Things to Do in Nanaimo with Kids
THE 10 BEST Family & Kid Activities in Nanaimo
Things to Do in Nanaimo with Kids
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Travellers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travellers across the globe.
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- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
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What travellers are saying
- digitalrocCalgary, Canada2,129 contributionsI drove to Neck Point Park as my last Nanaimo attraction to visit prior to taking the ferry to end my trip of the island. Neck Point Peak has it all, from hiking trails, beaches, and fantastic views, it was a fun and easy hike along the wide trails before saying goodbye to the city of Nanaimo.Written September 24, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jocelyne WOntario, Canada7 contributionsWalked from our hotel to walkway late afternoon on Sunday. Not busy but not deserted either. View of entire bay and several marinas. Clean, wide, relaxing. leads to a lovely pond and park. Easy to get back on track to hotel. Stairs to get down to walk. Unsure if there are ramps or elevators.Written January 13, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Linda M1 contributionThis is a lovely park with great views, old giant trees and lots of walking trails. The main washroom is a disaster. Dirty floors with dirt around the edges that looks like it’s been there for years. Showers filthy (and hairy); paper towels spilled all over. Should be cleaned daily and it looks like it must be annually.Written September 20, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- digitalrocCalgary, Canada2,129 contributionsI made a visit to Pipers Lagoon which is nestled in Hammond Bay. Pipers Lagoon Park has good parking and turned out to be a nice walk along the shore in the morning before I needed to head back to the hotel to clean up and check out at 11AM.Written September 24, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- jjstars38 contributionsWe decided to reserve the ferry on the way back off the island as the long weekend was coming up.
We paid 20.00 with the agreement on the site, and we had to pay the rest at the ticket booth. We thought we were there on time, but it turned out the clock on my car was 4 minutes slow. So... we still got charged the reservation fee, but we're not able to go in the reserved line. It worked out, but we still had to pay the reservation fee. Also, it is free for seniors to take BC ferries during the week , Mon to Thurs but still cost us 87.00 for reservation and the vehicle charge.Written August 30, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Jim B5 contributionsWe have family in Nanaimo and every time we come to town we visit Westwood Lake. We really enjoy walking the trail around the lake. The scenery is very nice and the 6km walk is quite manageable for us ( in our 60s)Written November 28, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Joanna C9 contributionsThis 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. I was especially taken by the Coast Salish peoples exhibits. Cedar was used to make not only canoes, but woven water-tight baskets, blankets and waterproof clothing. Everyday items were made artisitcally and the geometric patterns are beautiful. The staff member was very knowledgeable about the exhibits and we enjoyed our conversation with her. I would highly recommend this museum.Written August 16, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- digitalrocCalgary, Canada2,129 contributionsAfter having my first dinner in Nanaimo, I wanted to walk the Harbourfront Walkway, so I drove down to Maffeo Sutton Park. The city park was quite nice, from ample parking to the Nanaimo sign. I didn’t see any signs of graffiti and homelessness, but I wasn’t looking for it either. There are some sculptures in the park, and overall, a nice part of town.Written September 23, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Nell HIngersoll, Canada79 contributionsThis trail is not handicapped…it is a moderate hike…stairs and ups and downs and roots..
Beautiful scenery and some carvings.
Well worth the views overlooking Nanaimo..Written March 19, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - KirkNelson, Canada4 contributionsHad a great walk through and around this lovely park. We extended ours through to Granny Falls which was worth the extra. Some steep sections so challenged walkers may have trouble.Written July 5, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- KristaKamloops, Canada30 contributionsIt was a lovely walk for our family. We took a couple of wrong turns but thankfully you can’t get too far in the wrong direction. There were moments of caution though when we came across “tents”.
There were fish jumping below the falls and we saw crayfish in the pond!Written July 30, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - BerniceAlberta, Canada270 contributionsFREE ~ Quick little stop which has some very interesting mossy rocky outcrops. There are casts of the original petroglyphs just off of the parking area and a little further up is an area with the originals.
The area has some vandalism further off the main path and garbage along the pathway which is really unfortunate. At the parking area there is a trash bin but no bathroom facilities.Written June 24, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PookyCakeVictoria, Canada14,895 contributionsAh, the BASTION! Listed as a Historic Place of Canada since 2004, the Bastion is an icon of Nanaimo. It’s unique octagonal structure, concomitant with its ideal location, call out to those who happen to spy it from land or sea. Indeed, that’s what happened to me. As I peered out the window from my room at the Coast Bastion Hotel (located on Bastion Street), I couldn’t help but be drawn to the Bastion as it beckoned to me from across the street. As such, I made the pilgrimage from Bastion Street to Front Street and found myself face to face with the BASTION. It’s somewhat humbling to be in front of such a structure – the oldest building in the city – knowing the important role it’s played in Nanaimo’s early economic development and history. For the history buff, though, it’s extremely satisfying.
Originally built in 1853 by the Hudson’s Bay Company, the Bastion served a very practical purpose: It was designed to defend coal mining operations in Nanaimo. Thankfully, though, the structure never had to use its cannons and other artillery for that purpose. As such, the cannons were used as ceremonial pieces to welcome dignitaries and other people of high stature. How Canadian, eh? Nevertheless, as the last remaining wooden HBC-built bastion, this small three-storey building is thick and rife with history to be unpacked and unraveled by the curious mind.
The write-ups, physical displays and staff inside the Bastion help to form a fuller picture of this unique building’s history. The first floor details and outlines what trade operations would’ve been like in the 1850s when the Bastion was first built. Here you can get a strong sense of what the economic climate was like at the time and how the HBC sought to modernize with its shift from the fur trade to coal mining. If you climb the steep stairs to the second floor (which very much reminded me of the windmills of Zaanse Schans), you are treated to a fabulous display of the Bastion’s various armaments. For those interested in military history, this floor is a proverbial treasure. Finally, the third floor of the Bastion provides valuable insights into how this historical structure was built and put together. Taken together, the Bastion is a wonderful history lesson on at least two fronts: 1) The ongoing evolution of the HBC and its impact on Canada’s development; and, 2) It functions as a symbol of Nanaimo’s early history.
Given all of the above, it is hardly surprising that, along with functioning as a seasonal museum of sorts, the Bastion also operates as the city’s key tourist information centre. In this regard, the staff are incredibly helpful – pointing the way to other attractions that might appeal to lovers of history. If you are staying at the Coast Bastion, or any nearby accommodation for that matter, then the Bastion is a definite “must visit.” It’s historic, nice to look at, and a lovely trip back to the Victorian era.Written March 8, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Lora VLisbon157 contributionsVisited this Mall on a very wet day -- it was pouring outside, so it was a nice way to spend a couple of hours indoors. This Mall had a lot of nice stores. We had lunch there and shopped some and spent the rest of the time wandering around. Nicely laid out easy to navigate mall and clean toilets. There seems to be something for everyone. Lots of seating areas from what I recall, so I was glad to walk around without being rushed, while my husband sat and read.
We'd go again if/when in the area. Well worth a visit.Written April 17, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - chickandbeastSouthgate, Canada8,686 contributionsTourism Naniamo Welcome Centre Nanaimo British Columbia was very helpfulmwith free maps and information.Written July 13, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.