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.
Nanaimo has always been called the “Hub City,” and that fits. Nanaimo really is the sturdy part of the wheel, the home base that holds everything together. It’s where you have your anchor experiences: the familiar bed, the reliable coffee, the harbour city view, and the spaces that speak to you.
The Regional District of Nanaimo (or RDN) is the spokes. They radiate out in every direction, reaching into these wildly different sub-regions that give the area its character. It’s where the high-octane adrenaline of a 150-foot bungy drop in Cassidy meets the quiet, weird energy of a goat standing on a roof in Coombs.
The reason you “stay in Nanaimo and play in the RDN” is simple: the variety is jarring in the best way possible. You can spend your morning deep in a subterranean limestone cave in Bowser and be back in time for a drag show and a cocktail at The Nanaimo Bar by dinner. So, keep your bags in the city, put your hands on the wheel, and let’s hit the road.
The High-Octane Heritage Loop: Cassidy, Cedar & Yellowpoint
Driving south out of Nanaimo on Highway 1 can feel… functional. But the second you veer off onto the Cedar-Yellowpoint-Cassidy area, the air changes. It gets heavier with the scent of cedar and old coal dust.
The Vibe: Adrenaline meets farm-stand realness.
You start at WildPlay Nanaimo, but this isn’t a walk in the park. This is standing on a bridge over the Nanaimo River, looking at a 150-foot drop, and deciding that, yes, today is the day you let gravity have its way with you. The “Bungy Zone” is legendary for many reasons. It’s the first legal bungy jump in Canada, there are other heart-pumping activities in the park, and it’s the perfect way to shake off any city-induced brain fog. Try the king swing, zipline or aerial tree course if face-first falling isn’t your thing.
Once your heart rate settles back into a human rhythm, you need some grounding. Drive five minutes to Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park. The concrete remains of a 1913 coal tipple (last on the idlans) are haunting in that specific Vancouver Island way. It’s a quiet, eerie contrast to the screaming you just did at the canyon.
The Mid-Day Refuel: If it’s a Sunday (May–Oct), the Cedar Farmers Market is non-negotiable. It’s the quintessential rural market—not the polished, “boutique” kind, but the real kind where you can buy a hand-carved spoon and a flat of local berries while a folk duo plays in the background. If it’s not Sunday, you’re going to the Crow & Gate Pub.
This place is a vibe-shift. It’s the first neighbourhood pub in BC, built in 1972, and it feels like you’ve been transported to a Tudor-style dreamscape in the English countryside. No phones, no TVs, just heavy wooden beams and a garden that makes you want to sit for three hours and forget you have an inbox.
Spend the afternoon on a self-guided tour of artisans and agriculture in Cedar and Yellow Point. This is not your standard, stuffy gallery experience; it’s farm stores and working artist studios. Must-sees include Ted Jolda Gallery for hand-blown glass or Fredrich’s Honey for jars that taste like the local wildflowers. Jovich Potterty, Yellow Point Farms and Yellow Point Cranberries should also be on your list. Slow down and let the beautiful country roads melt away the morning’s adrenaline.
The Isle of the Arts: Gabriola Island
The first step is to get over to this beautiful island! You start at the Nanaimo Harbour Ferry Terminal. Leave the car if you can; the island is better on two wheels or on foot if you’re staying near the village.
The Vibe: Artistic, eccentric, and unapologetically slow.
First stop: Mad Rona’s Coffee Bar. This comfortable cafe space gives a great introduction to the island. It’s where the locals congregate to caffeinate, and a great spot to people-watch. Grab a hot beverage and fuel up for a full day of island adventure.
Malaspina Galleriesis next on your list. Don’t let the name fool you; it’s not an indoor art space. This massive, naturally occurring sandstone formation is shaped like an ocean wave. If you’re able to venture into the ‘wave’ itself, you’ll find yourself trailing your hands along the smooth, curved stone, feeling very small… in a good way.
Gabriola is famous for its artisans. Hit up the Gabriola Arts Council space or line up your visit with one of their stellar events, like the Thanksgiving Studio Tour or Lantern Festival! For self-paced exploration, follow the hand-painted signs at the end of driveways. You’ll find world-class pottery, weird sculptures, and maybe meet a creator along the way.
The Mid-Day Refuel: You’re heading to Ground Up, part cafe – part community hub. Their menu features locally sourced and in-season ingredients, with house-made everything from sourdough to ferments. Grab a hearty bowl or a loaded sandwich to fuel the second half of your island crawl.
For animal lovers, the Paradise Island Alpaca Farm on the south end of the island is a must. There is something equally hilarious and calming about the way an alpaca looks at you. Some of that wholesome chaos we need more of.
Before the ferry ride back, grab a cider at Ravenskill Orchards. Spanning two acres with over 1,000 trees, this is the home of Gabbie’s Premium Cider. The vibe is “heritage-cool”: think rows of 25 different apple varieties and a rustic tasting room where the fruit is the star of the show in both cider, snack and juice form.
The Champions of Quirk: Coombs, Errington & Whisky Creek
This is the day trip for the lovers of the “weird and wonderful.” It’s the tourist path, sure, but well worth the detour when you look past the gift shops and into the hidden gems of this area. This is where the RDN gets a little eccentric with a mix of natural beauty, incredible cuisine, and total roadside circus.
The Vibe: Pastoral meets the peculiar.
Every trip to Coombs should start with The Old Country Market – Goats on the Roof. You’ve heard about it, now come see it for yourself: the surreal sight of livestock grazing on a sod roof outside, and a maze of “what-even-is-this” imports inside. It’s packed full of local produce, international delicacies, toys, and wood carvings. Fill your cart and lean into the beautiful absurdity of it all.
The Mid-Day Refuel: When you need a break from the sensory extravaganza, head directly behind the market to Cuckoos Trattoria. It’s loaded with rustic Italian charm and has a gorgeous garden space, complete with a fountain. There’s wood-fired pizza and house-made pastas, and dishes combining the best west coast ingredients, including salmon, mussels, prawns and mushrooms. It’s the perfect place to sit back, carbo-load, and process the fact that you just saw a goat on a roof.
Following lunch, shift gears by visiting the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRC) in Errington. A five-minute drive will take you to this 8-acre sanctuary that houses non-releasable raptors, like eagles, owls, and hawks. Choosing to spend your afternoon here is a vote for the Island’s ecosystem. Your admission supports the rescue and rehabilitation of local wildlife, from black bears to peregrine falcons.
Before you dip back to Nanaimo, swing by Englishman River Falls Provincial Park. This is where the RDN’s geological wonder takes over. You’ve got two massive waterfalls plunging into a deep, rock-walled canyon. Cross the bridges for the best views.
The Deep Dive: Bowser Caves & Deep Bay
As you push toward the northern edge of the RDN, the landscape stops trying to impress you and just starts being itself. It’s a place for the curious. The people who don’t mind getting a little damp or dirty. The folks who see the beauty in the hum of a working harbour.
The Vibe: Ancient, subterranean, and salty.
If subterranean sensory deprivation is your thing, there’s no better place to kick off this spoke than Horne Lake Caves. Forget the manufactured world for a minute; you’re going into the earth. You can choose the Riverbend Cave Explorer tour if you want to keep it spacious and focused on fossils. For added squish and technical grit, look at the Achilles Challenge or Maximum Depth.
The Mid-Day Refuel: After you’ve crawled back out of the caves, head toward the water in Deep Bay for lunch at Sip & Shore. This is the locally loved spot for pub fare and a marina view that reminds you exactly where you are. Post-lunch, head just down the road to the Deep Bay Marine Field Station (VIU). This stunning piece of architecture looks like an oyster shell. Inside, you can get nerdy about marine biology. Take a self-guided tour of the aquariums and touch tanks to see local marine life up close and learn about the sustainable aquaculture that defines this stretch of the coast. Please note, drop-in visitors can come and see what’s up at the station from the May long weekend until Friday, August 29, from 10 am to 4 pm daily.
On your way back to Nanaimo, swing through the village and stop at the Salish Sea Art Market in Bowser. This souvenir shop gets its own shoutout. It’s a high-calibre hub for original art, ceramics, and wood products that actually reflect the energy of Lighthouse Country.
The Hidden Valley: Extension & East Wellington
The Vibe: Tectonic shifts and valley sips
Any roadtrip through this part of the region is a ‘choose your own adventure’. There’s no right or wrong way to approach it. To start with a sweat, I recommend Extension Ridge (The Abyss). This easy-to-moderate trail leads you to the famed geological fault line: a massive, deep fissure in the earth. If you prefer wheels to hiking shoes, the Doumont and Westwood Lake Mountain Bike Networks offer some of the best technical gnar on the Island, accessible right from these backwoods.
The Mid-Day Refuel: After you’ve navigated the ridge or the trails, head to the Black Bear Pub. This quintessential neighbourhood hub is the kind of place where you’ll see mountain bikers in muddy gear sitting next to locals who have lived here for forty years. It’s unpretentious, reliable, and serves up the kind of hearty pub fare you need after a morning in the woods.
Get back in your car and explore the winding country roads of Pleasant Valley, East Wellington and Nanaimo Lakes to discover independent farm gate stands. This is your chance to snack locally as you go. Look for hand-written signs for farm-fresh eggs, seasonal U-Pick berries, jars of honey, cut flowers, seasonal veg and more.
There are a few craft beverage options while you are on the road. Nothing beats a flight of crisp, small-batch cider at Big Bang Cider. This funky, family-run physics-inspired cidery is tucked away between farm plots and features snacks, fire pits, ample outdoor seating and beautiful views of the orchards. If wine is more your style, you could stop by Millstone Winery in East Wellington. Whether you’re in the tasting room, on the patio, or out in the licensed picnic space, the view (and the vino) are great. You’re only ten minutes from downtown Nanaimo, but worlds away from the city noise.
The Coastal Sophisticate: Nanoose Bay & San Pareil
Nanoose Bay is often overlooked, but well worth the trip. With high-end wellness, rare Garry Oak ecosystems, and beaches that literally disappear twice a day, it’s where the RDN gets a little more “beach resort,” but keep those muddy boots close by.
The Vibe: Low-tide luxury and Arbutus-lined horizons.
Start your day at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. You want to be here when the tide is out, and the water recedes nearly a kilometre, leaving behind a massive, shimmering expanse of sand flats and tidepools. It’s a meditative place for a morning walk where the horizon feels miles away.
Before lunch, you can also fit in a proper hike with a quick trip up Notch Hill Trail. This short, but rewarding climb winds through twisted Arbutus trees and rare Garry Oak meadows you won’t find elsewhere. The payoff is a panoramic view worthy of your main IG feed.
The Mid-Day Refuel: For lunch, head to Rusted Rake Brewing. This farm-to-tap brewery and gourmet eatery actually feels like a farm. It’s the perfect mid-day reset, and has tons of parking, so no stress. Grab a seat inside or on the patio, say hello to the friendly staff, and enjoy some top-tier food and craft beverages. They’ve got that relaxed-rural vibe on point.End the day by leaning fully into the “sophisticate” side of the area. Head to Pacific Shores Spa for a wellness treatment or a long, relaxing soak. It’s about that West Coast transition from “doing” to “being.” Surrounded by beautiful furnishings and the quiet of the bay, it’s the ultimate way to laze away the final hours of your day trip.
The Working Waterfront: French Creek, San Pareil & Dashwood
This area bridges the RDN’s agricultural roots and the water’s edge. It’s a mix of manicured estate history, busy marinas, and farm gate sales that include both cows and salmon.
The Vibe: Salty industrial energy meets estate-garden serenity.
Begin your day at Milner Gardens & Woodland (VIU). This 70-acre seaside retreat feels like a secret. This (once-private) estate has hosted royalty such as Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III and is known for its stunning mix of old-growth forest and lush, manicured gardens. It’s a quiet, historically significant start to the day.
Following that,head to the coast to experience the French Creek Marina & Harbour. This isn’t a “boutique” marina; it’s an authentic working harbour. Watch the trawlers come in and head straight to French Creek Seafood to shop for locally caught salmon, halibut, prawns, and tuna.
The Mid-Day Refuel: For lunch, you have two great ways to soak in the marine atmosphere. Pull up a chair at The French Creek Pub for reimagined pub fare and spectacular island views, or hit Cafe 356 for a more casual, local bite. It’s the best place in the region to watch the maritime machinery in motion.
For a farmstead finish, head inland to Little Qualicum Cheeseworks (Morningstar Farm). This is a must-stop for foodies and animal lovers alike. Take a free self-guided tour to meet the cows and see exactly how their world-class cheese is made. Before you leave, stop by their farm gate store for fresh cheese, eggs, and other goodies. It’s the ultimate “circular economy” experience featuring the land, the animals, and the finished product all in one visit!
