We are travelling from Maui with our 12 and 16 yr old boys. Will be travelling from Whistler to Horseshoe Bay...ferry to Nanaimo. Have 5 nights and want to spend last 2 in Victoria. Looking for best ideas for 3 nights on arrival in Nanaimo?

Forget Nanaimo - head straight to Long Beach, (tofino), or if fishing,s your thing go up to Campbell River. Better still do both out of Nanaimo because you're only talking an hour or two from there.

I would also head to Long Beach.

We will arrive on the island via ferry in Nanaimo but didn't plan to stay there. Tofino seems to be the hands down suggestion of places to go...any recommendations on places to stay there? What is the estimated drive time from Nanaimo to Tofino?

The Wickanninnish Inn is absolutely the best place but it's pricey, (over $250Can a night), but worth it. Other places on the beach are also good but I suggest you check the Long Beach web site for one.

The ultimate best place to stay in Tofino is Middle Beach Lodge. Forget Wickaninnish Inn - despite all their advertising, they are NOT the best! <BR> <BR>You owe it to yourself to visit Tofino and give yourself at least three days to do it. Tofino was recently granted "Biosphere" status for being such an incredible place in the world. <BR> <BR>Don't waste your time in Nanaimo, it's basically strip malls in a badly-designed city. <BR> <BR>Good luck to you - I know you will LOVE Tofino.

don't let the negativity get to you, Nanaimo is a nice town, population approx. 65,000. Lots to see & do, depending on your interests. Let us know what you would like to do on your holiday and you will get much better replies. PS it takes approximately 3hours - 4 hrs to drive to Tofino, some parts of the drive are narrow and winding - so take your time.

Nanaimo is known Island-wide-there's an oxymoron-as 'Viet Nanaimo' for all the Heroin Dealin Vietnamese Gangsters that infest the place. <BR>It's a crime-ridden Hell-Hole of doubtful origins, a rough place since the beginning of time.