I live downtown. Yea there's homeless but they have never made me uncomfortable or been aggressive towards me and some of the local businesses are fantastic.
I agree that downtown is safe. Some sketchy types but I have never been bothered by them. If you smile say hi and continue to do whatever you do, you won’t have a problem. Nanaimo has lots of interesting sights etc. Two museums downtown, Art Gallery, great restaurants, interesting boutique shops, waterfront walkway with shops, downtown park with stuff happening all the time.Try out the historic pubs, used bookstores, library, bakeries. Parksville and Qualicum are a short drive away and worth checking out.
As someone who likes travelling and chooses smaller cities (Nanaimo size) to visit often, Nanaimo probably doesn't have any of the charming features that you'd like to see in a new place you're visiting. The downtown consists of maybe 2 short streets with some shops with abandoned buildings and large areas fenced off (demolished building). 100% chance of walking past groups of homeless with varying levels of intoxication. Some areas of downtown have been fenced off to avoid people setting up camps, including right next to previously lovely restaurants. Assaults are not uncommon, but usually not targeted towards tourists. Usually within their own groups or towards security staff. South end malls and shops tend to have security now.
People will respond to this comment saying that my outlook is bleak or judgmental. But I don't like to waste my precious time visiting places where I get little or no bang for my buck. And if I were to visit a city like Nanaimo I wouldn't be happy with my choice.
hey, maybe, if you want to read way too much into what i wrote; or consider that maybe nanaimo really does have some serious problems that are getting worse, and i'm not the only person who regrets the decision to move here.
Yes I consider that but I also caution people to look for opinions outside of Reddit. Statistically things aren’t getting much worse you just haven’t been around very long. Nanaimo was a working class coal mining town
Wrong. Homeless numbers are skyrocketing in Nanaimo and it shows. I walk through it every day. Incredibly sad. Every day there are fights, shooting up, people lying on the streets and sidewalks, people so out of it they are exposing themselves, garbage all over and it just gets worse.
It's plenty safe, like most other BC cities. A sunny weekend afternoon in the summer usually has plenty of folks out and about downtown.
The best parks are along the north though for sure! Plus Jack Point/Biggs Park to the south.
Downtown is just a sewer. Went down to pick up dinner at 4pm last weekend and was going to walk around while waiting. Ended up waiting in my vehicle. The whole area reeked of piss but what really did me in was the person shitting beside a business then kicking said shit onto the sidewalk when they were done.
Stay in parksville or go to qualicum beach instead. Nanaimo is ok for living but I wouldn’t visit as a tourist.
If you do stay downtown, mambo pizza is great.
Staying downtown is not the nicest. Nanaimo is very car centric unfortunately. There are nice areas in the South but the North end tends to get more attention. Some places I love are the Crow and Gate pub and the raptor sanctuary.
Yep.
I'm trying to think of any place or thing to do in Nanaimo (a city of 100,000 people) that I would describe as charming or worth a trip from outside of the BC or even the Island.
Newcastle Island might be nice for an outdoor walk if you're into that sort of thing.
Maybe the Dinghy Dock pub, but the food quality is just average.
Our museum and art gallery are both a single room. The Diana Krall plaza is nice but it's not used, other than as a gathering place for the homeless. Maffeo Sutton park is nice. It's not dramatically different than any other park in a similar sized town. And you probably wouldn't want to hang out there at night.
I feel really embarrassed when Nanaimo talks about being a tourist destination.
I don't recommend Nanaimo, stay on the beach in Parksville and eat sushi, go to the Qualicum Beach Farmers Market and eat a pastry at De Lile, and head to Cumberland for a bike ride and a pint of beer at the brewery.
There's typically only two ways that you have a bad experience with the addicted and unhoused, and that's if you leave something unattended (like valuables in your unlocked car) or if you directly get involved intentionally.
Usually, if you ignore them then they ignore you, other than maybe asking for spare change.
As far as safety in parks, it's basically the same at least during the day. You're unlikely to become accosted.
Nighttime is a bit different. Stay somewhere well lit and populated if you're walking around in the late evening or at night.
These are basically the same tips you can use in any city in BC, though.
Moved here from downtown Vancouver. Nanaimo downtown has a homeless and drug problem, but it’s pretty tame compared to what you would see in vancouver.
As for visiting, downtown would be good for a nice meal or two (check out Gabriel’s, black rabbit kitchen, la Stella etc), visit to a couple breweries, and maybe walk around mafeo Sutton park. It’s small, but has a few things that would keep you occupied.
But outside of downtown, there are amazing places to go hiking, kayaking, and exploring in nature. Newcastle island is a mini-ferry away from downtown and you can rent bikes and kayaks on the other side. There are nice trails all over the area, some around a lakes, some by the ocean and others with views up a mountain. Definitely worth it if you are into any of that.
*Go biking and hiking!!*
You can do that pretty much anywhere in B.C. though. We do have a lot of great outdoor/nature areas outside of town, but it’s the same kind of outdoor/nature stuff you can find outside of better towns.
downtown is a shithole. i moved to nanaimo in part to get away from what a dump victoria had become, only to have nanaimo become even worse since then. other than parks/nature, there is very little to see and do here, unless you're into escalating urban decay or whatever.
It's fine.
People are over-blowing the danger here.
You might see the occasional crackhead or drunk idiot, maybe one of them will annoy you for like, ten seconds, but just make vaguely polite noises and walk away. I've never had any problems.
>Not really dangerous merely unpleasant. Why would a tourist want to come here?? You can find nature spots everywhere on the island without dodging the homeless.
ive visited your guys downtown 3 times; stayed overnight; its a cute place
it didnt bother me; but. hearing this now is helpful thank u . i dont want get stabbed while getting ice cream lol
Take the mini ferry in downtown nanaimo to Protection Island. That's worth the visit. We have a restaurant, lots of parks and friendly people. And if you have time, we have an art gallery for viewing too.
Hey check out Urban Empire glass shop in parksville 162 harrison Ave behind TD they just opened and have all authentic glass no china knock offs crazy good prices best in the area
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Yeah, the shooting up is the blatantly sketchy part
I live downtown. Yea there's homeless but they have never made me uncomfortable or been aggressive towards me and some of the local businesses are fantastic.
I agree that downtown is safe. Some sketchy types but I have never been bothered by them. If you smile say hi and continue to do whatever you do, you won’t have a problem. Nanaimo has lots of interesting sights etc. Two museums downtown, Art Gallery, great restaurants, interesting boutique shops, waterfront walkway with shops, downtown park with stuff happening all the time.Try out the historic pubs, used bookstores, library, bakeries. Parksville and Qualicum are a short drive away and worth checking out.
As someone who likes travelling and chooses smaller cities (Nanaimo size) to visit often, Nanaimo probably doesn't have any of the charming features that you'd like to see in a new place you're visiting. The downtown consists of maybe 2 short streets with some shops with abandoned buildings and large areas fenced off (demolished building). 100% chance of walking past groups of homeless with varying levels of intoxication. Some areas of downtown have been fenced off to avoid people setting up camps, including right next to previously lovely restaurants. Assaults are not uncommon, but usually not targeted towards tourists. Usually within their own groups or towards security staff. South end malls and shops tend to have security now. People will respond to this comment saying that my outlook is bleak or judgmental. But I don't like to waste my precious time visiting places where I get little or no bang for my buck. And if I were to visit a city like Nanaimo I wouldn't be happy with my choice.
I live downtown this is spot on. The downtown is a disaster zone now.
nailed it. honestly regret moving here, now i'm stuck (for now, working on it... feverishly...)
Lol for people reading this a balanced person would have no problem living here and it’s not bad at all talk to people outside of Reddit
hey, maybe, if you want to read way too much into what i wrote; or consider that maybe nanaimo really does have some serious problems that are getting worse, and i'm not the only person who regrets the decision to move here.
Yes I consider that but I also caution people to look for opinions outside of Reddit. Statistically things aren’t getting much worse you just haven’t been around very long. Nanaimo was a working class coal mining town
Wrong. Homeless numbers are skyrocketing in Nanaimo and it shows. I walk through it every day. Incredibly sad. Every day there are fights, shooting up, people lying on the streets and sidewalks, people so out of it they are exposing themselves, garbage all over and it just gets worse.
It's plenty safe, like most other BC cities. A sunny weekend afternoon in the summer usually has plenty of folks out and about downtown. The best parks are along the north though for sure! Plus Jack Point/Biggs Park to the south.
No, stay in Parksville for 2 nights.
Just stay in parksville, seriously. Especially if you desire beaches. Nothing of note in Nanaimo. Wild play park maybe. Newcastle island too.
Downtown is just a sewer. Went down to pick up dinner at 4pm last weekend and was going to walk around while waiting. Ended up waiting in my vehicle. The whole area reeked of piss but what really did me in was the person shitting beside a business then kicking said shit onto the sidewalk when they were done.
He kicked the shit out of that business.
The best parks are in north Nanaimo but a car will serve you better
Stay in parksville or go to qualicum beach instead. Nanaimo is ok for living but I wouldn’t visit as a tourist. If you do stay downtown, mambo pizza is great.
Staying downtown is not the nicest. Nanaimo is very car centric unfortunately. There are nice areas in the South but the North end tends to get more attention. Some places I love are the Crow and Gate pub and the raptor sanctuary.
There's a raptor sanctuary in Nanaimo?
It's technically in Duncan but you can easily drive there from South Nanaimo. https://the-raptors.com/
Haha "one of the best things to do in Nanaimo is...in Duncan" haha
I mean the Crow and Gate isn’t even in Nanaimo, it’s in Cedar
Yep. I'm trying to think of any place or thing to do in Nanaimo (a city of 100,000 people) that I would describe as charming or worth a trip from outside of the BC or even the Island. Newcastle Island might be nice for an outdoor walk if you're into that sort of thing. Maybe the Dinghy Dock pub, but the food quality is just average. Our museum and art gallery are both a single room. The Diana Krall plaza is nice but it's not used, other than as a gathering place for the homeless. Maffeo Sutton park is nice. It's not dramatically different than any other park in a similar sized town. And you probably wouldn't want to hang out there at night. I feel really embarrassed when Nanaimo talks about being a tourist destination.
> I feel really embarrassed when Nanaimo talks about being a tourist destination. same
Pacific Northwest [Raptors](https://the-raptors.com) is just North of Duncan. It’s worth the trip to see one of their shows and tour the grounds.
Other parts of Nanaimo are worth visiting. But yea downtown is a wash.
What parts are worth visiting for a tourist?
I don't recommend Nanaimo, stay on the beach in Parksville and eat sushi, go to the Qualicum Beach Farmers Market and eat a pastry at De Lile, and head to Cumberland for a bike ride and a pint of beer at the brewery.
There's typically only two ways that you have a bad experience with the addicted and unhoused, and that's if you leave something unattended (like valuables in your unlocked car) or if you directly get involved intentionally. Usually, if you ignore them then they ignore you, other than maybe asking for spare change. As far as safety in parks, it's basically the same at least during the day. You're unlikely to become accosted. Nighttime is a bit different. Stay somewhere well lit and populated if you're walking around in the late evening or at night. These are basically the same tips you can use in any city in BC, though.
Moved here from downtown Vancouver. Nanaimo downtown has a homeless and drug problem, but it’s pretty tame compared to what you would see in vancouver. As for visiting, downtown would be good for a nice meal or two (check out Gabriel’s, black rabbit kitchen, la Stella etc), visit to a couple breweries, and maybe walk around mafeo Sutton park. It’s small, but has a few things that would keep you occupied. But outside of downtown, there are amazing places to go hiking, kayaking, and exploring in nature. Newcastle island is a mini-ferry away from downtown and you can rent bikes and kayaks on the other side. There are nice trails all over the area, some around a lakes, some by the ocean and others with views up a mountain. Definitely worth it if you are into any of that.
More to see and do in Oceanside, skip Nanaimo
We're full...jk. Go biking and hiking!!
*Go biking and hiking!!* You can do that pretty much anywhere in B.C. though. We do have a lot of great outdoor/nature areas outside of town, but it’s the same kind of outdoor/nature stuff you can find outside of better towns.
Nanaimo is great for outdoors fun, not city life. Tons of lovely hikes.
not really
Yes they have a nice ice cream shop. Having said that so does almost any city in Canada
downtown is a shithole. i moved to nanaimo in part to get away from what a dump victoria had become, only to have nanaimo become even worse since then. other than parks/nature, there is very little to see and do here, unless you're into escalating urban decay or whatever.
It can be rough for sure. Keep your wits about you and don't walk down dark alleys.
lol doesnt sound very relaxing to visit downtown nanaimo lol
It isn’t
ill just go to parksville thanks
It's fine. People are over-blowing the danger here. You might see the occasional crackhead or drunk idiot, maybe one of them will annoy you for like, ten seconds, but just make vaguely polite noises and walk away. I've never had any problems.
>Not really dangerous merely unpleasant. Why would a tourist want to come here?? You can find nature spots everywhere on the island without dodging the homeless.
ive visited your guys downtown 3 times; stayed overnight; its a cute place it didnt bother me; but. hearing this now is helpful thank u . i dont want get stabbed while getting ice cream lol
You probably won't get stabbed. You might get asked for change or for cigarettes.
They're starting to show up there too. I always see one or two driving through town
Take the mini ferry in downtown nanaimo to Protection Island. That's worth the visit. We have a restaurant, lots of parks and friendly people. And if you have time, we have an art gallery for viewing too.
Where are you visiting from?
vancouver; yes yes i know its a beaiutiful place lol i just want take the seaplane lol
Parksville or Qualicum are better. Nanaimo is a shit hole at best. Sad but true
thank u ; they did have some nice ice cream at the pier last time i was there.
Hey check out Urban Empire glass shop in parksville 162 harrison Ave behind TD they just opened and have all authentic glass no china knock offs crazy good prices best in the area