Nanaimo

Nanaimo sits right on the harbour along British Columbia's Vancouver Island, with a walkable centre dense with cafés, restaurants, and heritage buildings, and scenic viewpoints over the water close at hand. Known locally as the "Hub City" for its wagon-wheel street layout radiating from the shoreline, it is also the birthplace of jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall. BC Ferries connections make it a practical base for exploring central Vancouver Island.

• Population90,504
• Nearest water0.7 km
• Nearest mountain7.7 km