If you love a good find (and an even better cause), the Nanaimo Hospice Shoppe is worth the browse. With new donations arriving daily and fresh deals hitting the floor each week, it’s the kind of place where you never quite know what you’ll find, and that’s half the fun. From clothing and books to…
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Back in 2015, Island-ish opened its doors with a simple goal: make it easy (and fun) to shop local. Think Island-made art, handcrafted jewellery, and a curated lineup of BC-sourced goodies from skin care and teas to the kind of finds you didn’t know you needed… until now. Fast forward, and…
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Some places just stick with you, and in Nanaimo, Green Thumb Garden Centre is one of them. Family-owned for three generations and growing strong for over 60 years, it’s a place filled with stories, from first paycheques and summer jobs to their deep community roots. As part of our Nanaimo Business…
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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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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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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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The holidays are the perfect time to shop, eat and explore all the hidden gems in Nanaimo, and we’re about to show you why! To kick off the holiday season, we’re spotlighting the local businesses YOU’VE nominated! From eclectic, one-of-a-kind shops to mouthwatering eats, these businesses are what…
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