Nanaimo Harbourfront Walkway
This is a great urban walk along the inner harbour of the city. The route passes parks, shops, floating restaurants, yachts, beaches and a crab pier. Easy for all ages and a great option to the whole family. Located 10 minutes from Living Forest.
Maffeo Sutton Park / Swy-a-lana Lagoon
MaffeoSutton Park is Nanaimo's signature park overlooking our world famous harbour. The park is a central point along the Harbour Front Walkway. The park hosts countless community special events. It is a great year-round destination for walking, playground playdates and picnics. Features and amenities include access to the walking trail, Maffeo Sutton Inclusive Playground, Sway-a-Lana lagoon and swimming beach (no lifeguards), Lions Pavillion covered stage, Spirit Square, ferry access to Saysutshun (Newcastle) Island ferry and washrooms. Located 10 minutes from Living Forest.
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island) Marine Provincial Park.
Known as Saysutshun by the Snuneymuxw, this family friendly park is accessible only by foot passenger ferry or boat (schedule & pricing: https://newcastleisland.ca/ferry-info). With breathtaking views of the Coastal Mountains and the Harbour City, the island offers a unique natural, historical and cultural experience for visitors. Located 11 minutes from Living Forest.
Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Park
Breathe in the fresh air and experience the unforgettable sight of some of the oldest and tallest trees in Canada. This provincial park preserves a section of lush old-growth forest unique to Vancouver Island. The perfect stop on your trip from Nanaimo to Tofino. Located 1 hour from Living Forest.
Englishman River Falls
This provincial park is a favourite mid-Island stop for families, hikers, and anyone who loves easy access to viewpoints. The park features a short loop trail that visits both the upper and lower waterfalls, with forested paths, canyon views, and clear pools below. It’s close to Parksville and offers good amenities, and has a wheelchair-friendly route to the upper falls lookout for a quick visit. Located 50 minutes from Living Forest.
Little Qualicum Falls
Impressive waterfalls cascade down a rocky gorge in a beautiful forest setting bordered by steep mountain peaks, making this one of the area’s most beautiful parks. The falls, lake swimming, shaded riverside trails, and picnic facilities make Little Qualicum Falls a very popular family destination. Located 55 minutes from Living Forest.
Colliery Dam
This nearby park offers numerous forested trails as well as a designated dog off-leash area. They all revolve around the small lake, dam and various bridges over the chutes of water. Stocked with trout, it's a great place to fish from shore (freshwater fishing license required). Located 8 minutes from Living Forest.
Departure Bay Beach
Experience the incredible Snuneymuxw First Nation welcoming totem. The Departure Bay beach and seawall is a popular place to visit for saltwater swimming, beachcombing, strolling, kayaking, or just to grab a meal or a coffee across the street and enjoy a beautiful sunset. Located 16 minutes from Living Forest.
Nanaimo Aquatic Centre
The Nanaimo Aquatic Centre is home to one of the largest wave pools in western Canada and one of the island's busiest 50 metre pools. Other amenities include a water park, indoor water slides, sauna, hot tub, steam room, fitness machines, and diving. Find more information at https://www.nanaimo.ca/parks-recreation-culture/recreation-facilities-schedules/aquatics for this facility, as well as other indoor and outdoor pools in Nanaimo. Located 10 minutes from Living Forest
Hemer Park
This forested park offers smooth, gentle trails, without a lot of change of elevation. The marsh area at Hemer Park is also a favourite destination for bird watchers. A viewing platform over the marsh provides the opportunity to observe various types of ducks, Trumpeter swans, Bald eagles and turkey vultures, as well as beavers. Located 13 minutes from Living Forest.
Horne Lake Caves
The best in Canada! That is one way to describe the cave resources of Vancouver Island, home to more than 1,000 caves. At Horne Lake Caves, whether you are a beginner or veteran caver, you can experience the magic of the underground world in the many caves. View their website for tour options and more info. The drive there is mostly freeway, but the last 15 minutes are along a gravel road. Located 1hr 15 minutes from Living Forest.
Lady Rose Marine: Boat Trips Down the West Coast
This passenger and freight service has been a part of the West Coast for over 70 years. Take a daytrip down the Alberni Inlet and into Barkley Sound to Bamfield or Ucluelet. Leaves early each morning from Port Alberni and returns around dinner time. Rent kayaks to explore the Pacific Rim National Parks Broken Group Islands. Really see the west coast! Located 1hr 20 mins from Living Forest.
Mt. Washington Alpine Resort
Known for its spectacular ocean to alpine views, Mt. Washington Ski Resort is one of British Columbia’s finest alpine and nordic winter sport resorts and summer alpine destinations. Fantastic skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing in winter, and in the summer the resort caters to world class hiking, downhill mountain biking, or just enjoy lunch and a scenic chairlift ride. On a clear day you get a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains as well as the ocean. Located near Courtenay, 1hr 30 minutes from Living Forest.
Lost Lake Trail
This park includes a 15 minute loop circles north Nanaimo's water reservoir, Lost Lake. The trail consists of gravel areas, as well as board walks and some stairs. The trail is set among beautiful mature trees located on the north edge of Linley Valley. Located 22 minutes from Living Forest.
Neck Point
The park is recognized as an environmentally sensitive area and is well known in the community for its historic, scenic and natural features. Visitors will find rugged rock cliffs, with pebble bay beaches, and winding trails through Garry Oak groves. The park is a great location for photographers wanting to capture the essence of Nanaimo and the west coast lifestyle. Located 24 minutes from Living Forest.
Linley Valley
The Linley Valley is a 145-acre greenspace in north Nanaimo, a network of misty trails with a calm beauty. It is very lush and full of deer, with some lakes and ponds and creeks, wooden bridges, and high ridgelines. The main trails here are well-marked and well maintained, so it's a great place for visitors with mobility issues. But if you make your way to the higher spaces, you'll be rewarded with some nice views over Departure Bay to Newcastle Island and downtown, or to Mt Benson, or across the Salish Sea. Lost Lake and Cottle Lake are also within the valley, as well as several creeks. Located 20 minutes from Living Forest.
Butterfly World
Step into a tropical greenhouse and experience hundreds of beautiful butterflies from around the world! Accessible through the green house is the Outdoor Butterfly Garden. This area is populated with local plants and shrubs that attract wild native butterflies as well as birds and a variety of other beneficial insects. Also featured is an outdoor pond to help create a symbiotic environment for these local plants, birds and insects to thrive. View their website for more info. Located 45 minutes from Living Forest.
Wild Play Elements Park
Featuring an aerial adventure park, bungee jumping, rapid rappelling, zip lines, and more. Learn the ropes and skills of climbing and then go bungee jumping over the Nanaimo River canyon -- it's the ultimate adrenaline rush. Check out their website for more info. Google Maps driving directions from the Living Forest. 7 minute drive.
Piper's Lagoon
Pipers Lagoon Park features scenic trails with seaside lookouts making it a perfect place to enjoy sunrises and sunsets. You'll have a great view of historic Shack Island and the southern point of Neck Point Park. Pipers Lagoon is an ideal bird watching retreat. Gulls, sandpipers, horned grebes, loons, kingfishers, oyster catchers and great blue herons are just some of the varieties of bird life. It's also a great spot for beachcombing year round, on windy days bring your kite and watch it dance. Located 22 minutes from Living Forest.
Port Alberni's Steam Train & Sawmill
The McLean Mill National Historic Site is a former sawmill and logging operation located in the Alberni Valley of Vancouver Island. McLean Mill was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1989 to commemorate its collection of extant resources related to logging, sawmilling, transportation and labour, and its close association to significant aspects of the forest industry. Take the steam train from downtown Port Alberni out to a fully functional steam sawmill, check the website for tour information. Located 1hr 20 minutes from Living Forest.
Romper Room Indoor Rock Climbing
Romper Room is an indoor rock climbing gym in Nanaimo with over 7000 sq.ft. of climbing wall and great staff. The Romper Room welcomes everyone, encourages a positive attitude across all skill levels, and holds a high standard in regards to good risk management practices and climber etiquette. Check out their website for more info. Located 15 minutes from Living Forest.
The Old Country Market Coombs
If you are driving between Parksville and Tofino or exploring central Vancouver Island, Coombs Goats on the Roof is one of those roadside stops that almost everyone ends up talking about. The Old Country Market started as a small fruit stand and is now a busy little hub with goats grazing on the sod roof, food stalls, coffee, doughnuts and souvenir shops all tucked into one compact strip. It is an easy place to stretch your legs, grab a snack and let kids burn off some energy while you wander between the Old Country Market, Coombs Village Centre and the nearby Rail Trail. You do not need long here, but you could easily spend an hour if you get pulled into the shops and line up for treats. Located 45 minutes from Living Forest.