10 best family-friendly things to do in Nanaimo

Nanaimo is an often overlooked place that is worth staying for several days to explore its natural beauty and learn about its rich Indigenous culture and history. Several beautiful waterfront parks, lakes, and islands are perfect for lazy, relaxing days. Here is our guide to help you navigate a memorable, fun, family-friendly visit to Nanaimo, with lots of outdoor activities and learning experiences built into the itinerary.

We stayed two days in Nanaimo and did not have time to see all that we wanted to. We hit some of the more well-known local nature lovers’ haunts before checking into our hotel.

Don’t forget to check out our guide to the best family-friendly things to do in Parksville on Vancouver Island

Climbing the huge anchor near the Nanaimo Bastion signifies Nanaimo’s rich marine harbour culture. Photo: Melanie©

Best things to do in Nanaimo

Pipers Lagoon Park

Pipers Lagoon Park boasts amazing seaside ocean viewpoints and is a perfect spot to capture a stunning sunset or sunrise. Several trails lead to the rocky headland, from which you can view the southern point of Neck Point Park and historic Shack Island.

The small cottages that give the island its name were built by fishermen during the Depression in the 1930s. At low tide, you can carefully walk out to Shack Island on the soft sands, but watch the tides, or you may have to swim back!

Great for bird watching, Pipers Lagoon is a great place to look for great blue herons and see several sea birds, such as gulls, sandpipers, horned grebes, loons, kingfishers, oyster catchers, and more.

The view from Pipers Lagoon of historic Shack Island in Nanaimo. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Neck Point Park

Beautiful Neck Point Park is a favourite for locals and photographers to explore the rugged rock cliffs, pebbled beaches, and trails winding through Gary Oaks.

Watch for orcas, sea lions and otters in the water off the park’s northern end.

Stunning views from Neck Point in Nanaimo. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Colliery Dam Park

As we pulled into the parking lot, we knew we hit the right place as others arrived with paddle boards and floaties. As a popular local freshwater swimming spot, Colliery Dam Park provides a great place to cool off during the summer heat. At the first beach, getting to the water is easy to navigate for those with mobility issues or strollers with the mobi-mat. It has a floating dock you can swim to for sunbathing or to perfect your dives.

Along the way, interpretive signs provide history and information about the flora and fauna.

Colliery Dam Park in Nanaimo. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Cable Bay Trail

Cable Bay Trail is one of the best family-friendly places to explore. Take a short and easy 2 km hike through the forest to the oceanfront. Along the trail, pay attention to every nook and cranny for rock and wood carvings as well as little plastic dinosaurs hidden everywhere. At the trail’s end, you are treated to the ocean views of Gabriola Island and the Nanaimo Harbour.

This is our second visit to the park to make more memories. The kids still remember hunting for dinosaurs in the park. The trail is found at 2645, 2705 Nicola Rd, Nanaimo.

Carvings in stone and in the trees make Cable Bay Trail in Nanaimo an interesting hike for kids. Notice the dinosaurs hiding in the shadows of the eye. Photo: Melanie ©

Fun memories at Cable Bay Trail. The kids still remember hunting for dinosaurs in the park. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

The beautiful view at the end of Cable Bay Trail hike in Nanaimo. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Saysutshun Island (formerly Newcastle Island)

Take a short 5-10 minute scenic passenger ferry ride to spend the day exploring beautiful Saysutshun Island. This island is popular with boaters, kayakers and campers. The island has wonderful ocean views, beaches and tidal pools worth exploring. Hikers can enjoy 22 km of trails.

We joined the Cultural Interpretive Walking Tour of the island to hear the stories and history of sacred Snuneymuxw First Nation village sites and to learn about their culture, traditions and medicines. Our knowledgeable guide, Dave Bodaly, a descendant of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, captivated the group with fascinating traditional stories that have been told through the generations.

If you go, try to spot the elusive white raccoons. This is the only place in the world known to have this albino species.

Heading to Saysutshun Island on the ferry. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Our Cultural Interpretive Walking Tour guide, Dave Bodaly, captivates us with his storytelling on beautiful Saysutshun Island. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Harbour Front Walkway

Take a scenic walk (jog or cycle) along the picturesque marina. Here, you will find a variety of shops and places to eat.

The harbour is a hive of activity. Watch for sea planes, ferries, boats of all types and sizes, kayaks and paddlers, river otters and harbour seals.

Stop for ice cream at Waterfront Confections along the Harbour Front Walkway in Nanaimo. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Maffeo Sutton Park and Children’s playground

We can see why Maffeo Sutton Park is labelled a Nanaimo signature park. Located along the Harbour Front Walkway beside the ferry terminal for Saysutshun Island, it has an amazing and accessible children’s playground adorned with Indigenous art and carving. The park also has a lagoon, a swimming beach (without a lifeguard), and a few food trucks near the Lions Pavilion covered stage and misting area.

Maffeo Sutton Park and Children’s playground. Photo: Melanie©

Old City Quarter

Stroll through the oldest area of Nanaimo. This heritage neighbourhood has buildings dating from the 1800s and early 1900s. Find a collection of boutiques, coffeehouses and some of Nanaimo’s best restaurants as well as the city’s museum.

Nanaimo Museum

The kids loved exploring the impressive Nanaimo Museum and learning about the city and area’s history and culture. They learned more about the First Nations, the challenges of the Japanese Canadian community, Chinatown, and the coal mining and fishing industries. Take a lantern and explore the mining exhibit by lantern light to immerse yourself in this historic profession.

They were really interested in the learning about the Great Nanaimo World Championship Bathtub Races initiated by longtime mayor Frank Ney in 1967.  Ney was a much loved and respected character of Nanaimo who often attended events dressed as a pirate.

The museum’s gift shop has a wonderful selection of works by local artisans, Indigenous art and more.

During the summer months, the museum offers a free Heritage Walking Tour.

Learning more about First Nations at the Nanaimo Museum. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

A tribute to the longtime mayor of Nanaimo Frank Ney at Nanaimo Bathtub Race. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Petroglyph Park

Although we did not have time to stop here on this trip, Petroglyph Park boasts prehistoric rock carvings created by First Nations people more than 1,000 years ago. The park’s information boards explain the area and the petroglyphs. In the main interpretation centre, you can make a rubbing from the replica castings of the petroglyphs to take home.

Where to stay

Coast Bastion Hotel

We stayed at the Coast Bastion Hotel and found it is situated in the ideal location across the street from Nanaimo’s most recognizable landmark, the Bastion, an old Hudson Bay Company defensive fortification, the Harbour Front Walkway with easy access to multiple ferries, an abundance of restaurants and is close to the Arts District and Old City Quarter.

The Coast Bastion Hotel unveiled its stunning transformational renovations in June, epitomizing modern elegance and unparalleled comfort. The property is family—and pet-friendly and eco-conscious, promoting Refreshingly Green™. The hotel’s efforts to help protect our environment are to be applauded, as evidenced by its amenities and power-saving measures, including electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on-site and by providing refillable water bottles to guests. When used with an app, each time you refill the bottle and record it, a donation is made.

The rooms are bright, comfortable and spacious. The harbour views are striking, especially at sunrise and sunset.  There is free hotel-wide wi-fi access. And don’t worry about bringing your bike along; they are happy to store it for you. In fact, the day we checked out of the hotel, a guest’s kayak was being moved out of the storage area.

We found all the staff extremely friendly, and they treat you as they would family. The front desk had a little basket of novelty items the kids could select from whenever they went by. Look for hotel specials, and if you are a local Vancouver Island resident or a senior, there are discounts just for you.

View of the Coast Bastion Hotel. Photo: Wendy Norvdik-Carr©

Stunning views at dusk from the Coast Bastion Hotel. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Coast Bastion Hotel is pet-friendly and eco-conscious. Refillable bottles are provided to guests. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Where to eat

Minnoz Restaurant + Lounge

Minnoz Restaurant + Lounge at the Coast Bastion Hotel serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a daily happy hour. We ate two breakfasts and one dinner here. They have a great, reasonable kids’ menu. For dinner, I tried their signature seafood chowder, which was prepared tableside, and I thought it was the best I have tasted. The service was super friendly, as we already mentioned earlier.

Enjoying an excellent kids’ meals for dinner at the Coast Bastion Hotel in Nanaimo. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Signature seafood chowder prepared tableside at Minnoz Restaurant in the Coast Bastion Hotel. Photo: Melanie ©

Can’t beat the wonderful kids’ meals at the Coast Bastion Hotel

Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo is famous for the Nanaimo Bar, a sweet treat made with chocolate, custard, and coconut. You can’t visit Nanaimo without trying one. Here is a list of all the places one can find this delicious confectionary. Near the Coast Bastion Hotel, there are a few places in the Old City Quarter and a couple on the Harbour Front Walkway.

Old City Quarter

Old City Quarter has several places to stop for a meal, coffee or pick up something from the deli or bakery, and there’s even a pub.

Harbour Front Walkway

A few restaurants were recommended along the walkway, but we did not try them: Trollers for fish and chips and Penny’s Palapa for Mexican food. Penny’s has a fun outdoor patio overlooking the marina.

If you go:

Getting to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island is easy from Vancouver via the scenic BC Ferries route from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (1 hour and 40 mins) or Tsawwassen to Duke Point (2 hours). Be sure to make ferry reservations to avoid peak season waits.

Take the quick Hullo fast passenger ferry from Downtown Vancouver (70 minutes) or a Harbour Air flight (20 mins).

Coming from Victoria via Trans Canada Highway 1, it’s a one-hour and 33-minute drive north of the city.

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Wendy Nordvik-Carr and Melanie were guests of Coast Bastion Hotel which did not preview this story.

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