It is known as the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City" and is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City". This is because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown streets which form a "hub" pattern.
Nanaimo is home to the Petroglyph Provincial Park, where visitors can view ancient petroglyph rock carvings and runes. Newcastle Island is another provincial park in Nanaimo, and was at one time a world-famous summertime tourist destination.
Nanaimo has one of the friendliest climates in Canada and is surrounded by some of the most beautiful wilderness in the world.