Introducing Nanaimo
Maligned for years as Vancouver Island’s grubby second city, Nanaimo will never have the allure of tourist-friendly Victoria. But the ‘Harbour City’ has undergone its own quiet renaissance since the 1990s, with the downtown emergence of some good hangout coffee shops, worthwhile indie stores and a smattering of great restaurants – having a scoff at the famed but ultrarich ‘Nanaimo bars’ doesn’t have to be your only dining option here. With its own ferry service from the mainland, the city is a handy hub for exploring up-island.
Last updated: Sep 23, 2008
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