Nanaimo, Central Vancouver Island, Vancouver Island
Nanaimo is located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. After Victoria, Nanaimo is Vancouver Island's second-largest city and the central location of the city makes it a good starting point for exploring central Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
The climate is one of the mildest and sunniest in Canada, while the scenery is characteristically Vancouver Island: temperate coastal rainforests, sparkling ocean and majestic mountain ranges.
The city had its beginning as a trading post in the early 1800s. In 1849 the Snuneymuxw chief informed the Hudson's Bay Company of the presence of coal in the area. By 1853 the company had built a fort known as the Nanaimo Bastion. Incorporated in 1874, Nanaimo is the third oldest city in British Columbia.
Nanaimo has evolved into a great place to live and visit, offering a clean, accessible waterfront, cultural festivals in the summer, a university, lots of out door activities, and all of the services one would want.
Centrally located just 112 km north of Victoria, and 55 km west of Vancouver, Nanaimo is separated from the lower mainland by the Strait of Georgia. Nanaimo is well connected. BC Ferries runs large ferries from Nanaimo to Vancouver every few hours and seaplanes are constantly coming and going from the downtown waterfront on their way to and from downtown Vancouver or Vancouver International Airport. Nanaimo also has a regular airport south of the city.
Nanaimo is the jumping off point to many other destinations both on the island itself like: Victoria, Tofino, Comox Valley, Campbell River, Port Alberni, and Chemainus. Off of Nanaimo you will find: Newcastle Island, Protection Island, Gabriola Island, Valdes Island, and many other of the Gulf Islands.
So whether you are a visitor, business person or a baby boomer looking for a place to retire to, the City of Nanaimo has all the services you could ask for, from the big box stores of North Nanaimo to intimate boutiques and cafes downtown.
The bustling harbour is the central focus of many visitors to Nanaimo. What with sea wall, ferries, freighters, fishing boats, tugboats and barges, sail boats and float planes all coming and going and the people, there always seems to be something happening in the harbour.
Nanaimo offers the perfect mix for work and play. With its pristine beauty, the incredible selection of adventures and activities available, the city is the ideal destination for business or pleasure.
Now you may be wondering where you need to go to find more information on this subject. Click here for more information on the Nanaimo? Or to widen your research to the coast of BC then go here! Around Vancouver Island
