Victoria to Nanaimo

From Metro Vancouver, Victoria is accessible by BC Ferries, BC Ferries Connector coaches, public transit buses to and from BC Ferries terminals, and by local airlines.
Accessible transportation services at Victoria International Airport can be pre-arranged. Some private charter companies also offer accessible transportation when arrangements are made in advance.
Heading to Victoria directly from Washington State? You have options. The Victoria Clipper leaves from Seattle, making the crossing in two hours and 45 minutes. The vessel is wheelchair accessible on the ferry’s main deck.
From Port Angeles, the M.V.Coho sails to Victoria in 90 minutes. There are no elevators on the vessel, but you can arrange wheelchair service in advance.

Victoria’s iconic Inner Harbour is home to a flat waterfront path (accessible via a ramp on either end) with views of boat and seaplane traffic, great people-watching opportunities, and an ideal vantage point to check out the heritage buildings that surround the harbour. The mountains of Washington State can be seen in the distance.
Among the notable waterfront buildings is the Steamship Terminal Building with its distinctive white pillars, now home to the Bateman Foundation Gallery of Nature. See the world’s largest collection of works by renowned artist and naturalist Robert Bateman and be inspired to champion the preservation of our natural spaces.
Across the street sit the Parliament Buildings, the home base of the provincial government, called the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. See what happens inside these impressive buildings on a guided tour. In summer, you may find staff dressed in historic costumes. Don’t forget your camera!
Victoria is a great city to explore from the ground, with many interesting neighbourhoods to discover. Check out the historic Old Town district with its colourful Victorian-era storefronts and tour the oldest Chinatown in Canada.

Spend today exploring the beauty of Butchart Gardens. The Butchart Gardens is a 119-year-old world famous 55-acre display garden located in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia. Created by Jennie Butchart, and still privately owned and operated by the family, The Gardens was designated a National Historic Site of Canada, in 2004 for its one hundredth birthday.
Dine in the original Butchart family residence.
The Dining Room Restaurant is open daily for Traditional Tea service. Our seasonally inspired menus are crafted with local fresh ingredients. Reservations are highly recommended.

Start today at the Royal BC Museum to learn about 550 million years of natural history and 9,000 years of human history. Permanent exhibits include the First Peoples Gallery, Natural History Gallery, and Modern History Gallery, and the museum regularly hosts touring exhibitions from Canada and around the world. Note that there are a few areas on the museum’s third floor, such as the interior of the replica HMS Discovery, that are not wheelchair accessible.
Victoria Miniature World, located at the stately Fairmont Empress hotel, is another popular attraction, as is Beacon Hill Parks’ more than 80 hectares (200 acres) of parkland, immaculate flower beds, and unique Gary Oak ecosystem. The park holds important history, as well as cultural and spiritual significance to the area’s Indigenous population, including an ancient burial ground.

Fisherman’s Wharf is the place to enjoy fish and chips on a floating dock surrounded by colourful floating homes. This unique marine location offers food kiosks, interesting shops, and eco-tour adventures in the heart of the working harbour. You can wander along the docks with your lunch, buy seafood fresh off the boat, view moored pleasure vessels and float homes, and watch as fishing vessels unload their day’s catch.
One of the best (and most fun) things to do at Fisherman’s Wharf is to feed the resident seals! They’re used to people and will usually come looking for a handout. Food (fish) for them can be bought at a small fish store located at the wharf.
The Victoria Public Market showcases locally produced cheeses, meats, and direct-from-the-farm produce, as well as homemade pies, French pastries, fresh flowers, and more.

Cowichan is in Canada’s only maritime Mediterranean climatic zone and is home to the warmest year–round temperatures in the country. For decades now, Cowichan has been producing amazing artisanal food and drink from the region’s burgeoning farms, wineries, cideries and distilleries.
Head north to Duncan, known as the City of Totems. Each pole has a story to tell, and you can see more than 40 of them all along a self-guided tour.
For some local history, visit the BC Forest Discovery Centre, a 40-hectare (100-acre) open-air museum. See a 107-year-old train, a variety of heritage buildings, and an expansive collection of logging artifacts. Most of the museum is accessible, except for a couple of heritage buildings.
Get up close and personal with powerful birds of prey at The Raptors, a centre created to educate and promote the conservation of these beautiful birds. Flight demonstrations are held daily, though check their website before visiting as the centre is closed for two months in the winter. Some of the trails here are not paved and can be challenging for wheelchairs; it’s best to consult with staff ahead of time.

Twenty minutes north of Duncan, the community of Chemainus is best known for its collection of murals depicting local history. Follow the yellow footprints that mark the path to the murals or pick up a self-guided tour map at the Visitor Centre, which also houses a museum. It’s a little-known fact that some of the mural artists painted their own faces into their artwork; Visitor Centre staff can tell you more.
Beer lovers should visit Riot Brewing, home to some of the best beer on the Island. And if time permits, take in a performance at the Chemainus Theatre Festival, a vibrant professional theatre committed to advancing the arts on Vancouver Island.

This region is home to award-winning wineries, including Enrico Winery, Unsworth Vineyards, Cherry Point Estate Wines, and Blue Grouse Estate Winery. Another must-visit is Merridale Cidery & Distillery with its delicious craft ciders and celebrated spirits. Note that Merridale’s courtyard, tasting room, eatery, and farm store are wheelchair accessible, but other areas of the farm are not.
When you visit Merridale, you feel it – the atmosphere is friendly, easy, and joyful. The farm is located at the end of a long, winding driveway past gently rolling hills that will put you in the mood to relax and enjoy the spaciousness and beautiful climate that Cowichan is known for. At certain times of year, you’ll pick up a light scent of apple blossoms in the breeze. It’s a sensory experience, much like ciders and spirits.

Experience Nanaimo, BC like never before. Perched right on the scenic waterfront, your hotel offers awe-inspiring harbour and ocean views, as well as easy access to everything that makes Vancouver Island so unique, ocean views, exceptional dining, and versatile event venues. This hotel has a limited number of accessible rooms, so reservations are always necessary.
Nanaimo is a lovely harbour city with many wheelchair-accessible pathways perfect for watching seaplanes take off and land, and boats come and go. Browse your way through the Old City Quarter, with its boutique stores housed in the heritage buildings. Watch for the plaques that tell the stories of Nanaimo’s colourful past.

Visit Nanaimo Museum to learn the history of local Indigenous Peoples, the city’s coal mining history, and fun facts, like how bathtub racing was born here and is still going strong. The museum opened in 1967 as a legacy for Canada’s Centennial. In 2008 the museum moved to a modern facility in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
Thirsty visitors can stop by Arbutus Distillery for some expertly crafted artisan spirits
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and cocktails. Make sure to try the kombucha. Follow the BC Ale Trail to White Sails Brewing and Wolf Brewing and move on to some of the city’s accessible dining experiences. Try the fresh, locally sourced daily special at Gabriel’s Gourmet Cafe, sample the French pastries at Mon Petit Choux, and have a pint at Crow and Gate Pub, which claims to be the first neighbourhood pub in BC.

Return to Vancouver via BC Ferries or by air.