sat @ 11-4pm

Featured artist is Aleta Crawford

Nanaimo Bar Trail Run, Tuesday, August 2th @ 9:30AM. Diana Krall Plaza. $15 Adult.

Hosted by GottaRun! Join us rain or shine, on your own or with a friend, well behaved dog or kid in a stroller. Bring your running shoes, running gear and get ready to set out on a 45-60 minute run (approx. 6-8k). At the finish line your hard work will pay off when you indulge in a coffee or tea and a world famous Nanaimo Bar, included in your registration.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Cannon Firing, Daily @11:45am, next to the Bastion, FREE

Join the ceremonial cannon firing which is accompanied by Bill Poppy the Nanaimo bagpipe icon.

Highland Dancers , Thurs & Sat, 11:30am, next to the Bastion, FREE

Twice a week the cannon firing is accompanied by several local highland dance students. Be sure to be there early as they start at 11:30 before the actual cannon firing ceremony.

FARMER’S MARKETS

Island Roots Bowen Road Market, Weds @ 4-6:30pm and Sat @9-12pm, Beban Park, FREE

Nanaimo’s premier food-oriented market promoting the 100 mile diet.

Bastion Waterfront Farmers Market, Fri @10am-2pm, Pioneer Plaza, FREE

Find farmers, bakers, crafters and anything else locally grown, made or baked.

Nanaimo Flea Market. Fri @12pm, Wellington Hall, FREE. The Nanaimo Flea Market is open to everyone and has a variety of vendors. You can find holiday, everyday retro, jewelry, antiques, household goods, jam, jellies, baked goods, farmer’s eggs and so much more.
Cedar Farmers Market, Sun @10-2pm, Crow and Gate Pub Field, FREE

The market boasts over 70 full time vendors making it one of the region’s largest.

Lantzville Market, Sun @ 1:30-4pm, St. Phillips Church, FREE

This is a great little market featuring local vendors from Nanaimo and Region

Nanaimo Camping Adventures: Brannen Lake

Compiled by Guest Blogger: Kimberly Plumley

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I lived! I know, a bit of a dramatic start for a story about camping, but I was awfully pleased with the outcome and wanted to shout it from the roof tops – or tent tops in this case.

My family, (George, Grace, Ella and I) thought it would be a grand bonding experience if we headed out to a local campground. I thought it would make for a good story, so I said sure, sounds like an idea.   Picking the campground for this adventure was easy – it had to be close to home, in case I wanted to bail. I phoned the fine folks at Brannen Lake RV Park & Campsite and they readily agreed to let us camp and experience all they have to offer. Thanks Lorraine and the fine team there.

See more at: http://explorenanaimobc.com/2016/07/26/nanaimo-camping-adventures-brannen-lake/#sthash.9idTAnIU.dpuf

Get to Know the Tourism Staff: Morgane

Hello again readers! We are continuing our theme of getting to know the tourism staff on our Saturday posts, and are thrilled to introduce you to Morgane. She is one of our friendly and talented Visitor Information Counsellors, and is an asset to our team. Have a read and get to know her yourself…

In your opinion, what is Nanaimo’s best kept secret?

Most people who visit Nanaimo have heard about Mount Benson but they have not heard about Benson Creek Falls Regional Park, or Ammonite Falls which is one of the three significant waterfalls in Benson Creek. This regional park is located on the western slopes of Mount Benson and includes 22 hectares of forested land as well as 2 beautiful waterfalls. The waterfalls are created by Benson and Flynnfalls Creek, surrounded by a heavily wooded area. The trails in the area can be hard to man-oeuvre but are well worth the hike.

The stunning Ammonite Falls, located within Benson Creek Regional Park

What’s one place/event/activity in Nanaimo that you have not yet participated in but would love to one day?

I had the opportunity to work at the Silly Boat Regatta the weekend of July 17^th and decided then that I would love to enter the competition. So much imagination went into building the boats and the teams were having fun while raising money for a great cause! Hopefully, my team’s boat won’t be a complete disaster but then again there is a prize for the first boat to sink!

Credit: Amazingvancouverisland.com

If a visitor was only in Nanaimo for one day, what would you recommend they must see?

This is a tough one! I love so many things about Nanaimo…..however, having just moved here from a landlocked area, I would have to say that my favourite thing to do is to stroll along the harbour and be near the ocean. Also, one of the best ways to enjoy the view is to sit at the Dinghy Dock and have a cold pint and fish and chips, while listening to some tunes.

Dinghy Dock: The only floating pub in Canada

What’s the most interesting/surprising thing you’ve learned about Nanaimo since working for Tourism Nanaimo?

The one thing that has impressed me the most is the numerous local artisans that are in the region. I did not realize how many fabulous local artists there are and how talented they are. I am not ashamed to admit that I have splurged on a few very west coast pieces of jewellery since being here. I would also recommend The Cedar Yellow Point Artisan Trail as it features a variety of artists as well as local produce and dining options.

Check out the Cedar Yellow Point Artisan Trail

What’s Up in Nanaimo This Week: July 21-28

What’s Up in Nanaimo This Week: 

July 21st, 2016-July 28^th, 2016

For more local events, visit www.tourismnanaimo.com/events

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Featured Events:

50^th Annual Bathtub Days: Thurs-Sun @ 10:30am. Free. What began in 1967 to celebrate Canada’s 100th Birthday and its Centennial year has become a world class event that attracts spectators from around the world. Enjoy four days of exciting Island-style summer celebrations from Thursday to Sunday. Free events for the whole family, Arts & Crafts Fair, Parade, Fireworks,  Food Vendors, Beer Garden, Entertainment Stage and a children’s craft tent at Maffeo Sutton Park and Swy-a-lana Lagoon . Also for your enjoyment are the many informative static displays on boat safety, military, water sports plus many others all taking place. Four full days of fun and activities for the young, old and in-between, family oriented and held in NANAIMO.

2016 Bathtub Days Launch Party*: Thurs @ 4pm-11pm. $15(youth)-$45(adult)-$75(VIP). 6 featured performances at Maffeo Sutton Park. Chilliwack, The Kings, Trooper & more!!

CONCERTS and LIVE MUSIC

Summertime Music Series, Thurs @ 12PM-1PM, Albert Street Plaza, FREE. Bring your lunch and listen to some great local, live music Whitney Somers!

Concerts in the park, FREE. This summer, bring a lawn chair and a picnic while enjoying some great musical entertainment in two of Nanaimo’s most beautiful parks. What could be better?

• Monday, July 25^th – Maffeo Sutton Park 12:30-1:30pm – West My Friend(Indie/Folk)
• Wednesday,  Bowen Park 6-7:30pm – Terra Zetto

Live at Longwood, Thurs @ 8PM, Longwood Pub. FREE. Live at Longwood (July 7) – Features Cara McCandless & Raymond Wade. Enjoy local music and door prizes.

Rock the Dock Fri-Sat, July 22^nd-23^rd, 7:30pm start (Fireworks on Saturday), FREE. The Dinghy Dock Pub is excited to present Summer and the Sinners as part of our ‘Rock the Dock’ concert series.

Weekends at New York Style Pizza. Fri & Saturday @6pm, New York Style Pizza and Pasta, FREE Marty Steele, Nanaimo’s most versatile keyboardist, dishes up a wide repertoire of jazz, blues, and rock tunes.

KIDS ACTIVITIES

Art Lab Studio, Sat @ 9:30-12:30, Nanaimo Art Gallery, $12/child. Let your kids connect with artists, experiment with materials, learn new techniques, and have fun with art making.

Morrell Nature Sanctuary Summer Day Camp. Mon-Fri @ 9am-3pm. Morrell Nature Sanctuary $25/day. The Morrell Summer Day Camp is the place where they can learn about; Fast Flyers and Mighty Mammals, ICKY Insects, Slime Time or become a Forest Detective or Mad Scientist.

Summer Activities at the Museum, Wed & Fri@ 1:30-3:30pm, incl. in admission. These drop-in hands-on programs are ideal for children ages 5-12. It’s a great opportunity to keep your kids engaged and explore the Museum.

Golden Bucket Challenge, Contest closes on August 31st. Explore our local parks and trails…and you could win some fun weekly prizes! Check out the City’s Facebook site, or website, or drop into one of our recreation centres for different clues. A new clue will be posted each Wednesday. Use the clue to find the golden bucket hidden in one of our parks or playgrounds. You will find a question located inside the Golden Bucket. Email the answer to askpre@nanaimo.ca and qualify to win some fun weekly prizes.

SHOWCASES and TOURS

Nanaimo Art Gallery presents: Trusses. Thurs – Sun @ 10AM-5PM, by Donation. Trusses is an exhibition of works by contemporary artists and architects that explores how buildings resonate through their uses and their intersections with other forms of culture.

Historic Pub Tour, meet at the Bastion, Thur@6:45pm, $25. You get two funky old pubs, loads of historic and quirky facts about our ever-evolving liquor laws in BC, beer, a slice of Mambo’s pizza and a guide to bring it all to life!

The story behind the artifact, Mon-Fri @10am-5pm, Admission $0.75-$2. The artifacts on exhibit range from ordinary household object to those that have survived fatal accidents.  They cover hundreds of years of Nanaimo’s history, from First Nations stone tools to surveying instruments used up to the 1990s.

Newcastle Island Walking Tour & Salmon BBQ

~ Walking Tours: Fri-Sun 1:30pm & 3:30pm $10 Adult – $5 Kids (Family discount Available)

~ Salmon BBQ’s: Sun $50, reservations required.

Newcastle Island/Saystushun has long been a significant place in the traditional territory of Snuneymuxw First Nation. Learn about the island, culture and plant life during the 1.5hour cultural walking tour with traditional story telling.

FARMER’S MARKETS

Island Roots Bowen Road Market, Weds @ 4-6:30pm and Sat @9-12pm, Beban Park, FREE

Nanaimo’s premier food-oriented market promoting the 100 mile diet.

Bastion Waterfront Farmers Market, Fri @10am-2pm, Pioneer Plaza, FREE

Find farmers, bakers, crafters and anything else locally grown, made or baked.

Nanaimo Flea Market. Fri @12pm, Wellington Hall, FREE. The Nanaimo Flea Market is open to everyone and has a variety of vendors. You can find holiday, everyday retro, jewelry, antiques, household goods, jam, jellies, baked goods, farmer’s eggs and so much more.

Cedar Farmers Market, Sun @10-2pm, Crow and Gate Pub Field, FREE

The market boasts over 70 full time vendors making it one of the region’s largest.

Lantzville Market, Sun @ 1:30-4pm, St. Phillips Church, FREE

This is a great little market featuring local vendors from Nanaimo and Region

Maffeo Sutton Park Market. Thurs @ 5-9pm, Maffeo Sutton Park, FREE

Newest market in Nanaimo, sponsored by the SCARF Charity which is a society for the care of abused or rejected exotic felines. Over 20 vendors.

#ExploreNanaimo: Fly high above the seals & Snake Island

Written by Tourism Nanaimo Staff Blogger: Evangeline

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I just recently had the opportunity to see Nanaimo & Region from above and it is truly breathtaking. If you haven’t taken a scenic flight over Nanaimo or you are heading to the region, you should definitely add this to your must-do list! It’s full of many amazing views!

Looking down the docks to where the planes sit

My flightseeing experience started with a friendly greeting the moment I walked into the Sunshine Coast Air office. Wendy, our agent, was super welcoming and introduced us to our pilot, Josh. Josh guided us all into the plane, gave us some options for the scenic flight and the history on the plane. With 17 years of experience under his belt we felt pretty safe in the classic de Havilland Beaver float plane.

Me – ready for my first flightseeing tour!

It was a beautiful view as we lifted off of the Nanaimo Harbour and headed east towards Gabriola Island where we had an amazing view of the Gabriola Sands Provincial Park. We then continued to fly over the lighthouse on Entrance Island.

Looking down to Entrance Island

 

From there we headed over Snake Island, where a few seals were spotted, then over the Hudson Rocks Ecological Reserve and then we returned to Nanaimo’s coastline.

The tide was low, which was perfect for the Pipers Lagoon view. From Pipers to Shack Island was all sand, nothing short of spectacular! Next up on our flightseeing tour was Newcastle and Protection Island, the view of the trees, trails & beaches. Gorgeous!

Looking into Departure Bay & Jesse Island

We had a beauty of a view as we circled around by Duke Point and then returned to the harbour for the most confident, smooth landing I’ve ever had on a float plane.

The mid-afternoon 20 minute flightseeing tour with Sunshine Coast Air is highly recommended!! I am still a little speechless of how great this tour was. Book yours today!

For more ideas on how to #ExploreNanaimo, build your own activity itinerary on www.ExploreNanaimoBC.com or visit our Top Ten list HERE.

Until next time,
Evangeline
Tourism Nanaimo Staff Blogger
250-751-1556
info@tourismnanaimo.com

Get to Know the Tourism Staff: Dino

Happy Saturday, readers! We are throwing it back to the good old days (in 2015 LOL), where we introduced you to our staff team members here at Tourism Nanaimo. Up first in our series is Dino Tsembelis, our Visitor Services Specialist at Tourism Nanaimo. Dino is filling in for Amanda while she’s away on Maternity Leave, and we are so lucky to have him! We asked Dino some questions about Nanaimo and here’s his answers:

In your opinion, what is Nanaimo’s best kept secret?

In my opinion, the Port Theatre is Nanaimo’s best kept secret.  Many local arts organizations present at the Port Theatre with incredible local talent and/or complement them with fantastic guest artists.

The Port Theatre

What’s one place/event/activity in Nanaimo that you have not yet participated in but would love to one day?

I have yet to talk the plunge and go snorkeling or scuba diving in Nanaimo.  I would love to call upon one of the local dive outfitters, i.e. Sundown Diving and go snorkelling with the seals.

If a visitor was only in Nanaimo for one day, what would you recommend they must see?

The one “must see” attraction in Nanaimo is going downtown to the waterfront walkway.  I’d recommend walking along the walkway over to Maffeo Sutton Park and returning to Downtown Nanaimo to check out the shops, restaurants and cafes. Since downtown is part of the Nanaimo Bar Trail, I’d recommend stopping in and trying one from one of the many participating establishments in Downtown Nanaimo or Old City Quarter.

Commercial Street, downtown Nanaimo

Cherub Chocolate – one of the stops along the Nanaimo Bar Trail

 What’s the most interesting/surprising thing you’ve learned about Nanaimo since working for Tourism Nanaimo?

Two surprising things I’ve learned about Nanaimo are that Nanaimo is British Columbia’s third oldest city and that construction of Nanaimo’s coveted Bastion Building began in 1853.

The Historic Bastion

Sunset on the Waterfront

Thanks for reading! Next Saturday we’ll profile another Tourism Nanaimo staff member…so stay tuned. Have a great weekend everyone 🙂

What’s Up in Nanaimo This Week: July 14-20

Featured Event: Silly Boat Regatta, Sunday 8am-4pm, Maffeo Sutton Park, FREE

The Silly Boat Regatta has been a part of Nanaimo’s events calendar for over 30 years. Each year approx. 50 teams have the mission to build a boat out of recycled or recyclable materials and then race them in the inner harbour. All proceeds go towards the Nanaimo Child Development Centre, last year they were able to fundraise over $110,000. So bring the entire family to Maffeo Sutton park to look at the weird and wacky boat creations, cheer on the teams and enjoy the kids orientated entertainment, and fun!

CONCERTS and LIVE MUSIC

Summertime Music Series, Thurs @ 12PM-1PM, Albert Street Plaza, FREE. Bring your lunch and listen to some great local, live music!

Live at Longwood, Thurs @ 8PM, Longwood Pub. FREE. Live at Longwood features Phil Dickson & Hazen Sage. Enjoy local music and door prizes.

Concerts in the park, FREE. This summer, bring a lawn chair and a picnic while enjoying some great musical entertainment in two of Nanaimo’s most beautiful parks. What could be better?

• Monday, Maffeo Sutton Park 12:30-1:30pm – The Cside3
• Wednesday, Bowen Park Amphitheatre 6-7:30pm – Terra Zetto

Weekends at New York Style Pizza. Fri & Saturday @6pm, New York Style Pizza and Pasta, FREE Marty Steele, Nanaimo’s most versatile keyboardist, dishes up a wide repertoire of jazz, blues, and rock tunes.

The P.J. Perry Quartet, Sun @7:30pm, SimonHolt, $25. Don’t miss these Jazz greats playing in an intimate atmosphere.  PJ Perry will be accompanied by award winning bass player, Neil Swainson, Kelby MacNayr and Ron Johnston.

Nanaimo Concert Band, Mon @6:30-8pm, Maffeo Sutton Park, FREE. Bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy this summer concert in a stunning location along the waterfront.

SHOWCASES and TOURS

Nanaimo Art Gallery presents: Trusses Thurs – Sun @ 10AM-5PM, by Donation. Trusses is explores how buildings resonate through their uses and their intersections with other forms of culture.

Nanaimo Bar Trail Run, Downtown Nanaimo, Tues @9:30-11am, $15. Go for 6-8km run, chat, learn about Nanaimo while sightseeing, and then enjoy a Nanaimo Bar at one of the locations on the Nanaimo Bar Trail.

The Nanaimo Museum presents: The story behind the artifact, Mon-Fri @10am-5pm, Admission$0.75-$2. The artifacts range from ordinary household object to those that have survived fatal accidents.

Newcastle Island Walking Tour & Salmon BBQ, Sun, $50, reservations required. Learn about the island & culture during a 1.5hour cultural walking tour with traditional story telling. After the tour enjoy a Salmon BBQ feast with salmon cooked in the tradition way over a pit fire.

KIDS ACTIVITIES

The Golden Bucket Contest, Daily, Nanaimo, FREE. This is a great way to get out exploring. Check out the weekly clue and try to find the golden bucket to have a chance to win prizes.

Summer Playground Program, Mon-Fri @10am-3pm, Various locations, FREE. Looking for something for the Kids? 6 Playgrounds all over time participate in this program and offer added crafts, activities, games or sports.

Wacky Wednesdays, Wed @1-2:30pm, Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, reg. admission. Enjoy some weird and wacky family time at the pool.

Art Lab Studio, Sat @ 9:30-12:30, Nanaimo Art Gallery, $12/child. Let your kids connect with artists, experiment with materials, learn new techniques, and have fun with art making.

Morrell Nature Sanctuary Summer Day Camp. Mon-Fri @ 9am-3pm. Morrell Nature Sanctuary $25/day. The Morrell Summer Day Camp is the place where they can learn about; Fast Flyers and Mighty Mammals, ICKY Insects, Slime Time or become a Forest Detective or Mad Scientist.

Summer Activities at the Museum, Wed & Fri@ 1:30-3:30pm, incl. in admission. These drop-in hands-on programs are ideal for children ages 5-12. It’s a great opportunity to keep your kids engaged and explore the Museum.

Sunset Cinema: Jungle Book, Sat @dusk, Maffeo Sutton Park, FREE. Bring a blanket and head down to the park to see a family classic, the Jungle Book.

Monster vs Aliens, Sun @ 1-3pm, Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, reg. admission. Bring the family to the pool and see who reigns: Monsters or aliens.

 

OTHER HIGHIGHTS

Salsa in the Park, Thu @ 7:30-10:30pm, Maffeo Sutton Park, sugg. donation $2. End your day with some salsa dancing in the Park. No experience or partner required, just bring your joy for dancing. Beginner lesson starts 7:30pm.

Friday Fun at Minnoz, Fri @7-10pm, Minnoz Lounge, FREE. Enjoy a lovely meal and live entertainment.

Nanaimo Priates vs Abbortsford, Sat @ 12 &2:30pm, Serauxman Stadium. Catch a baseball and cheer on BC’s Premier Baseball Team.

Nanaimo Timbermen vs Maple Ridge, Sat @7pm,  Frank Crane Arena, $12

Nanaimo Spoken Word, Sat @ 1-3pm, The Vault Café, FREE. Head down to this popular café to see three different spoken word performers present their work.

Yoga on Tap, Sun @11-12pm, White Sails Brewing, $20. Ever done yoga in a brewery? Now is your time. Bring a mat and join the fun class with music and a brewery tour.

FARMER’S MARKETS

Island Roots Bowen Road Market, Weds @ 4-6:30pm and Sat @9-12pm, Beban Park, FREE. Nanaimo’s premier food-oriented market promoting the 100 mile diet.

Bastion Waterfront Farmers Market, Fri @10am-2pm, Pioneer Plaza, FREE. Find farmers, bakers, crafters and anything else locally grown, made or baked.

Nanaimo Flea Market. Fri @12pm, Wellington Hall, FREE. The Nanaimo Flea Market is open to everyone and has a variety of vendors. You can find holiday, everyday retro, jewelry, antiques, household goods, jam, jellies, baked goods, farmer’s eggs and so much more.

Cedar Farmers Market, Sun @10-2pm, Crow and Gate Pub Field, FREE. The market boasts over 70 full time vendors making it one of the region’s largest.

Lantzville Market, Sun @ 1:30-4pm, St. Phillips Church, FREE. This is a great little market featuring local vendors from Nanaimo and Region

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For more local events, visit www.tourismnanaimo.com/events

 

A Nanaimo Adventure: Sunrise to Sunset

Guest Blogger: Chris Istace

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When one thinks of Nanaimo, what often comes to mind is that big city that you drive by to get to Tofino or that place you go to catch the ferry if you want to visit Vancouver.

If this is what you think of then you are really missing out on a city that boasts a diversity of things to see and do that rivals any other location in Canada.

Credit: Chris Istace

I had the pleasure recently of participating in a one-day itinerary that I invited some friends along to join in on. We were satisfied in sights and sounds as well as some amazing meals that completed the whole experience. The day will be a vivid memory for some time to come for me and I would like to share with you my idea of a perfect #ExploreNanaimo kind of day.

Sunrise at Pipers Lagoon

Credit: Chris Istace

The beauty of a coastal sunrise is hard to match and is cherished by locals anyone visiting Vancouver Island should do their best to experience one. In Nanaimo a frequented city park would be Pipers Lagoon , a headland jutting out into the ocean providing many seaside lookouts. For a vivid morning on your trip look up the next day’s sunrise time and plan to be at the park 30 minutes prior to get to the viewpoint and setup for your shot if you plan to take some photos. I recommend walking to the very end of the beach trail and then walking as far east to the rock outcropping where the sun will come up directly in the center of your view.

Breakfast at Gabriel’s Gourmet Café

Credit: @viranlly via Instagram

With it’s easy to access location in the heart of downtown Nanaimo on Commercial street, Gabriel’s provides a wonderful spot to fuel up for your day ahead.  This local favorite prides itself on providing fresh local ingredients supporting the local farmers and market community, they have labeled themselves a “Farm to Table Restaurant” . The meals are tasty and very filling portions all served in a nice relaxing atmosphere sure to satisfy. My personal recommendation is to watch for the ever changing weekend eggs benny special .

Sunshine Coast Air Flightseeing Tour

Credit: Chris Istace

On foot or by car you really cant visualize the rugged and beautiful coastline that makes up Vancouver Island. With Nanaimo showcasing some of the best locations the best way to do it is see for yourself with a Sunshine Coast Air floatplane tour right out of the downtown harbor. You will see the size of Gabriola, Newcastle and Protection Islands. You’ll look down to see the national heritage site Entrance Island Lighthouse , a picturesque establishment of white building with red roofs and the lighthouse itself built in 1876 all on its own tiny island. Watch the busy boating traffic from sailboats to the massive BC Ferries make their way through the harbors and if you’re lucky might even see some whale traffic from the local orca population.

Lunch at Modern Café

Credit: Sean Fenzl

The atmosphere you experience in this restaurant rivals it’s terrific menu for its notoriety. A wonderful heritage building is home to Modern Café in an updated décor for one of the cities oldest restaurants established in 1946. The restaurant is also conveniently located in the downtown core on Commercial street. The menu is terrific but my recommended after meal treat is their signature Nanaimo Bar martini, which is also stop #20 on the Nanaimo Bar Trail!

Catamaran Tour around Nanaimo Harbour

Credit: Chris Istace

A wonderful way to tour around the waterways that make up the shoreline of the Nanaimo harbour and surrounding islands. Relax and sit back to let Captain Hans guide you on the beautiful Shadowfax Catamaran with great stories and insight into the waterways you will be exploring. Unique and beautiful views of Protection and Newcastle Islands as well as the opportunity to look back into the city skyline from the water.

Supper at Longwood Brewery

Credit: Sean Helmn

One thing that Vancouver Island is becoming well known for is the growing micro-brew industry and terrific selection of local craft beer. A great choice for your trip to Nanaimo would be a stop at the Longwood Brew Pub . A fun atmosphere, great menu selection (I loved the Fish Tacos) compliment the wide variety of beer made right on location . They too have a stop along the Nanaimo Bar Trail (#16), where you can indulge in the Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake to top off your meal.

Sunset at Pipers Lagoon

Credit: Chris Istace

Much like sunrise, the location of Pipers Lagoon makes it the premier choice to capture a spectacular sunset. As recommended for sunrise try to get to the parking lot early to search for that perfect photo opportunity spot. I would suggest walking all the way to the end of the beach trail and head NW to the end of the island point capturing the Shack Island shacks with the sun beaming from behind them.

As you can see your day will be full of diversity from hiking to flying and then sailing. How many people can say they had a fun filled day like that? This is exactly the opportunity to be found in Nanaimo & Region.

Credit: Chris Istace

So next time you are looking to book a trip to visit Vancouver Island from wherever you call home or are just a local VanIsle resident looking for a fun day trip, be sure to consider #ExploreNanaimo among your options.

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‘Til next time,

Chris

www.ChrisIstace.com

Instagram: @stasher_BC

Twitter: @stasher_SK

ExploreBeyondTheUsual

Chris Istace is an Adventurer, Photographer & Explorer living on Vancouver Island striving to inspire others to live mindfully in a wild world and to explore beyond the usual.