Nanaimo is a hub city for the island, as such it provides good access to a number of locations on the island.
Ladysmith, along the Trans-Canada Highway to the southeast, is a picturesque tourist town.
It is about a 3 hour drive to Tofino and Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park.
North of Nanaimo is Campbell River, Telegraph Cove and Port Hardy.
The beaches of the Parksville and Qualicum Beach region are a short 20-minute drive from Nanaimo. This region also includes Coombs, offering some wonderful rustic and exotic shopping and this is where you find the goats on the roof. It's a favorite spot for locals and an excellent stop for tourists. It's about a 30 minute drive from Nanaimo.
