Gallery Walk, Cranberry Farm & City Sights
-
Port
Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Canada
-
Activity Level
Moderate
-
Excursion Type
All
-
Wheelchair Accessible
No
-
Starting At
$79.95
-
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
-
Duration
3 Hours
-
Meals Included
Meals not included
Ditch city life and make for the serenity of a cranberry farm. Not ready to commit to a lifetime of peat bogs? How about an urban gallery walk and a slice of heaven in the form of a Nanaimo Bar? Thankfully, there's no need to choose -- this outing has you covered.
A short drive from the pier takes you through scenic farmlands to a cranberry farm. This tart fruit is British Columbia's largest berry crop, with 82 million pounds of fruit produced annually. But it was the First Nations people that originally used cranberries for food, dyes, and medicine and in 1858, cranberries were more expensive than salmon.
Enjoy a non-alcoholic cranberry beverage before you set off on a tour of the farm. Learn how cranberries are wet-harvested in water-filled bogs and sample a few of the farm's cranberry specialty products -- the farm proudly produces more than 30 different kinds of cranberry confections, plus salsa and chutney.
Return to Nanaimo for an orientation and self-guided gallery walk through the city's charming heritage district. The downtown core, with its well-tended collection of heritage buildings, is the perfect place to explore on foot. Among the prized 19th-century buildings, you'll find a number of shops that represent Vancouver Island and B.C. artists. Enjoy browsing among the craft, jewelry and art galleries.
Sample the ever-popular Nanaimo Bar -- a creamy, chocolatey, no-bake cookie that is perhaps Canada's most famous dessert.
Guests wishing to stay in town to shop or explore independently are welcome to do so but must make their own way back to the ship.
Notes:
Dress warmly in layered clothing. Wear sturdy non-skid walking shoes. Terrain includes inclines, uneven surfaces, and gravel. Bring photo ID to sample the cranberry cider. Minimum age to drink alcohol is 19 years, with a companion aged 21 years or older. Gallery walk requires walking 900 - 1200 yards.