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Map Copyright
Tourism Vancouver Island
Central Island
Sandy beaches, tranquil lakes,
beautiful gardens, and exceptional golf courses make this region a
wonderful year-round holiday destination.
Nanaimo (Population: 75,000)
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.
Today,
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 and the Gulf Islands.
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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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.
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.
Nanoose Peninsula
(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 and 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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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.
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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