Vancouver island mountain resort
 

spending 5 days in Vancouver island 2 in victoria and 2 in tofino, looking for a resort near Parksville or Nanaimo to end our vacation. Looking for a place with a nice mountain view from the rooms. Being from Florida we dont get any mountains and ending our honeymoon with a nice place would be nice.

Spending two nights in Snug Harbour Inn and two nights in Coastal Harbourside victoria.

Also I there are many places to take a whale boat trip, I know some take you to see gray whales while others for Orcas, any place we could go to see both?

Well your definition of "mountain" and mine must be quite different because you're not going to see any mountains near Parksville or Nanaimo. Water and island views with some hills thrown in but no mountains. Check out Prince of Whales in Victoria for whale watching trips.

A really nice place to stay in Parksville is Tigh Na Mara Resort. Their website is Tigh-Na-Mara.com. You need to book early soon as they sell out during the summer months.

If 'rustic luxury' in the mountains appeals then try www.wildretreat.com.

As noted there's nothing near Nanaimo or Parksville that fits your needs.

Heck there's nothing in Nanaimo that fits anybody's needs-it's a slum.

For links to whale watching companies in Victoria, visit this web site:
http://www.funlinks.com/funlinks/victoria/index.html

When you are at the web site, click on the "Sightseeing Tours" category, and then look under "By Sea" for whale watching companies.

You can also do whale watching from Tofino as well. If you want to see both grays and orcas, I think Tofino is probably the better place to do it. Your success in seeing both types of whale may depend on the time of year that you go.

As another poster mentioned, Tigh-na-Mara is a lovely,relaxing resort on the ocean near Parksville. Great beach/tidal flat walking if you are so inclined. Be sure to request one of the condo units with a balcony and you'll have a view of Mt. Garibaldi in the distance across the Straits of Georgia. The cabins are quaint, but nestled in a forested area, so no water views. This is probably about as close to a 'mountain view' as you'll get in that area.

Sam Salmon,

Please try to refrain from being offensive in your posts.

Thank you.

To call Nanaimo a 'slum' isn't at all offensive it's the plain truth.
The older section is a downmarket neighbourhood with rampant drug abuse and crime galore.
The newer 'slumburbia' part of the place is unique only for being bland, cramped and boring-with no Transit of note to boot.
If you object so strongly to my depiction of Nanaimo as a 'slum' why not contact the Mods and ask for my comments to be removed?

I wouldn't stay in Nanaimo either but would try for a place on Parksville's Rathtrevor Beach such as: Tigh-Na-Mara, Madrona Beach, Gray Crest, Beach Acres.

Hello Chunet,
A perfect place for a honeymoon stay is The Aerie Resort. Simply a beautiful property. It's about a 30 minute drive from Victoria up on the Malahat Mtn. between Victoria and Parksville. This place has gorgeous views. The website is: http://www.aerie.bc.ca/ if you would like to take a peek. Husband and I had lunch there. Food and service impeccable.
This would be my recommendation for ending up a honeymoon.
Good luck.

Francie

Thank you all for your replies. I've added a kayaking trip to see whales on our cruise before vancouver island so if we dont see any then I'll look to take one from Tofino.

Havent heard many great things about nanaimo so going to look to either stay at Tigh-Na-Mara or at the Aerie (which looks beautiful!!) the last night.

Thanks,
JC