Pirate Chips



The Captain.


I want you to check this place out if you A) like to try new things OR B) You have a sweet tooth. Pirate chips is an amazing place to go and eat and hang out with friends it is right down in the heart of downtown Nanaimo right on terminal ave right next to the old A&B sound building. It has a lot of good food for really cheap and it is a great place to go after school or on weekends because you can then go for nice walks along the water front and check out all of the nice gallery's in the downtown area. They have very delicious snacks like deep fried chocolate bar's with ice cream or you can even deep fry ice cream. If you bring your own chocolate bar one that they don't already have it is a lot cheaper and you get more of a selection by doing so. It is a very small place but has a wonderful area where the staff are very nice and are the kind of people that make you feel at home. The more you go there the more you feel comfortable going there. It is a really great place to try new things and experience something you wont find many other places in Nanaimo. 

Mrs.Riches

Mrs.Riches is a amazing place to eat dinner with their tacky design and fun family environment. Mrs.Riches is located in the downtown of Nanaimo right near Acme bar and grill and right next door to headliners school of music. There is only one catch, You have to try to conquer the Mountain burger. For all those vegetarians out there be warned that this burger is defiantly not for you. The burger is packed with 1 pound of prime ground beef,heaps of lettuce, a whole tomato, a handful of onions, plenty of pickles, mayo, piles of ham, slices of cheese, bacon strips & a fried egg all stacked high on a custom made MONSTER of a size bun. So go down to try this amazing burger but for anyone that doesn't want to still go down and see this wonderful place to eat and have a good laugh at all the people who have tried to eat the burger.. as Mrs.Riches says "Conquer it-we dare you!!"And for 25.99 its worth trying out at least with someone.

http://mrsriches.ca/

Ammonite Falls Hike

Next you should visit a place called Ammonite Falls. It is a beautiful hike to a georgous waterfall just outside of Nanaimo where bus's dont go so it makes it alittle harder to see without a person to drive you so keep that in mind. But the beauty of the falls itself is a big pay off when you get to the falls. It is about a 2 and a half hour walk and hike down to the falls but it is very easy to find with the markers that they have set up around the paths and in all honesty if you hear water you are getting close. The wonderful thing about Amonite falls is that you can go to the falls at anytime in the winter months or during summer. Although I would advise to you that going on this hike while it is raining or if the ground is very wet to wear clothes that you dont mind getting wet or very dirty because the hike down to the falls can be very muddy. 


Heres some instructions to get to Ammonite falls.
Drive - From Jingle Pot Road, turn onto Kilpatrick Road. Take the first right onto Jameson Road. Follow Jameson to the end. There is a paved sideroad to the right called Creekside which goes into a new development. Don't go down there, just park here before the yellow gate you can see ahead, up the gravel road.
Hike up the logging road, past the yellow gate, through the Malaspina University-College woodlot. Keep going straight. Stay right.




Watch for an established trail that branches right off the main trail. There is usually a sign, indicating that this is the route to the falls. This trail falls steeply at first. After it levels out, you will see and hear Benson Creek to your left. Stay to the the left and the trail will soon lead to a ridge above the creek and on to a firepit and an old road. Just across the road (don't follow the old road) and to the right is a trail that will lead you in about 75 feet to the top of the falls. There are fairly secure knotted ropes

to help down the last, steep, muddy slope

to the base of the falls. The cost of this trip is only of what you would have to pay for gas. Although A nice picnic while your down at the waterfall would be enjoyable too. Just things to give you some ideas when you go this amazing and beautiful hidden place in Nanaimo.



Gina's Mexican Cafe

The first place that I will tell you about is a little restaurant in the downtown of Nanaimo. The restaurant is called Gina's it is a cute little place nicknamed "The pink house on the hill" It is a very small place but has such nice people and is a very happy environment. Gina’s is gorgeously tacky, a B movie of a Mexican restaurant. There’s not a lot of Spanish spoken, but there are bikes and beaters in the parking lot, margaritas and beer on the menu They also offer a speical amount of vegitarian food for anyone out there that is vegitarian so you do have quite a slection at this restaurant. I have been there many times and love the service and that the staff there is always making sure that everything is okay and the wait for food is not long at all. It is a Mexican restaurant and has a lot of nice food for a good price. If you want to check it out here's the link. Located on top of a cliff, easily accessible from the Highway #1 and a short walk from the boat basin, c'mon home to Gina's for a memorable dining experience you won't want to miss. Gina's Mexican Cafe has  great

Gina's Cafe

views of Mount Benson in the west and overlooks the Old Island Highway (Terminal Ave.) that winds through Nanaimo at the foot of the cliff. http://www.ginasmexicancafe.ca/ The last thing that is amazing that Gina's has to offer is that they even have a tastey take out menu that will satisfy and hunger.