About the author: Lauren Semple (she/they) is a strategist, storyteller, lover of leisure, and the voice behind the queer travel blog, Sounds Gay Let’s Go. I get it - body mods may not be the first thing you think of when you hear ‘Nanaimo’. You’re probably thinking about the iconic Nanaimo Bar…
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About the author: Lauren Semple (she/they) is a strategist, storyteller, lover of leisure, and the voice behind the queer travel blog, Sounds Gay Let’s Go. You've heard about Nanaimo's famous sprawl, but that just means there's more to explore! Our city is home to a tapestry of distinctive…
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About the author: Lauren Semple (she/they) is a strategist, storyteller, lover of leisure, and the voice behind the queer travel blog, Sounds Gay Let’s Go. You've heard about Nanaimo's famous sprawl, but that just means there's more to explore! Our city is home to a tapestry of distinctive…
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When Fiona and Kara Shedden, a wife-and-wife team, began Burnt Honey Dessert Company in Nanaimo over six years ago, they dreamed of a shop where people could enjoy sweet treats and be their true selves. What started in a farmers' market stall has become one of Nanaimo’s favourite small businesses…
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Winter here? Oh, we have the goods. While the rest of Canada is hiding under electric blankets, shovelling driveways, and scraping ice off windshields with expired debit cards, Nanaimo is out here living its best flannel life. Rain? That’s just free ambience. Steam rising from a mug, sea lions…
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Your guide to respectfully experiencing Nanaimo, Saysutshun & Gabriola Island Exploring the Nanaimo Region means stepping into a place where nature, culture, and community come together in ways you’ll feel long after you leave. From the shores of Saysutshun to the sandstone cliffs of Gabriola and…
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The days are darker, the drinks are hotter, and suddenly “staying in” feels like a luxury lifestyle choice. In Nanaimo, winter isn’t something we survive; it’s something we romanticize. Think storm watching with a blanket burrito, lazy mornings with fog on the harbour, coastal cabins that smell…
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Local gifts > last-minute Amazon panic. You heard it here first. Nanaimo is stacked with independent shops, makers, artists, bakers, distillers, and creative geniuses turning everyday items into brag-worthy gifts. Whether you’re hunting down something handcrafted, locally sipped, artisan-made, or…
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Looking for bright colour, bold authenticity, and a deep sense of care? That’s what you’ll find with Myles Does My Hair, also known as A Vivid Edge Salon & Spa . Located on Departure Bay Road, this queer-owned salon has become a go-to for personal transformation, gender-inclusive services, and…
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Nanaimo isn’t just a pass-through on the parkway; it’s a destination that deserves your whole weekend. Sure, people love to jet off to vineyard valleys or chase waves up island, but don’t sleep on what’s right here. If you plan your belly, body and soul nourishing escape in Nanaimo, you’ll find a…
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