I am a food and wine writer, and had just finished reading all about Nanaimo bars, when all of a sudden I started seeing ladies from Nanaimo on the Olivia Alaska message boards. Now I want to visit there for the natural beauty and the sweet treats too!

Nanaimo is the terminal for the ferry landing between Vancouver and Vancouver Island, so easily accessible by public transportation. I am wondering though about the time share, and if in fact it is in Parksville which is a bit remote.  Please let me know the name.

We'd love to host some Aussies to a Vancouver Island celebration.  Let's work on that over the year.  I spent a year in Sydney.

I would strongly suggest that you should spend amost of your time in Vancouver.  It is a great city.

Cheers,  Heather and Georgette

Thanks for posting the photo, would love to have a view like that. We , Angela and I and some of our group from Aust will be spending a few days in Vancover before the cruise. We were hopeing to get a time share Apt in Vancover but the only time share available with our travel company is in Nanaimo. It looked like a beautifull resort in an amazing place but we thought Nanaimo was too remote without  transport. We don't want to hire a car, cos none of us want to drive on the "wrong" side of the road! 

Will probebly visit Vancover Island so would be great to meet you two and any other locals in Victoria or Vancover, Jayne

Thank you so much for sharing the photo. You live in a very beautiful place. I can't believe that in less than I year we will be sailing through there.

I managed to snap a photo of the Zaandam last night as it was heading out on it's last Alaska cruise for 2011.  Next year this will be us!!!!  The photo is in my profile if anyone is interested.  The ship is about 20 miles out to sea.  362 and counting

 H & G.

That is very cool. Here I was all excited that I got to see a picture of it in port on Google Earth street view.

I just read a National Geographic article about the Spirit (Kermode) Bears that live in coastal BC on Gribbell Island and Princess Royal Island and the vicinity. The bears were amazing, and the pictures of the forest were breathtakingly beautiful. I am so looking forward to seeing your "neck of the woods".

The Zaandam just went by our ocean front view (Yes we do really actually see the cruise ships).  Over on the far side of the Georgia Strait so a picure woud have only been a bunch of lights in the dark ocean.

I can't believe that we will all be on board that ship in a few (well 13) months.  It is going to be an incredible trip.  If we get a chance we will take a photo.  In the meantime all the best to you and let's get to know each other.  Viva Alaska Olivia!!!

Heather and Georgette (living on the "Inside Passage").