Escape to Nanaimo to reconnect and recharge with your significant other. This itinerary offers the perfect mix of activities, dining and entertainment to enjoy together.

DAY ONE

Start your first day downtown with a coffee and legendary Nanaimo Bar from Mon Petit Choux, one of the official stops on the Nanaimo Bar Trail. Browse the boutiques on Commercial Street then walk the few steps to the scenic waterfront. Stroll along the wharf docks and waterfront walkway to watch seaplanes landing and local fishing boats departing against a stunning Coast Mountain Range backdrop.

Spend the rest of your morning at the Nanaimo Museum where you can walk through a replica coal mine or see what daily life was like in a traditional Snuneymuxw First Nation longhouse. Re-energize with lunch across the street at Gabriel’s Cafe, a local farm-to-fork favourite. Then head to Neck Point Park for an easy coastal and forest loop trail. Watch for sea lions offshore and bald eagles roosting in trees along the shore.

Freshen up in your accommodation then head out for a romantic dinner downtown at Melange. If you’re up for live music, walk to The Queen’s nightclub for dancing or enjoy the laid-back hipster vibe at The Vault Cafe.

DAY TWO

After a sustaining breakfast at the quaint Le Brunch Café, head out for a morning hike on the forest trail to Ammonite Falls, a cascading waterfall that gushes in winter and spring. Next, head to the nearby JinglePot Pub where a classic pub menu offers lots of choice for lunch.

Spend your afternoon together making memories outside. The treetops adventure course and river canyon ziplines at WildPlay reveal Nanaimo’s breathtaking beauty. Prefer to keep your feet on the ground? Check out the Beban Park Golf Course where you can tackle the 11-hole pitch and putt course or see who can hit farthest on the driving range.

For dinner, treat yourself to exquisitely plated seafood at The View Oceanside Grill downtown. Then why not catch a show at the Port Theatre? Finish your evening with a flight of local craft beer samples at White Sails Brewing, a popular stop on the BC Ale Trail.

DAY THREE

Today’s adventure whisks you away to one of the Gulf Islands –  Gabriola Island, a quick 20-minute ferry from downtown.

Start your day by heading to Gabriola Sands Provincial Park and the stunning twin beaches. These two sandy coves are a draw for locals and visitors alike thanks to the soft white sand and sheltered location. Then take the picturesque drive along Berry Point Road to the northernmost tip of Gabriola where you can take in the stunning view of the Entrance Island lighthouse and on a clear day, all the way across the Georgia Straight to the mainland.

Head back to the village centre and do lunch like a local with a sandwich or wrap at Mad Rona’s Coffee Bar.

In the afternoon, drive to the island’s south end to take in the ocean views at Drumbeg Provincial Park where, on a clear day, you can see Washington’s Mt. Baker. No trip to the island is complete without a visit with an artist at one of the island’s many artist studios.

Before catching the ferry back to Nanaimo, go for dinner at Woodfire Restaurant and try the gourmet wood-fired pizza.