Island Parent Pre-Summer 2023

Get to Know Nanaimo & Area
Bike at Top Bridge
The Top Bridge Trail in Parksville links Rathtrevor
Beach with Top Bridge Mountain Bike Park on the
scenic Englishman River. The trail is 5km each
way and winds through public and private property,
with a number of access points (a local favourite
is at Industrial Way and Tuan Road). Enter
from the Chattell Road trailhead and you’ll be at
the suspension bridge over the river. The Information
Centre at the south end of town will provide
directions. rdn.bc.ca/top-bridge-regional-trail
Try Your Hand at Disc Golf
Bowen Park Disc Golf is free and open to the
public every day of the year. The par 54 course
starts at a large, introductory sign that’s located
across from the main complex building, near
Bowen Road. For a course map and score card,
visit nanaimo.ca.
Hiking, biking and watching goats graze away
the grassy roof in Coombs—Nanaimo and
environs has it all. Follow the Nanaimo Bar
Trail, play at Venture Land Playground and Splash
Park, look waaaayyy up at Cathedral Grove or
bike at Top Bridge. There’s something here for
everyone!
Brush Up on Island History
Nanaimo District Museum offers guided and selfguided
tours that encourage visitors to “Make
a Discovery” while exploring the history and
heritage of our area. The Museum Gallery is open
from 10am–4pm, admission is by donation. The
Bastion remains closed, and cannon firings have
been cancelled until further notice.
nanaimomuseum.ca
Gander at the Goats
Coombs Old Country Market is along Highway
4A, on the way to Port Alberni from Parksville or
Nanaimo. Wander the market, unique shops, galleries
and studios for gifts, groceries and great
food. There’s lots to see. Be sure to look up when
you’re outside the market—the goats on the sod
roof live there throughout the summer and “mow”
the lawn. The Market is open from 9am–6pm.
oldcountrymarket.com
Take Your Best Shot at Mini Golf
Sink some putts at Paradise Mini Golf and Fun
Park (paradisefunpark.net) featuring two worldclass
mini-golf courses complete with a mini lighthouse,
pirate ship and Victorian mansion. Riptide
Lagoon Adventure Golf (riptidelagoon.com) will
whisk you away to another land filled with mini
mountains, rapids and a research station.
Play in the Park
Lions Venture Land Playground and Splash Park is
a landmark in the Parksville Community Park. Kids
love the brightly coloured slides and sea creatures,
swings, jungle gyms, in-ground trampolines
and the ever popular Zipkrooze. Not only that, but
there are horseshoe pits, a skate park, kite field,
lacrosse box, sports field, ball diamonds, picnic
shelter and gazebo.
Go Underground at Horne Lake
Explore the beauty and mysteries of Vancouver
Island’s Underworld in a subterranean adventure
at Horne Lake Caves. A wide variety of tour options
offers many levels of experience for families
and adventurous park visitors. To reserve a tour,
visit hornelake.com.
Zip, Swing & Bungy at Wildplay
At WildPlay Nanaimo, you start with a training session
on the ground to get comfortable using the
ziplines and continuous belay system. Then you’ll
climb up a ladder and start making your way from
tree to tree by walking across tightropes, climbing
up cargo nets, sliding down ziplines, flying
through the air on rope swings and leaping onto
swinging logs and balancing on wobbly bridges.
There’s a Kids Course, too. Feeling really brave?
Then give bungy jumping and the primal swing a
try. wildplay.com/nanaimo
Look Waaayyy Up at Cathedral Grove
Cathedral Grove–MacMillan Park is a day-use
park just past Cameron Lake on Highway 4. View
some of the largest and oldest trees on Vancouver
Island, including over-800-year-old giants and
lush vegetation on the interpretive trail system
that winds through the park. Cathedral Grove is
approximately 20 minutes from Parksville.
bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/macmillan
Hike to the Falls
Stamp River Provincial Park near Port Alberni is
over 327 hectares of forests, rivers and waterfalls.
16 Island Parent Magazine IslandParent.ca