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
Find more information about Victoria - Sightseeing Tours
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
Find more information about Victoria - Sightseeing Tours
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.