November 28, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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I had the pleasure of meeting driver and car collector Dale Mackie and checking out his very cool vintage cadillac while roaming around picturesque Royal Roads University. Turns out, in addition to weddings, he offers guided tours of Victoria through Classic Car Tours. Hop in the back seat, roll down the window and be swept back in time while exploring Victoria's beaches, the Fisherman's market, or heritage and historic sites, like Emily Carr House and Point Ellice House. We ended up parking at Equimalt Lagoon, which was a perfect way to end a relaxing Sunday drive.
March 26, 2009 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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Feel like sitting down with a warm bowl of veggie chili and a hot cup of coffee (or a cold beer) after a long walk in the fresh air? This is the place for you! I recently moved to Victoria but I have already discovered one of my new favourite hang-outs. Odgen Point Cafe & Dive Centre. It's off Dallas Road and next to the cruise ship terminal.
The cafe is a cozy, neighbourhood kind of place with warm smiles and local papers being passed around, as well as the pastries and quiche. I could sit here for hours, and every second I would get a different view.
The cafe is located at the start of the Ogden Point breakwater, and sits on top of the dive shop. There is a rocky beach close by, a seawall walkway leading to Clover Point, and a small marina within view. Between the divers hitting the water (one of the best dive sites in Victoria), the joggers jogging, the kids skipping rocks, the dogs walking their owners, and the tugboats and cruise ships going to and fro, the view is ever changing. (You can often see the dog from the owner of the dive shop hitting the water too!) People watching at its best - especially if you get a coveted seat on the patio.
I recommend wearing a jacket on the breakwater as the wind can get a bit intimate - especially if you make it to marker #5. But then, what a good excuse to head into the cafe to warm up!
November 14, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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My significant other and I felt we should do some research on making your Victoria vacation a memorable one…we thought we’d share a few of our findings.
#5 Mount Douglas Park – Drive or hike to the top and share a view of Victoria – go at sunset and watch the snow-capped Olympic Mountains turn pink – are you melting yet?
#4 Sipping martinis at Vista 18 – Every seat in this rooftop restaurant in the Chateau Victoria Hotel offers unforgettable views - cityscape, the Inner Harbour, ocean, mountains – I know a few people who have asked a very important question here…
#3 Westsong Way – From the west side of the harbour, you’ll get the best views of the Victoria skyline including the Empress Hotel and Parliament Buildings. Pretend you are tired and snuggle up together in one of the Victoria Harbour Ferries on your way back into the city. Oh yes I did.
#2 Dallas Road – Walk along the waterfront from Ogden Point to Clover Point; there are plenty of places off the pathway to take in the scenery – several sets of stairs along the walk lead to quiet pocket beaches. Views of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains.
And the #1 place to set off some sparks…
Willows Beach – pack a picnic and blanket; watching the moon rise over the ocean on this strip of sand in Oak Bay is a smooth move. Let’s just say you won’t need hot chocolate. 15 minute drive from downtown Victoria and transit buses drop off/pick up here.
I like research…
October 30, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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Travelling from Vancouver to Victoria this week, I had my first ride on
Helijet's new 23 passenger Sikorsky S61 and it was a treat! Launched on September 19th, a joint initiative with Helijet Airways and Executive Transport Airways, this bird takes flying to a whole new level. I must admit confusion as I knew I was riding on a helicopter but upon entering the long and lean machine I was greeted by a flight attendant who launched into a safety briefing so similar to those you hear on airplane flights. My seat was incredibly comfy and I had a perfect view of Georgia Strait in my individual window seat. The view is indeed spectacular however, the gentle motion of the helicopter (ear plugs still a must) put me into a pretty good nap and awoke only to hear the attendants landing announcement. If you're travelling between Victoria and Vancouver in the next while, you may want to check out their schedule and give it a try!
September 20, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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Last week I had to make a quick trip to
Victoria from
Vancouver. Of course, like all good West Coasters, I chose float plane as my mode of travel and eagerly booked my flight with
Harbour Air Seaplanes.
When the flight was ready for loading I was front of line and as luck (and a little maneuvering) would have it, the pilot asked if I wanted to sit in the co-pilot seat. Not too many people know this, but the co-pilots seat is often available on these flights. After always being the brides-maid and not the bride, so to speak, I finally figured it out - all you have to do is be the first in line or just ask.
Perhaps the best part of the trip is wearing the “official” headset and listening to all the flight chatter. My pilot was extremely amicable, complete with an Aussie accent, and I received a personal tour of the sites below. As we whisked our way over Pender Island, Mayne and Saltspring I watched ferries dock and sailboats find their moorage. From 3,000 feet up he pointed out the winery on Saturna Island and I picked out my waterfront dream home. We saw tankers, cruise ships, tugboats and the Coast Guard. On previous trips I spotted submarines and historic tall ships. I am still waiting to see a pod of whales.
Although I haven’t experienced it, Harbour Air offers the $149 Mail Run Tour, a 75 minute ride with the locals on their regular flights from Vancouver harbour to the remote villages of the Gulf Islands. That sounds pretty cool too.
September 13, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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I’m getting the hang of this family vacation stuff. Here’s how I figure it: find a real gem of a place and stay there all day; it’s appeases the kids and it is way easier.
All Fun Recreation Park is about 20 minutes from downtown Victoria and it is definitely a place where you can hang with the family all day. It is in the most unsuspecting place, amidst construction and what looks to be a gravel pit so if you are driving there and are thinking you must have made a wrong turn, keep going, you really are headed for a day of fun.
Tip: Get to the park when they first open. You will have a shot at the slides before a majority of the people arrives and the lineups start plus you can claim some prime real estate with your blanket on the picnic grounds. We planted ourselves right in front of the main pool, watching everyone plop off their slides into the water. I found it odd that spectators still have to pay an admittance fee, albeit considerably reduced. I guess when you get to sit and make fun of all the bad landings (especially the adults) you get your $6.00 worth.
I’ve discovered that kids love to teach adults the ropes. I was given a crash course in sliding which, by the way, just happened to be the exact opposite of the posted “sliding rules” put out by management. When I became airborne only to swallow a few gallons of chlorinated water after kerplunking into the landing pool, I thought it was time to worry less about being cool and more about leaving the place in one piece. Luckily, the staff seemed quite competent and after watching how the whole thing works, I felt pretty comfortable letting even the 6 year-old hike off to the slides on his own while I sat back and chilled.
Between the River Run (floating on inner tubes and dropping off a series of “waterfalls”), the drop-off slides and several of your basic, loop-de-loop ones, I barely saw any of them for the remainder of the day. I did notice the 16
September 02, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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Well, I've been planning this family vacation in Victoria for over four months and today it happens. Five nieces & nephews ranging from ages 6 - 16 are flying in from Nova Scotia with my sister for a two-week holiday; me playing the official tour guide of Southern Vancouver Island. The pressure is on to be the local expert and to produce a fun-filled, highly entertaining 14 days that will not only appeal to this age range but that will somehow enable our two 10-month old Jack Russell Terrier puppies to be included.
Step 1: secure ground transporation (i.e. Minivan that holds 7 people, 2 dogs and a blow-up raft)
Lesson 1: book a Minivan early! The entire city gets sold out well in advance because these are hot items on the vacation car rental market. I have been trying to find one for over a week and am still on a waitlist just hours before the flight arrives. The alternative? Perhaps they can tie two compacts together?? U-Haul? Oh boy, I think I have failed my first task.