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Sandy beaches,
tranquil lakes, beautiful gardens, and exceptional golf courses make this
region a wonderful year-round holiday destination.
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Nanaimo
(Population: 80,000)
The word “Nanaimo” is derived from the Coast Salish word
“Sney-Ny-Mous” meaning “meeting place.” Mining brought white
settlers to this area more than 150 years ago, when the Hudson’s Bay
Company established a trading post and fort. The year 1874 marked the
incorporation of Nanaimo as a town with a population of 1,400. In 1975,
the city amalgamated with a number of improvement districts, forming a new
city.
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Nanaimo is Vancouver Island’s second largest city and is known as the
Harbour City for its picturesque harbour. Nanaimo is easy to get to, and
its central location makes it an excellent base for tours of Vancouver
Island the Gulf Islands.
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Nanaimo
is a great destination for conventions and business meetings, sporting
events and activities, year-round golf getaways, romantic weekends, and a
wide range of exhilarating adventures. Famous for its varied landscapes
and more than two dozen parks, the city boasts one of the most beautiful
waterfronts in Canada. |
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Click here for a special welcome
from the Mayor of
Nanaimo |
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OCEANSIDE
Miles and miles of safe, sandy beaches,
beautiful and challenging golf courses, deep green forests and parks,
friendly communities, family attractions, and 140 annual events and
festivals — Oceanside is Vancouver Island’s family vacation paradise.
A wide variety of activities awaits, ranging from Oceanside’s famous
golf courses, to browsing artisan studios, mountain biking, kayaking,
hiking, and horseback riding. Bird watching is another Oceanside
specialty— there are more than 250 species in the region, making it a
premier destination for birders.
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| Oceanside
stretches north from Nanoose Bay to Deep Bay, and west along Highway 4 and
4A to include Arrowsmith Coombs Country. The Oceanside Route (Hwy 19A)
follows the shoreline and leads to the boundless treasures of this resort
area. Time your visit with one of Oceanside’s 140 exciting annual events
by contacting Oceanside Tourism. |
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Nanoose
Bay
(Population: 5,000)
North of Nanaimo, just off Highway 19, is the protected harbour of
Nanoose Bay. The local marinas, one as large as 400 berths, are a
destination for visiting boats from throughout the Pacific Northwest and
around the world. The Nanoose Bay area is a vacationer’s paradise,
offering a wealth of activities, including sailing, windsurfing, fishing,
tennis, diving, hiking, canoeing, and more.
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Parksville
(Population: 10,600)
Parksville marks the beginning of beach country and, naturally, the
focus is on the outstanding waterfront. When the tide is low, hundreds of
metres of sand beckon to castle builders and beachcombers. As the tide
comes in, the water is warmed by the hot sand is perfect for swimming.
The arts and crafts in the Parksville area are world-renowned and feature
a diverse selection of paintings, pottery, and jewellery. The city’s
hotels, motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, and RV parks offer more than
800 rooms, cottages, and campsites, all on or close to the beach. Relax in
the sun, play in the water, stroll along the shoreline, or play a round of
golf — Parksville has something to please everyone.
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Click here for a special welcome
from the Mayor of
Parksville |
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French
Creek and Lasqueti Island
Famous among anglers, French Creek is a short distance north of Parksville
on the Oceanside Route (Hwy 19A) and has a government dock, a resort, St.
Ann's Church, and a golf course that has hosted the CPGA qualifying
school. The third annual
French Creek Family Fishing Festival is a week-long celebration that
includes a Kids Dock derby, a Seafood Chowder Competition, and daily
fishing competitions. |
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From
French Creek, take passenger ferry to pretty Lasqueti Island. Walk across
the north end of Lasqueti Island to Scottie Bay and Spring Bay, where a
cave and eagles' nests are located. In Scottie Bay, find clam
beaches and a shipyard. The road down the centre of Lasqueti Island
passes lakes, a mountain, and bays before reaching the Squitty Bay boat
dock. |
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Arrowsmith
Coombs Country
(Area Population: 1,000)
As Highways 4 and 4A wind west through the pastoral Coombs area toward
Port Alberni, travellers will notice the landscape becoming progressively
more rugged and the forest becoming more dense. Plan for plenty of stops
along the way –– there are many fabulous sights that should not be
missed.
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Qualicum
Beach
(Population: 7,000)
Ten minutes north of Parksville on the Oceanside Route (Hwy 19A), along
the same magnificent stretch of shoreline, is the friendly community of
Qualicum Beach. Known for spectacular gardens and passionate gardeners,
Qualicum Beach is the proud winner of a Five Blooms Award in the 2001
Communities in Bloom national competition. Wide open skies, distant
mountains, gorgeous beaches, lush forests, and an endless list of
activities will bring you back to Qualicum Beach time and time again.
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Lighthouse
Country
Just north of
Qualicum Beach, along the Oceanside Route (Hwy 19A), is charming
Lighthouse Country, where you'll find plenty of opportunities to boat,
fish, hike, trail ride, beachcomb, golf, and cave. Explore the caves
at Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park; an Amphitheatre is located at the
lake. Nearby Spider Lake is known for its warm water, kayaking, and
canoeing. Clam and shellfish digging are popular activities in
Lighthouse Country. The marina in protected Deep Bay Harbour offers
boat charters and rentals. at Qualicum Bay, beachcomb, fly a kite,
or stroll the beach at sunset. Motels, cottages, bed and breakfasts,
campgrounds, restaurants, shops, services, boat charters, and more are
available in the friendly communities of Qualicum Bay, Deep Bay, and
Bowser.
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Retirement Communities Directory |
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Select an area to find a Retirement Community:
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