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.

 

West Coast 2025: Victoria

[ Continued from Vancouver - Some Lesser Known Attractions ]

It was time to proceed from Vancouver to Victoria, which is on Vancouver Island. For that, you need a BC Ferries ticket. We booked our ticket long ago in advance. The advantage is that you know your time slot, and if you make it to the ferry terminal an hour before your launch, you are now guaranteed a spot. It's a reservation, after all.

Note: the number of passengers in your car (and their age) must correspond to what you have booked in your reservation. They do check when you check in at the terminal. The boarding of the cars onto the ferry is extremely efficient, and soon you are off.

Once we were on board, we left our cars and made our way to the top deck. It was time to soak in the sun and check the views.

The scenario cannot be described in pictures. The beauty of it cannot be put to words. You have the ocean with its calm blue tranquil waters. The gentle waves hit the beaches which come before the greenery of the trees on the horizon, and behind it the cascading mountains, slowly reaching for the skies, and then the clouds. 

It's a painting ... a beautiful painting .. that you have to experience with your own eyes.

Occasionally, we would see another BC Ferry in the distance. The weather was gorgeous, and the sky and the sea competed with themselves as to which one was more blue.

Finally, we reached Vancouver Island. It was time to board our cars, disembark, and make our way to Victoria.

The Hatley Castle

We have visited Victoria before. Victoria is the capital of the province of British Columbia. Named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, Victoria is one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest, with British settlement beginning in 1843.

Those of our party who were here for the first time made their way to Butchart Gardens; we didn't go as we had been before. This time we decided to visit Hatley Castle.

Now I have to admit my main interest in Hatley Castle was because of the movies and TV shows that were shot there, in particular X-Men and The Arrow. For that, we purchased a ticket for the internal tour. If I have to be honest, I would say don't do it. It's a waste of time. 

The main lobby of Xavier's School from X-Men

The castle is good enough to visit just the outside grounds and take pictures (it's free except for parking). Don't pay and go for the inner tour. 

We thought they would focus a bit on the movies - we were wrong. A boring tour full of dry uninteresting facts. Just park at the castle, pay the parking, and tour the grounds, and take pictures.

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

The BC Parliament, or the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, is in Victoria and near the inner harbour area. 

Once we had returned to Victoria from Hatley Castle, it was a short walk to the Parliament. 

It was open for visitors (they close some time between 4-5 pm, check their website for the latest info). They also monitor the crowds and if it gets too busy they won't let visitors in until it thins out again. The building reminded me of Victoria Memorial from Kolkata.

It was a typical Canadian house of Parliament, and the view from inside the rotunda was really spectacular. The upper and lower houses were open for public viewing as well.

They had stained glass designs in many places, and this was something you usually found in old churches.

It was still sunny and warm at 6 pm when we found ourselves on the lawn of the structure.

Lots of people were still out and about, and the crowds would only grow into the evening. We decided to grab a quick meal.

The Victoria Harbour – including the Inner Harbour – is one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. The harbour has had a long history, starting with its use by First Nations. Recreational vessels and small cruise ships can moor in the centre of this famous heritage city, just steps from its historic streets and distinctive architecture.

As the sun began to finally set, lots of crowd began to gather. Street shows started and buskers were everywhere.

It was the ultimate holiday moment - so far from home, with nothing to do but just chill and enjoy the moment.

Victoria is really an amazing place. The vibe is so relaxed, so chill, and so enjoyable. You could easily spend two days here, taking in more sights (such as the BC Museum).

While it was near 40C in the afternoon, now it suddenly started to cool down. A breeze was there, coming in from the harbour, and it began to get a little chilly.

Still, once you step away from the water, and onto the crowded streets, where people were just enjoying themselves, enjoying the moment, and enjoying their holiday, you realize why people come to Victoria.

The Empress Hotel, all lit up at night

The last time we had been in Victoria, we had spent two nights in the city. This time, it would only be one night. Tomorrow we were heading out to Nanaimo. 

West Coast 2025: Vancouver - Some Lesser Known Attractions

  [ Continued from Whistler ]

There are quite a few attractions in Vancouver, easily doable if you are in the city for a few days (three days minimum). Since we had already visited a few of them on our last trip, such as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, the Olympic Cauldron, we decided to go to a few places that we had not seen before. These are also the lesser visited tourist places, so it's not as crowded (for now).

Deep Cove is a small town by the bay in North Vancouver.

With its proximity to forests, mountains, skiing, hiking, parks, and the water, Deep Cove is well known among outdoor recreation enthusiasts. We went to the marina, which is a popular place to rent boats and kayaks from. A simple drive down Gallant Avenue gives way to the sheltered, calm harbour vista that is the area’s signature view.

On a wonderful weather day, such as the day we visited, the lake can be calm, and you get some wonderful pictures by the shore. Kayaks, canoes, and surf skis can be rented are hourly, daily and multi-day. Paddling Indian Arm offers a unique opportunity to view the mountains and native wildlife from sea level.

Deep Cove’s small commercial core is where galleries and a local theatre vie for attention alongside unique boutiques and quaint bistros. There is a place called Honey Doughnuts & Goodies, which is quite famous in Deep Cove for donuts.

This place is a staple for visitors to Deep Cove. The donuts are very good, but can be too sweet or dense ... I found it impossible to finish one. Best is to split one donut with another person.

Peace Arch Park is an international park consisting of Peace Arch Historical State Park in Washington, United States and Peace Arch Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. It's about 40 km south of Vancouver.

The cool thing about the park is that it straddles the international boundary between the two countries (Canada and USA). The Peace Arch, dedicated in 1921, was the first such structure in the world. It was built on the international boundary between Canada and the United States to commemorate the lasting peace between the two countries.

The other cool thing about the park is that visitors are allowed to explore both sides of the Canada–United States border inside the park, but you are not allowed to cross the boundary of the park. So if you are entering the park from Canada, as we did, you can visit the American portion of the park, but no more. So basically you WILL be on US soil, even if you don't have visa for US, as long as you are entering the park from the Canadian side.

The Arch itself is right on the border, so you can stand with one foot in USA and one foot in Canada, if you like. There are other markers to mark the border as well.

An important thing to remember is that WHILE they don't usually ask, but YOU ARE REQUIRED to have identification that proves your status in Canada (if you entered the park from Canada and are returning to Canada). And driver's license does not cut it - you must have your passport or PR card. So if you are visiting the park, do carry your passport with you, in case they ask.

And yes, do not cross the boundaries of the park. There are roads to either side, and these are for people driving to cross the border to enter the other country. Stay within the park and make sure to return to your side (in our case it was the Canadian side) before the park closes.

As they say on the park website

This park is on the Canada-U.S. border. You may be asked to provide identification and immigration information by officers of the Canada Border Services Agency or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Gastown is a famous neighborhood of Vancouver and is the city's first downtown core. We were there briefly to do some shopping, dining, and of course taking pictures by the historic steam clock.

The Port of Vancouver area hosts (obviously) the Port of Vancouver. It is the largest port in Canada. It is also near Canada Place. We had visited this place last time, so our only stop here was very brief.

One fine day, we decided to catch the sunset at Kitsilano Beach.

Kitsilano Beach, often called Kits Beach, is a popular urban beach in Vancouver.

It was very busy, and I was told it is one of the busiest beach in Vancouver. There were lots of people swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, and playing sports at Kits Beach. It was very lovely to see. Vancouver has a vibe, and this beach was it.

There were many beach volleyball courts set up along the sand, making it a popular place for those looking for day out with more to do aside from just laying in the sand. For me, it was a great place to enjoy some ice cream and watch the sun set in the ocean by the mountains.

It was our last day in Vancouver for the time being, as we were leaving the next day for Vancouver Island (Victoria and Nanaimo).

The glorious sunset was a perfect way to bookend this portion of the Vancouver trip. We had glorious weather, amazing sunshine, delightful company - there is a reason Vancouver remains one of my favourite cities, and I had said it a long time ago - a place to retire. The city has everything.