spacious sites. With the Nanaimo River on one side and the ocean on the other, it’s a great place to watch the parade of boats plying the waters off Nanaimo’s harbour. Wildlife, like the Nanaimo River’s amazing salmon run, and the countless eagles that mark the start of the winter season, is also plentiful in the area. A world away, but only minutes to down town.
“I thought it was just a mill town... ” Over the past twenty five years, Nanaimo has grown and changed from a small industrial town, into an interesting metropolitan blend of 100,000-plus residents, and provides endless year-round recreation opportunities for people who want to explore Vancouver Island. A tourism and retirement focus has transformed Nanaimo away from its coal mining roots. Taking in the incredible scenery along the meandering down town seawall is a daily ritual for many. Peek into the shops or get a coffee as you stroll past the yachts; or step out onto the fishing pier to see if anyone’s having a good day with their crab traps. Complimenting the
natural harbour, protected as it is from shoreward waves by Newcastle Island Marine Park (the size of Vancouver’s Stanley Park), is a man-made lagoon, complete with waterfalls and a footbridge to enable passers-by to enjoy the salt air. Jazz superstar, Diana Krall, grew up in Nanaimo, and more than one of her songs was inspired by the many local ocean vistas.
Vancouver Island University, perched on the hillside overlooking down town Nanaimo, has a culinary arts program that turns out world class chefs; which is part of the reason for Nanaimo’s over abundance of interesting restaurants scattered throughout town, catering to every taste and budget. The Dinghy Dock Pub is Canada’s only floating pub and restaurant, and welcomes the hungry and the thirsty who take the short harbour ferry ride to Protection Island to enjoy an excellent meal and the view across the water back to Nanaimo.
Maybe this winter is the perfect time for you to really take the plunge. While you probably think of scuba diving as a summer thing, winter is actually the time
Why not spend
next winter here? - 53 waterfront acres - 300 sites
- close to shopping but a world apart - low winter rates
- rated one of the best 25 parks in Canada 47 Subscribe Online at:
www.rvsnowbirds.com
to go because the water visibility is so much better. For a few hundred dollars and a few classes of instruction with one of several local dive schools, you can get certified and take your first ocean dive. Dry suit rentals are included so you stay warm and dry while you dive. Nanaimo is rated as one of the premium cold water dive destinations in the world. A temperate winter on the central Island means that golfing is also a year round activity; there are virtually no crowds and lots of courses and amazing scenery. Yet Mt. Washington Alpine Resort offers ‘ocean view’ skiing and snowboarding only a 90-minute drive away. After a day of sea-to-ski entertainment you can call to brag to your friends that you went skiing in the morning and golfing in the afternoon while they shovelled snow back home.
Over 200 Nanaimo parks means that you never run out of walks and hikes. You can pick your hiking trails according to your mood or level of accomplishment; they can be as gentle or as challenging as you want. The same applies for cycling.
Continued on page 60
www.rvsnowbirds.com | October/November 2010
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64