Food Scene
Old Town Bakery
510 1st AveWonder bakery, try the cinnamon buns and fresh bread.
The Spice Hut - Located in Ladysmith. Awesome Indian cuisine.
10 locals recommend
Spice Hut Indian Cuisine
510 Esplanade AveThe Spice Hut - Located in Ladysmith. Awesome Indian cuisine.
COCO Café
1840 Cedar RdThe Coco Café – located in Cedar, coffee, sandwiches, soups and sweets
Crow & Gate English Pub
Just turn right when leaving the Condo and drive for approximately 15 minutes. The entrance is on your left. There’s a long driveway down to the Restaurant. Note: Age limit 18 years and up.
95 locals recommend
The Crow and Gate
2313 Yellow Point RdCrow & Gate English Pub
Just turn right when leaving the Condo and drive for approximately 15 minutes. The entrance is on your left. There’s a long driveway down to the Restaurant. Note: Age limit 18 years and up.
Mahal House
This wonderful restaurant is close to the crow and gate, just a few minutes past the Crow and Gate. It is a peach colored house just on the corner as you enter the town of Cedar. Reservations are recommended.
28 locals recommend
Mahle House Restaurant
2104 Hemer RdMahal House
This wonderful restaurant is close to the crow and gate, just a few minutes past the Crow and Gate. It is a peach colored house just on the corner as you enter the town of Cedar. Reservations are recommended.
Trollers Fish & Chips
Lighthouse Bistro and Pub
50 Anchor WaySlice Resto
1830 Cedar RdPizza Mia
119-50 Tenth StreetTheir Pizza is awesome.
Recommend a little bit of everything Pizza.
Drinks & Nightlife
Old English Style Pub with great comfort foods and wonderful scenery.
95 locals recommend
The Crow and Gate
2313 Yellow Point RdOld English Style Pub with great comfort foods and wonderful scenery.
Parks & Nature
Roberts Memorial Provincial Park
3122 Yellow Point RdJust 10 minute drive from our condo
Easy trail
This is one of the more popular beach seeing marine parks. Neck Point Park is home to a family of sandy beaches including Sunset Beach, Last Beach, Indian Beach and Finn Beach. There are picnic tables, shelters and pit toilets near the beach locations and trailheads. At the trailheads in the park there are information billboards and trail map signs. The trails are short and many loop together. Most of the trails follow along a gravel route with some sections of the trail consisting of boardwalk and stairs.
Travel to the community of Nanaimo, BC. Continue traveling through the community along Highway #19A (Terminal Avenue) to Departure Bay Road. Turn onto Departure Bay Road and continue driving until you reach Hammond Bay Road (located right beside Departure Bay Beach). Turn up Hammond Bay Road and travel to Morningside Drive. Turn here for the park.
143 locals recommend
Neck Point Park
1055 Morningside DrThis is one of the more popular beach seeing marine parks. Neck Point Park is home to a family of sandy beaches including Sunset Beach, Last Beach, Indian Beach and Finn Beach. There are picnic tables, shelters and pit toilets near the beach locations and trailheads. At the trailheads in the park there are information billboards and trail map signs. The trails are short and many loop together. Most of the trails follow along a gravel route with some sections of the trail consisting of boardwalk and stairs.
Travel to the community of Nanaimo, BC. Continue traveling through the community along Highway #19A (Terminal Avenue) to Departure Bay Road. Turn onto Departure Bay Road and continue driving until you reach Hammond Bay Road (located right beside Departure Bay Beach). Turn up Hammond Bay Road and travel to Morningside Drive. Turn here for the park.
Cable Bay Trail winds its way down to the oceanfront overlooking Gabriola Island and back towards the Nanaimo harbour. The forested trail is just under 2 km long and is one of Nanaimo's designated dog off-leash parks. The trail is steep in sections, but the views waiting at the bottom make the effort worthwhile! Also watch the boats make their way through Dodds narrows!
Located at: 2645, 2705 Nicola Rd, Nanaimo
34 locals recommend
Cable Bay Trail
2705 Wilkinson RdCable Bay Trail winds its way down to the oceanfront overlooking Gabriola Island and back towards the Nanaimo harbour. The forested trail is just under 2 km long and is one of Nanaimo's designated dog off-leash parks. The trail is steep in sections, but the views waiting at the bottom make the effort worthwhile! Also watch the boats make their way through Dodds narrows!
Located at: 2645, 2705 Nicola Rd, Nanaimo
Goldstream Park – Niagara Falls – Malahat Highway
The treasure we found was yet another majestic Vancouver Island waterfall. The Goldstream Park Niagara Falls Waterfall (47.6 meters tall).
• 1 hour and 30 minutes South from Nanaimo
• The waterfall and parking lots for the falls are just off the Malahat highway. The Malahat is the only highway that will get you over the mountain pass when driving between Victoria and Nanaimo. There are two parking lots that give you easy access to Goldstream Park Niagara Falls. One coming from the North and the other from the South. If you are travelling from the Nanaimo side of the mountain pass and going South, then park at the first unmarked parking area on the side of the road as you are coming up to Goldstream Park. Head North down the trail and you will quickly see the dry river bed in the non-rainy season. If it’s the rainy-season take the trail on the side of the running stream. The waterfall is a very short walk from where you parked your car. Enjoy!
Goldstream
Goldstream Park – Niagara Falls – Malahat Highway
The treasure we found was yet another majestic Vancouver Island waterfall. The Goldstream Park Niagara Falls Waterfall (47.6 meters tall).
• 1 hour and 30 minutes South from Nanaimo
• The waterfall and parking lots for the falls are just off the Malahat highway. The Malahat is the only highway that will get you over the mountain pass when driving between Victoria and Nanaimo. There are two parking lots that give you easy access to Goldstream Park Niagara Falls. One coming from the North and the other from the South. If you are travelling from the Nanaimo side of the mountain pass and going South, then park at the first unmarked parking area on the side of the road as you are coming up to Goldstream Park. Head North down the trail and you will quickly see the dry river bed in the non-rainy season. If it’s the rainy-season take the trail on the side of the running stream. The waterfall is a very short walk from where you parked your car. Enjoy!
Situated along the pristine Englishman River north of Nanaimo, Englishman River Falls Provincial Park features two stunning waterfalls cascading along the descending riverbed into a deep canyon.
This picturesque destination, set amid a lush old-growth and second-growth forest of Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock and maple, is an ideal location from which to explore and appreciate the incredible diversity of south central Vancouver Island, including nearby Cathedral Grove, the Pacific Rim, and the sandy shores of Parksville and Qualicum.
The park has a large day-use area and campground and contains several hiking trails that meander through the forest and along the river. Visitors can expect spectacular views along the way, particularly from two bridges that cross the river where it plunges down the narrow rock canyon toward quieter waters below. The lower falls end in a deep crystal-clear pool – an ideal swimming hole in the summer when river levels are low and a great place to view spawning salmon in the fall.
Location: Englishman River Falls Provincial Park is located 13 km southwest of Parksville on central Vancouver Island. Take Errington Road off Highway 4, toward Port Alberni. Directional signs are posted on main highways. Nearby communities include: Parksville, Qualicum, Coombs, Errington, Nanaimo.
140 locals recommend
Englishman River Falls Provincial Park
2245 Errington RoadSituated along the pristine Englishman River north of Nanaimo, Englishman River Falls Provincial Park features two stunning waterfalls cascading along the descending riverbed into a deep canyon.
This picturesque destination, set amid a lush old-growth and second-growth forest of Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock and maple, is an ideal location from which to explore and appreciate the incredible diversity of south central Vancouver Island, including nearby Cathedral Grove, the Pacific Rim, and the sandy shores of Parksville and Qualicum.
The park has a large day-use area and campground and contains several hiking trails that meander through the forest and along the river. Visitors can expect spectacular views along the way, particularly from two bridges that cross the river where it plunges down the narrow rock canyon toward quieter waters below. The lower falls end in a deep crystal-clear pool – an ideal swimming hole in the summer when river levels are low and a great place to view spawning salmon in the fall.
Location: Englishman River Falls Provincial Park is located 13 km southwest of Parksville on central Vancouver Island. Take Errington Road off Highway 4, toward Port Alberni. Directional signs are posted on main highways. Nearby communities include: Parksville, Qualicum, Coombs, Errington, Nanaimo.
Bowen Road
Bowen RoadBowen Park Nanaimo
Beautiful waterfalls. Easy trail. Right in city of Nanaimo BC
Essentials
Just a 10 minute drive from our condo. Wonderful baked goods.
36 locals recommend
49th Parallel Grocery
1020 1st AveJust a 10 minute drive from our condo. Wonderful baked goods.
Save-On-Foods
370 Trans-Canada HwyOnly 15 minutes from our condo, turn left when leaving the condo.
Entertainment & Activities
WildPlay Nanaimo
35 Nanaimo River RdZip lining, aerial games, giant swing, bungy jumping.
Ocean Ecoventures Whale Watching
1721 Cowichan Bay RdSealegs Kayaking Adventures
200 Captain Tristan de koninck WayLocated at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith, Kayak rentals
Nanaimo Waterfront
The promenade has a great walking path along the waterfront. There are several small cafés and shops offering gifts, ice cream, coffee and even English tea. The dock where the seaplane’s land and depart is right off the Lighthouse Bistro Pub. Trollers Fish & Chips is the best fish and chips shop in the Nanaimo area. You get to sit outside in the sun while enjoying homemade fish and chips right adjacent to the fishing boats that caught the fish in the first place. Penny’s Papalousa Mexican Restaurant is located close by the fish & chip shop.
The Swy-a-Lana Lagoon with its excellent children’s playground is located next to Maffeo Sutton Park. The man-made lagoon features a pedestrian overpass. Jutting out from the walkway is a pedestrian fishing pier. There is lot’s to see and do at the waterfront.
49 locals recommend
Nanaimo
Nanaimo Waterfront
The promenade has a great walking path along the waterfront. There are several small cafés and shops offering gifts, ice cream, coffee and even English tea. The dock where the seaplane’s land and depart is right off the Lighthouse Bistro Pub. Trollers Fish & Chips is the best fish and chips shop in the Nanaimo area. You get to sit outside in the sun while enjoying homemade fish and chips right adjacent to the fishing boats that caught the fish in the first place. Penny’s Papalousa Mexican Restaurant is located close by the fish & chip shop.
The Swy-a-Lana Lagoon with its excellent children’s playground is located next to Maffeo Sutton Park. The man-made lagoon features a pedestrian overpass. Jutting out from the walkway is a pedestrian fishing pier. There is lot’s to see and do at the waterfront.
Horne Lake Caves
3905 Horne Lake Caves Rd, Qualicum Beach, BC
250-248-7829
www.hornelake.com
The caves open daily for above-ground activities, cave tours and self-guided exploration year round. If you’re looking for real adventure, come and explore UNDER Vancouver Island and discover another world – see amazing crystal formations and ancient fossils or climb an underground waterfall! Visitors to this unique park can explore on their own or try one of the award-winning guided tours. There is something for everyone: mild to wild! Please be sure to visit our Tour Schedule for tour availability and access information.
Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park
Horne Lake Caves Provincial ParkHorne Lake Caves
3905 Horne Lake Caves Rd, Qualicum Beach, BC
250-248-7829
www.hornelake.com
The caves open daily for above-ground activities, cave tours and self-guided exploration year round. If you’re looking for real adventure, come and explore UNDER Vancouver Island and discover another world – see amazing crystal formations and ancient fossils or climb an underground waterfall! Visitors to this unique park can explore on their own or try one of the award-winning guided tours. There is something for everyone: mild to wild! Please be sure to visit our Tour Schedule for tour availability and access information.
Rathtrevor Beach
Parksville BC
Majestic old growth trees, beautiful ocean sunsets and an inviting, wide sandy beach. At low tide the ocean recedes almost a kilometre, providing an ideal place for visitors of all ages to play in the sand and explore the shoreline. When the tide rolls in over the sun-baked sand, the warmed water is unbeatable for swimming and salt water fun. Concessions on the beach, and a playground as well.
Rathtrevor Beach Path
Rathtrevor Beach PathRathtrevor Beach
Parksville BC
Majestic old growth trees, beautiful ocean sunsets and an inviting, wide sandy beach. At low tide the ocean recedes almost a kilometre, providing an ideal place for visitors of all ages to play in the sand and explore the shoreline. When the tide rolls in over the sun-baked sand, the warmed water is unbeatable for swimming and salt water fun. Concessions on the beach, and a playground as well.
Coombs BC – Goats on the Roof
The Old Country Market
www.oldcountrymarket.com
Market Shopping and Island Ice Cream
On the market building you will see goats hanging out on the roof.
151 locals recommend
Old Country Market - Goats on Roof
2326 Alberni HwyCoombs BC – Goats on the Roof
The Old Country Market
www.oldcountrymarket.com
Market Shopping and Island Ice Cream
On the market building you will see goats hanging out on the roof.
Cathedral Grove
Cathedral Grove, located in MacMillan Provincial Park, is one of the most accessible stands of giant Douglas fir trees on Vancouver Island. Here visitors can stroll through a network of trails under the shadow of towering ancient Douglas-fir trees, majestic pillars untouched by the modern world – some more than 800 years old.
Cathedral Road
Cathedral RoadCathedral Grove
Cathedral Grove, located in MacMillan Provincial Park, is one of the most accessible stands of giant Douglas fir trees on Vancouver Island. Here visitors can stroll through a network of trails under the shadow of towering ancient Douglas-fir trees, majestic pillars untouched by the modern world – some more than 800 years old.
Tofino, Ucluelet, and Long Beach
Nanaimo to Tofino: About 3 hours including a few brief stops. Slow winding drive through the mountains to the Pacific side of the island. Long beach offers great surfing, large waves and beautiful sandy beaches. Ucluelet Aquarium you can see Starfish, clams, green surf anemones, Californian sea cucumbers, rock fish, jelly fish,…
Tofino-Long Beach Chamber
1426 Pacific Rim HighwayTofino, Ucluelet, and Long Beach
Nanaimo to Tofino: About 3 hours including a few brief stops. Slow winding drive through the mountains to the Pacific side of the island. Long beach offers great surfing, large waves and beautiful sandy beaches. Ucluelet Aquarium you can see Starfish, clams, green surf anemones, Californian sea cucumbers, rock fish, jelly fish,…