Destination: Nanaimo

Nanaimo, the Harbour City...

Some destinations are just more captivating than others. That’s certainly true of Nanaimo, where majestic mountain views and a beautiful downtown harbourfront astound visitors year-round.

Centrally located on the eastern shores of Vancouver Island, Nanaimo brims with natural beauty, arts and culture, rich history, limitless activities and welcoming locals. It’s a destination that recharges the body, inspires the mind, and excites the spirit.

In Nanaimo, business mixes naturally with pleasure. The 5-km Harbourside Walkway, mere steps from the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, is a perfect escape from the meeting room and easily accessible for a stroll in the sea air.

Delegates, event attendees and families will find limitless activities in the harbour and around town – scenic tours by boat or float plane, fishing, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, sailing, swimming, beachcombing, rock climbing, golfing, wildlife watching, trail riding, biking, bungee jumping, caving, hiking and more.

The Vancouver Island Conference Centre sits in the heart of the Arts District downtown. At the centre’s doorstep are boutiques and specialty shops, art galleries, museums, historical attractions, live theatre, a casino, restaurants, cafés and pubs. Walking tours introduce travelers to the area’s unique arts and history.

Downtown’s harbourfront is also the departure point for water taxi service to three nearby islands. Protection Island is home to Canada’s only floating restaurant and pub. Newcastle Island, a 306-hectare Provincial Marine Park, boasts spectacular views from its meandering trails. Picturesque Gabriola Island is known for its numerous artists’ studios.

Exploring Vancouver Island

If there’s time, get out and explore the rest of Vancouver Island. Discover why readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine voted it the #1 Island in North America for the past five consecutive years. Nanaimo’s mid-island location makes an ideal base camp for day trips. Here are a few favourite spots around the island.

• Parksville/Qualicum Beach - Explore the beaches of Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. Visit the Big Qualicum Fish Hatchery and see spawning salmon, trout and steelhead.
• Mount Washington - This year-round resort near Courtenay/Comox boasts the deepest all-natural snow base in Canada. Enjoy superb skiing in winter or hiking and biking in summer.
  

• Coombs - The country market here is world famous for the goats on the roof and many heritage-style buildings and shops.
• Cathedral Grove - In this preserved old growth Douglas Fir forest east of Port Alberni, trails wind among trees more than 800 years old, including a tree 30 feet around.
• Pacific Rim National Park - Whale watching excursions and unforgettable hiking trails are plentiful in this west coast playground. Stormwatching is the big draw in winter, when 25-foot waves thunder onto the sandy shores of Long Beach.
  

• Chemainus - In this quaint seaside community see more than 30 murals on buildings depicting the early life of the area.
  
• Duncan - Yellow footprints guide your tour of totem poles and First Nations heritage. See an authentic Native village and learn about First Nations culture.Cowichan Valley Wine Country – Vancouver Island’s very own wine region, the Cowichan Valley is home to more than 20 wineries and a thriving cidery.
• Victoria - B.C.’s capital city is less than a two-hour drive away. Visit Butchart Gardens and the Legislative Buildings. Shopping and historic attractions are also popular here.
  

Some of the activities that delegates, event attendees and families may do when visiting the Harbour City are cruising, fishing, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, sailing, swimming, beach combing, rock climbing, aboriginal history, farmers markets, golfing, wildlife watching, specialty shopping, historic tours, art walks, trail riding, biking, bungy jumping, caving, culinary excursions, hiking, live theatre and music, pubs, casino, festivals, extreme sports, and sightseeing galore - the list is endless!

Best of all, the Vancouver Island Conference Centre's unique location puts all of these activities at your disposal!

To learn more about Nanaimo, visit Tourism Nanaimo.

Interested in making Nanaimo your base camp while exploring other parts of Vancouver Island? Check out Tourism Vancouver Island and you will see why Vancouver Island was voted #1 Island in North America for the past seven consecutive years by readers of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine.

Vancouver Island truly has something for everyone!