Thank you to everyone who participated in the first “Be A Hometown Tourist” weekend, on June 4 & 5, 2011. Mark your calendars and join us June 9 & 10, 2012 for a fun weekend. Check here for information on coming events!
We live in a community renowned for its natural beauty, waterfront, friendly people, arts, history and festivals! We invite all residents to discover our Central Vancouver Island communities of Ladysmith, Cassidy, Cedar, South Nanaimo, Saltair and Chemainus. Join us as we launch the first annual Hometown Tourist weekend. The event on June 4 and 5 offers locals an opportunity to discover some of the special attractions and shops and services in their own hometown. Often we overlook the treasures that are in our community. This campaign serves to remind us of the wonders that are literally in our backyard. On June 4 and 5, grab your camera and get ready to play tourist in your hometown. Amazing things happen in a small town!
Check out what amazing things we have in store for you during the “Be a Hometown Tourist Weekend’, June 4 & 5, 2011. Please note some attractions and business require you book ahead of time and while most do not require a coupon some do. To make it easier we have organized the clip outs together on page 31 of the MAY 2011 issue. If you need more coupons print them off from this website. Be sure to check back here regularly for updates!
Saturday, June 4
10 am: Historical Downtown Ladysmith Walking Tour with Rob Johnson. Join Ladysmith’s local historian for a walk through Ladysmith’s colourful past. Find out about the “goldrush” that had streets dug up and our famous ghost. Relive the early mining and logging pioneer days. Walks are about 90 min. Meet at the Ladysmith Visitor Centre, at 10am. 411B First Avenue. Free.
1-2 pm: Cooking Demo – The Worldly Gourmet “Not A Lettuce Salad” 1-2pm, 524 First Ave, Ladysmith, 250-245-7307.
Noon: Nanaimo River Estuary Field Trip – The ASBC Nanaimo Branch would like to invite the public on a field trip with Deidre Cullon, MA who will be conducting a tour of the Nanaimo River estuary and an in-field discussion of the fish traps. Wear solid footwear (we will be in water deeper than the height of rubber boots) and be prepared to get wet and muddy! We will be meeting at the Chase River park area at noon. Access Chase River park from Haliburton Street behind the Bold Knight restaurant. Please check for more information - www.asbcnanaimo.nisa.com
7 pm: Art Exhibit Opening - Diminishing Natural Worlds art show gala opening at 7pm at the Ladysmith Waterfront Art Centre Gallery. 610 Oyster Bay Drive. Ladysmith. 250-2451252 www.ladysmithwaterfrontgallery.com
Sunday, June 5
Noon – 4 pm B & B Open House Tour. Visit some of the unique accommodations and delightful bed and breakfasts in the area. On Sunday eight B & B’s (Abendruh Vacation Home, Beachside Garden B&B, Chemainus Tudor Inn, Hawley Place B&B, Hillcrest B&B, Island Estuary B&B, Kiwi Cove Lodge, Yellow Point B&B) will be open to the public from noon to 4pm. Details of the tour and the accommodations are available at www.ladysmith-bc-accommodations.com. Join them for a tour and some goodies. Free.
9 am and 2 pm: Holland Creek Walk Join local naturalist Bruce Whittington for a walk along Ladysmith’s Holland Creek Trail. This is an opportunity to learn about the plants and wildlife that make the park their home, so there will be some walking, and some stopping to savour the park’s mysteries. Two walks. 9am and 2pm. Meet at the Kinsmen Shelter at the corner of 6th Ave. and Methuen St. Bring binoculars if you have them. No dogs, please. Free. Bruce is a freelance writer, photographer and naturalist, and also sits on Ladysmith’s town council. His books are available at Salamander Books and Bayview Framing & Art.
10 1m – 2 pm: Cedar Women’s Institute at the Cedar Farmers Market/Crow and Gate Pub from 10 am – 3pm
9 am – noon: Ladysmith KidsTri ($25) and TinyTri ages 4-6 ($15). Includes refreshments, cool T-shirt, medals and chance to win great prizes, 9am to noon at Frank Jameson Community Centre. Register at Ladysmith Parks Rec and Culture, Frank Jameson Community Centre 250-245-6424.
Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5
Visit the Museum and take a Harbour Tour. Join the friendly captain for a tour of Ladysmith harbour. Find out about the historic waterfront and enjoy the marine wildlife. Tour approx 2 hours, departs from the Ladysmith Maritime Society dock in front of the museum. By donation. Call for reservations. 250-245-0109
Chemainus Tours Family Tour (special $15) Ride the Train or the Horse Drawn Trolley, Saturday and Sunday. Chemainus Tours was started in 1996 by Jim Bangle after an extensive career with CNR. They are a multi-faceted company offering tours of the Chemainus Murals, aboard their replica “Steam Train” and horse drawn carriages and trollies. Chemainus Tours also provides a Charter Bus Service, and outbound tours to interesting places in BC and the Pacific Northwest. 250-246-5055
3 pm -5 pm, and 6 pm – 7 pm For 1 Swim Frank Jameson Community Centre, Saturday and Sunday 3pm-5pm & 6pm-7:30pm. Coupon on page 31 (MAY 2011/TAKE 5), Ladysmith Parks Rec and Culture. Or download (see link top of this page)
Garden classes, Hazelwood Herb Farm. Check website for Garden Classes www.hazelwoodherbfarm.com or call 250-245-8007. Group and bus tours welcome.
Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre, drop in on June 4 and 5 and enter to win prizes donated by members. 411B First Ave. www.ladysmithcofc.com 250-245-2112
11 am – 3 pm Archives Tours. Members offer free tour of the Ladysmith Archives from 11 to 3 pm. Get a look behind the scenes and a quick history lesson to boot! 250-245-0100 www.ladysmithhistoricalsociety.ca/
Outdoor Adventure
Get your adrenaline pumping with these super savings! 2 for 1 at WildPlay Element Park, 2 for 1 Sealegs Kayaking, 2 for 1 Ladysmith Golf Course, 2 for 1 Cottonwood Golf Course, and two specials at Mount Brenton Golf Course. Call for reservations where applicable or for more info.
Shopping, Dining & Services Discounts and Giveaways
2 for 1, discounts and more from your friendly local merchants. See their ads/coupons MAY 2011/TAKE 5 or here .
Scroll down this page for a complete list of participants and the specials they offer.
“Hometown Tourist Weekend” Participants
49th Café 2 for 1 specialty drinks http://www.the49th.com/
Abendruh Vacation Home open house http://www.abendruhvacationhome.com/
Bayview Framing & Art 10% off
Beachside Garden B&B open house http://www.beachsidegardenbedandbreakfast.com/
Cedar Body Works 2 for 1 Deluxe Spa Facial http://www.cedarbodyworks.com/
Cedar Women’s Institute Cedar Farmers Market
Chemainus Tours $ 15 Family Tour, 5% Discount Coast to Caribou Circle Tour http://www.chemainustours.com/
Chemainus Tudor Inn open house http://www.tudorinn.ca/index.html
Cottonwood Golf Course 2 for 1 Golf http://www.cottonwoodgolfcourse.com/
Cowichan Theatre Discount tickets http://www.cvrd.bc.ca/index.aspx?nid=802
Crafts Canada Plus in store specials
Grants Jewelers complementary Jewelry Cleaning & Inspection
Hair Diva free scalp massage with other services http://www.hairdiva.ca/
Hawley Place B&B open house http://www.hawleyplacebandb.com/
Hazelwood Herb Farm http://www.hazelwoodherbfarm.com/
Hillcrest B&B open house http://www.hillcrestavebandb.com/
In the Bean Time Cafe
Island Estuary B&B open house http://www.islandestuary.ca/
Kiwi Cove Lodge open house http://www.kiwicovelodge.com/
Ladysmith and Area Accommodation Association open house http://www.ladysmith-bc-accommodations.com/
Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce information available http://www.ladysmithcofc.com/
Ladysmith Golf Course 2 for 1 golf
Ladysmith Health Food Store
Ladysmith Home Hardware free key cut http://www.homehardware.ca/en/index.htm
Ladysmith Maritime Society harbour tours http://www.ladysmithmaritimesociety.ca/
Ladysmith Parks, Recreation & Culture 2 for 1 swim http://www.ladysmith.ca/
Mt. Brenton Golf Course golf, beer & burger special http://www.mountbrentongolf.com/
Nancy’s Fashion & Furnishings 10% discount on Flojos Sandals & Clogs
Pharmasave 2 for 1 vitamins http://www.pharmasave.com/ladysmith-pharmasave/139/default.aspx
RJ Walking Tours free historical walking tour
Salamander Books 10% off
Sealegs Kayaking Adventures 2 for 1 kayak rentals http://www.sealegskayaking.com/
The Ladysmith Hair Shoppe $ 9.99 hair cuts
The Top Drawer 10% off http://www.the-top-drawer.ca/
The Worldly Gourmet Cooking Demo http://www.worldlygourmet.ca/
Uforik Computers 20-40% discounts + more http://www.uforik.com/
Yellow Point B&B open house http://www.yellowpointbb.com/
Wildplay Element Parks 2 for 1 attractions http://www.wildplay.com/parks/nanaimo
For a full list pick up a copy of the TAKE 5 May and June edition or download ads and coupons – see link at the top pf this page.
Interested in being a participant? Click here for details
Need more info? Email ads [at] take5 [dot] ca or call 250-245-7015
Public invited to B&Bs’ Open House Tour
Ever wanted to see what’s behind the door at some of area’s B & B’s? You’ll get a chance on Sunday, June 5 as the Ladysmith and Area Accommodations Association will be hosting an open house from noon to 4pm as part of the “Be a Hometown Tourist” campaign. Join them for goodies and a look at some amazing places. Details of the tour and the accommodations are available at www.ladysmith-bc-accommodations.com.
Come tour our B&B’s and have some sweets and goodies on June 5 – noon 4pm. Details of the tour and the accommodations are available at www.ladysmith-bc-accommodations.com.
