When traveling north into Canada, Nanaimo is a mandatory stop for provisioning. The town has grown significantly and now offers a wide range of big box stores, grocery stores, and even a couple of chandleries.
During our layovers, we discovered a few special stores that are worth a visit. McLean's Specialty Foods is a gem, with an unmatched variety of imported cheese and other unique food items. We're particularly fond of their bacon. Additionally, we found an outstanding butcher shop called Nesvog Meats. With a simple email order and a designated pickup date, we can quickly stock up on protein for three months in just a 5-minute stop.
However, our fondness for the Port of Nanaimo Marina has diminished over the years. Their commitment to service is lacking, and the staff seems disinterested in anything nautical, resembling municipal workers.
Upon sharing our dissatisfaction with the Port of Nanaimo with friends, they suggested we try Ladysmith instead. Specifically, they recommended The Ladysmith Community Marina run by the Ladysmith Maritime Society (LMS). You can feel like a local by hailing them using the LMS moniker.
Not only is the staff at Ladysmith Community Marina courteous, professional, and friendly, but every boater we encountered on the docks was warm and welcoming. In fact, when I inquired as to the best taxi service to get to the airport, a staff member offered to give us a ride. When was the last time that happened to you? Karen and I agreed that this marina might be one of the friendliest we've had the pleasure of visiting. The marina is conveniently located just 10 minutes away from Nanaimo Airport, where we rented a car for provisioning duties in Nanaimo proper.
As a bonus, we stumbled upon a remarkable restaurant serving Spanish tapas cuisine. We received a recommendation from a fellow boater while doing laundry in Sidney. It seems the laundry network is an invaluable resource in boating.
