November 14, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Air / Airports
This is a really fun way to go to
Victoria. The floatplanes land right on the
Inner Harbour so you can walk off the plane and be in the middle of all the action -
shopping,
dining,
entertainment,
whale-watching tours and
sightseeing. Sweet! In this video, I was onboard a
Harbour Air Seaplane.
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…
November 14, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Hiking
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Did you know we have over 76,000 dog owners in the Greater Victoria area? With over 60 parks and amazing hiking trails, there are some pretty great places to go with your pooch on holidays. I’ve asked my two Jack Russells and we agree on these must-dos when in Victoria:
#5 East Sooke Regional Park’s coast trail – so rugged and enough ups and downs to tire even the most manic Jack Russell. Believe me; it works.
#4 Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park's beach trail – start in the rainforest, end up on the beach. When tide is out, compact, flat sand as far as your dog can run. Caution: may have to carry your dog back to the car if severe fatigue sets in.
#3 Matheson Lake Regional Park: does your dog have an in-and-out-of-the-water kind of persona? Do Matheson – water access around the entire lake while hiking through a fern-laden rainforest.
#2 Island View Regional Park: A super long stretch of sand halfway between Victoria and the BC Ferries terminal – great place to poop out the pooch before/after a long travel day.
And the #1 place to go for you and your furry friend(s)….
Galloping Goose Regional Trail: We’ve covered every last metre of this 55km (34mi) multi-user trail many times over. There are places near downtown Victoria where you’ll meet lots of people/dogs/bikes and other spots further towards Sooke where you probably won’t see anyone. Hook up with the Lochside Regional Trail and you have a total of 84km (52mi) to explore. Are your dogs tired yet?
November 13, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Hiking
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Tofino seems to get all the attention when it comes to storm watching and yet Victoria and southern Vancouver Island has some spectacular winter weather too.
I love to head to the beach right after a blast of windy weather – enormous drift logs have been tossed up onto the shore, some as long as 15m (50ft). Hiking trails along the jagged coastline are ideal for watching big waves crash onto the rocks, shooting salt spray high into the air.
Some of my favourite storm watching spots are: the city’s breakwater and Esquimalt Beach in Victoria, East Sooke Regional Park near Sooke and China Beach on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.
Have fun and always view from a safe distance.
November 13, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Dining
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I have a favourite Mexican taqueria that I am almost reluctant to share because it is getting so popular. It’s called Hernandez’. This place is well hidden in the lobby of a downtown Victoria office tower and basically runs entirely on word of mouth advertising. Perhaps that is why the food is so reasonably priced: 5 tacos for $5.00.
They offer a lot more than tacos though and I’d highly recommend the San Juan platter which comes out sizzling hot on a cast iron grill – pulled pork, rice, beans, warm tortillas, fresh salsa and lime slices. I tried this on my most recent visit and have been craving more ever since. Everything is fresh, fresh, fresh.
Where is it? Enter Andrew's Square at 730 View Street just up from Douglas Street.
October 15, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Hiking
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This weekend my wife and I challenged ourselves to the Mt Finlayson trail in Goldstream Provincial Park. Caution: ditch the runners and don the hiking boots; this trail is not for the unprepared…think steep, think loose gravel, think rock face. What starts as an unforgiving vertical pathway under a rainforest canopy quickly morphs into slabs of rock where you find yourself on all fours trying to navigate your way to the summit. But alas, it’s all worth it as the panoramas of Victoria, the Olympic Mountains and surrounding waters come into view.
About half way down, we were both in desperate need of a reward so we took a side trail to Bear Mountain Resort where we found the new café, Mountain Bean Coffee. Wow, this place is over the top: leather chairs, stone fireplace, post-and-beam construction, naughty specialty coffees like Sticky Bun Latte and home brews like the Griz.
Bonus: it is peak salmon spawning season in Goldstream Creek – viewing from the bridge near the parking lot is excellent.
Goldstream Provincial Park is located approximately 20 minutes outside of downtown Victoria via Hwy 1.
August 15, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Dining
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What a way to mix my two favourite things (eating and sightseeing) – grab a seat at one of Victoria’s many waterfront eateries and take it all in. I watched Harbour Ferries, kayaks and whale watching boats come and go, listened to street performers and took some great shots of the Parliament Buildings. This pic of the Fairmont Empress Hotel was taken from where I was sitting.
For dessert we waddled across the street to the new Roger’s Chocolates Soda Shoppe for their signature Capital City Banana Split. Every seat in the shop looks out over the Inner Harbour. Diet starts Monday.
July 23, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Sooke, Ziplining & Bungee Jumping
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My wife and I just had the most fantastic time zip lining through the rainforest near Sooke at a place called Adrena Line Adventure Tours. With seven runs in total, (the longest being about 305 m (1,000 ft) and 46 m (150 ft) above ground), it took about an hour and a half to zig zag our way down the hillside.
Our guides were great. They got us hooked up with all the necessary gear and took us on a training zip line (the bunny slope of the zip lining world). We then boarded the funkiest 4-wheel drive vehicles that drove us along an old logging road to the hilltop. Views of the Sooke Basin, Olympic Mountains and Juan de Fuca Strait were amazing. Do not forget your camera on this trip.
As someone who gets a little uneasy after making it half way up a step ladder, I was a little leery of how I might make out on this adventure. But as soon as we had our introduction and trial run we both felt very safe and secure with the equipment and the experienced guides – I couldn’t believe that I was zipping upside down on my second line!
The last line before the end is the steepest and people have been clocked going 65 km/hr (40 mph)!
Adrena Line is approximately 40 minutes from downtown Victoria on Hwy 14. Sooke has a ton of other fun activities to do including whale watching, ocean kayaking and hiking.
May 26, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Kayaking & Canoeing
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Wow, I just got back from a really cool kayaking day trip along Victoria’s Gorge Waterway. Even though my dad was a lighthouse keeper and I grew up on the water, I can’t say that I am much of an experienced boater so when we began our kayak lesson, I was a little weary. The beauty of the Gorge is that the water is so calm and protected through this narrow inlet that you can become pretty confident in no time at all. My kayak seemed to glide through the water on its own while I watched Victoria’s skyline fade into the distance.
The highlight for me was seeing an otter pop out of the water and scurry along the tide line. I don’t think the critter knew I was there and that seems to be the beauty of kayaking: one can surreptitiously float amongst the marine wildlife and they are none the wiser.
March 28, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Dining
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I just had a fabulous dining experience at Café Brio in Victoria. For some time I have wanted to try their "3 Course, Chef’s Dinner" menu – a steal at $28. The pork pate paired with local Church & State winery’s pinot noir was a great way to start. The tender flat iron steak followed by “crispy quince ravioli” for dessert…wow. I’d highly recommend this place not only for its superb fare but for its quaint, European ambience.
The restaurant is located on Fort Street which also happens to be called Antique Row - a great place to look for treasures.