Glorious Nanaimo

I am now into my fifth month in Nanaimo and still love it here. I live within a block to the harbor seawall and walkway. There is a beautiful long walk with blackberries everywhere. At some point on the walkway, you will hit the park area with a big bandstand, where in the summer there is almost always someone playing music there. There is a HUGE playground for the kids and a manmade beach and lagoon for the kiddies as well. There is so much to do as you keep going. There are several quaint shops and a perfect little coffeeshop where you can watch the seaplanes come and go. This place can't get any better.

Quick Tips:

It is very hot in the summer and mild in the winter. It does rain here during the winter, but if you have been in Vancouver and seen the rain there, it is not nearly as bad. Nanaimo is in the Banana Belt, and the weather is the best on the entire Canadian west coast!

Best Way To Get Around:

The public transportation is good here. It is per adult, and kids ride free on the weekends. Cabs are a little pricey here, so I recommend using Avis or Budget for car rentals. They are all over the island, and they will pick you up at your door.

It was in the middle of July when I got into Nanaimo and checked into the hotel. The room was a decent size, but one thing that was horrible was that there was only a table fan and no air-conditioning. I thought I was going to die of the heat. To be fair, I hear it is never usually hot enough to justify air-conditioners in houses and businesses.

The room was clean and the staff was helpful and friendly. They have a continental breakfast set out each morning for the guests. There is no pool, unfortunately, at this hotel and no restaurant. The Husky home-style restaurant is across the parking lot, though.

Best Things Nearby:
Where do I start? I was quite impressed with Coombs Farmers Market. Not only was it a nice place but there are goats that live on the roof! Parksville beach was unreal. The trees and views from everywhere are just breathtaking.

Best Things About the Resort:
There are several salt water aqauriums in the resort that are beautiful: one in the spa and one in the resaurant. There is a wonderal playground shaped like a pirate ship on-site that keeps the kids entertained for hours. Also the on-site restaurant, The Landing Grill, is well worth any money spent there.

Resort Experience:
The units at Pacific shores are very elegantly decorated, clean and roomy. Everything we needed was at our fingertips, and the staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. The spa, Aqua Terra, at the resort is a nice touch with a very relaxing atmosphere. I loved the gardens and grounds on-site. Everything was immaculate and well maintained. We really enjoyed the kayaks that are available onsite, and the restaurant has food to die for! Everything was resonably priced, which was surprising as most resorts have very pricey restaurants. This place looks expensive, but it is not. The outdoor pool at the resort has a waterfall and is quite unique. It is a blast for the kids to play here. For the adults the hot tub is very nice.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

I really enjoyed this restaurant. We were at the back of the restaurant in a sultan-style setting. We were sitting at a larger table on a platform with sheer drapes and harem-ish decorations. Most of the people at the table had sushi, but I had a pesto penne that filled me to the brim. The portions were very large. We had a great waitress who made sure we were well taken care of.

When the desert came, we had cheesecake with raspberry sauce. Yum! I gained 10 pounds that night. As I was sitting watching other tables eat, I wanted to try all the things that they had. They had quite a mix of different styles of food!!

We have been to several aquatic centres around the country, but this is the best by far! The locker rooms are clean and large, and there is a huge pirate ship with waterfalls, slides, and turning wheels. The ship is in a huge pool area for the smaller kiddies. Next to this pool is the large wave pool. Talk about FUN! Next to the wave pool and within the same pool is a lazy river that has a nice current. I can take my 2-year-old in this and she loves it. There are three large waterslides of varying speeds. You have to walk up three flights of stairs, but it is worth it. There is a large lap pool, sauna, hot tub, and diving boards. On site there is also a gym and a cafeteria. I also saw a childcare centre - very nice. You can purchase baby and toddler swim diapers at the front desk. This was a good thing. It is also very cheap ($2.75 per person), and you can swim all day!

This is a nice clean casino. The attendants do their jobs well. This is not a huge casino, but there are things you can purchase, like coffee, pop, and snacks. There is no alcohol on site. I win every time I go in. I love it! There is ample parking outside as well as underground parking. This mall is close to everything, and the buses stop just outside. Security is good as well.