West Coast 2025: Nanaimo

 [ Continued from Victoria ]

The last stop on Vancouver Island was the beautiful city of Nanaimo.

Nanaimo is a beautiful city, between Victoria and Tofino, and is nestled on the coast of the island. Nanaimo experiences a temperate climate with mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. With plenty of water nearby, hiking and fishing opportunities everywhere, this makes it a great place to retire.

Maffeo Sutton Park is a where you must start your visit to Nanaimo. It has a beautiful harbor area where you can wade into the water, and of course the Nanaimo sign.

A short walk away from the park is Trollers Fish n Chips. 

Possibly the best Fish n Chips in Vancouver Island. Kids can have the cod bites, while for adults both the cod and halibut were really well done. We called and asked - it's not beer battered, so good to have for Muslims. Of course, if you decide to go, you can call and ask at that time.

Water is not far from wherever you are in Nanaimo.

Beautiful water, calm and serene, and boats and ships at the marina, it all points to a much relaxed (and expensive) life style. The life of retirees. And why not ... the place is beautiful.

Neck Point Park is another beautiful area.

Just look at it. A beautiful body of water. And no one around. Just enjoy.

Beautiful shoreline, and the Strait of Georgia in the distance.

Every park or view point you go to, with the water in the background, and a gorgeous sun to shine on, you remember why British Columbia is a blessed province within Canada.

I just couldn't get enough of the hiking or fishing opportunities in Nanaimo. Everywhere there were beautiful trails, or riversides, or a splendid beach ... with no one around for miles. It's just you ... and nature. 

After all this beautiful nature, it was time to hunt for that elusive treasure that is uniquely from Nanaimo - The Nanaimo Bar. Unlucky for us, the major cafes and restaurants that are part of the Nanaimo Bar trail, and where you go for the various Nanaimo Bar variants, were all closed. Thankfully we ran into a fair - a carnival - and of course, they had the Nanaimo Bar.

The Nanaimo Bar is not just a chocolate. It's a dessert - and a very heavy dessert at that. You have to share it with someone.

And we also won this frisbee at one of the carnival games. It was time to have some food, and for some reason we wanted some halal Indian food if it was available. We went to Manvirros Indian Grill, where some items were halal.

Everything we had ... it was really good.

The return trip via ferry was as good as it was on the way to the island.

Our return was from Nanaimo to Vancouver Island, and once again we had prebooked the ferry ride, so our spot was guaranteed.

The ferry was slightly different, and there was a place on the top deck with glass and shades so the wind does not affect you, and you can still enjoy the sun and the scenery.

Once again, I was just mesmerized - yes, that would be the best word - mesmerized by the beauty of the ocean and the mountains and the beaches and the forests and the clouds ... it was all a painting. 

If time stood still, this is where you would want it to stop.

We were heading back to Vancouver, and then our next stop would be the Rocky Mountain region of Alberta.