Nanaimo is located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is the second largest city on Vancouver Island and serves as the seat of the Regional District of Nanaimo. The city of Nanaimo is known for its varied landscapes and more than two dozen parks, not to mention it boasts one of the prettiest waterfronts in Canada. It is this picturesque waterfront of the city that has given it numerous titles such as the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World", "Harbor City" and "Hub City".

Europeans were first to settle in Nanaimo back in 1791 when Juan Carrasco and his Spanish Voyage arrived in the area under the command of Francisco de Eliza. The Europeans gave the area the name Bocas de Winthuysen. In the early 1880s, Nanaimo began as a trading post and in 1849, the Snuneymuxw chief informed the Hudson Bay Company of the presence of coal in the area. The town was then thereafter known for coal exporting. In 1853, the Hudson's Bay Company built a fort called the Nanaimo Bastion which is still preserved to this day.

Visitors of Nanaimo are promised a lively and uniquely urban experience while staying in the city. Nanaimo's downtown features a mix of restaurants, music venues, galleries, shops and exciting nightspots. Nanaimo is home to the largest shopping center on Vancouver Island, the Woodgrove Center. The city also enjoys cultural festivals in the summer, a university campus with a superb view of the city and marvelous dining choices.