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Victoria British Colombia
Here are some of our stops on our short 2 day trip
10 Places
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Dawn’s 5-star review: A local gem in Victoria BC. While we were bike riding in the area a local resident recommended that we take a stroll on the breakwater to see the fisherman out at sea and have a nice walk. I am so glad we did. This paved path with railing breakwater jetty goes out about a half mile into the ocean in the Straight of Juan de Fuca/James Bay. The sides of the breakwater have visible plant and sea life and it seems to be a popular spot for divers and fisherman. This is also a great place to watch the fishing boats and seaplanes. There are benches at the end of the Breakwater so you can sit and enjoy the unobstructed ocean view and take in the fresh air. -
Dawn’s 5-star review: What an absolutely lovely park. We almost did not go into the park because we had been biking for a good part of the day and were headed back to the hotel. From the exterior it did not look that great, brown grass and obscured view but as I peaked in through one of the paths it was lush and green almost forest like, full of foliage and fir trees, ponds, ducks...absolutely gorgeous. This park is huge...we only barely just made it around a quarter of the park due to time. There is a bike path but we did not find it immediately as some of the paved paths are for walking only and we entered into the park on a walk only path off of Route 1. We stopped at the Cricket field and watched part of a game which was fun, there was a visiting team in from Hawaii playing a local team. Next, we biked up to the Children's Petting Zoo which is very close to the Cricket Field and still within the park. The Petting Zoo was so much fun to visit. We were enamored by the Jacob's Sheep, they are quite hilarious to watch and listen to them "talk" to one another....we laughed so hard our stomachs hurt. We did not stay long because the petting zoo was getting ready to close, but we were there in time to watch the 5:10 pm goat race as they closed the barn, it was so cute. When they close down they have the goats race from one side of the farm to the other to get their feed and lock them up for the night. When near the petting zoo look up into the trees, you might just see or hear a peacock! They are roaming everywhere and add to the beauty of this local gem. Definitely worth the quick stop into the park! -
Dawn’s 4-star review: The passenger only/no autos Clipper Ferry leaves from Pier 69 in Seattle and goes to Victoria, BC. It takes approximately 2.75 hours to get to Victoria. We chose this method of travel because the Victoria Clipper Company had some great end of the summer packages which included Ferry Fare, Hotel Stay in Canada and they also offered packages for local attraction admission tickets and transport. The only downside to booking a package through the American Owned Clipper Company is that we paid in US dollars instead of Canadian so we ended up paying a little more for Canadian sight seeing attractions which we could have just purchased in Canada. The positive was their packages were customizable based on preference of accommodations and activities and the transport was streamlined and for the most part hassle free. Definitely make a reservation if you are taking the Ferry. We had to make changes for our return trip date and time but it was pretty easy to do so. We also decided to stay an extra night in Victoria and they were able to accommodate adding an additional night's stay if needed but we ended up just booking through the hotel and they matched the price and we got to pay the hotel directly in Canadian dollars for the second night. If traveling from Seattle to Victoria, BC in the future, I would look into pricing out float planes (with or without Victoria Clipper) which only takes 45 minutes for the same trip, a huge time saver if you are trying to maximize time, but for a first time visit this worked for us. SO glad I read Yelper Nick H's great review and brought on luggage that met their carry on size requirements and did not have to be checked in, we saved a lot of time by not having to wait for our luggage to be unloaded on outbound and return trip. Even though the inside seats were leather and really comfortable I desperately wanted to stay above deck and breathe in fresh air even though it was freezing cold and windy on deck. I ended up standing the entire trip on both the outbound and return trips because the boat we were on had no seating but a stand only option above deck. I was also hoping to take a chance and see some Orcas but no such chance for me on this trip. The boat has a snack bar and a small gift/souvenir selection, and the staff on board were all very pleasant and helpful. -
Dawn’s 5-star review: 4.5 stars rounded to 5 due to Gold Lounge The hotel is old yet beautiful and an iconic landmark in Victoria, BC. The Empress looks like a castle and is famous for their afternoon English style tea experience. For an early 20th Anniversary celebration/get away we decided to treat ourselves and stay at the Empress for a few nights while in Victoria. We booked our room through the Victoria Clipper Company and upgraded to a luxury room so we could stay in a newly renovated room. The room rates were more reasonable through the Clipper than booking directly with the hotel with the downside of paying in US dollars vs. Canadian. The room was nicely appointed and the bed was super comfortable and we had a beautiful view of the harbor, but the rooms are TINY. As of August 2016 only half of the hotel had been renovated, so the pool and hot tub were clean but looked like they were still circa 1980. If staying at any Fairmont Hotel, upgrade for free to the President's Club and receive complimentary amenities and perks like WIFI and shoe shine at no additional charge, use of bicycles (theirs were made by BMW with great shock absorbers), etc. When we checked into the hotel we additionally upgraded to Gold Level status so we could take advantage of their daily breakfast, evening hors d'oeuvres and daily use of the Gold lounge and private balcony. We were really glad we upgraded because the rooms are so small that the lounge gave us the space we needed to relax, put our feet up and unwind a bit after a long day of sightseeing and the balcony had stunning views of the harbor and city and was a great place to watch the sunset. When walking into the Gold Lounge we were warmly greeted by the charming Lounge Manager, Sebastian. He gave us a brief tour and told us that he or any one of the Gold Lounge staff would be our personal concierge should we need to make local reservations, need sightseeing suggestions, etc. We really received great personalized service. We were wowed with the beautiful and newly renovated lounge which included two living rooms with fireplace and TV's, comfortable sofas and chairs. A gourmet kitchen in the center of the space was used to serve food. The lounge space opened out to a private balcony which had stunning views and overlooked the front of the property with great views of the Parliament building and harbor. The balcony was rather large complete with fire pits and heat lamps and comfortable seating. Included in our Gold Lounge upgrade was a great selection of gourmet treats. We were packing in two full day of sightseeing so for us this made sense to make the most of our short visit. I am glad we made the upgrade. The food was prepared with the best of quality locally sourced ingredients and by hotel chefs. For breakfast we were served a gourmet breakfast which was an upgraded continental breakfast with about four hot entrees served buffet style in Staub cast iron pots and the eggs were served in individual ramekins. The selections were different each morning. Our breakfast favorites were the amazing mini croissants and local jams, individual ramekins with an egg omelette with tomato and asparagus, sweet potato hash, liege waffles with maple syrup, locally made sausage and bacon, European style yogurt, individual fruit smoothies and locally smoked salmon with condiments like capers, onion, tomato and bagels with cream cheese. Typically I am not a fan of hotel breakfast buffets, but this is nothing like the typical buffet breakfast you will find in a standard hotel, everything was so beautifully prepared and presented. For evening hors d'oeuvres the spread was equally delightful. Almost everything was served in individual ramekins or serving dishes, the presentation was really lovely. Each evening there was a selection of four hot items and a huge spread of cold items. Among our favorite warm bites were the scallops served over bacon, leeks and mushroom, arancini with pesto- I loved their version, smoked salmon with crème fraiche, chive and caviar, miso sea bass over seaweed salad, lamb loin with bruschetta, and quiche. During the evening hors d'oeuvres the kitchen counters were also full with a cold buffet of items like poached chicken, Spanish chorizo, Serrano ham, smoked salmon, real crab salad over seaweed salad, beets with goat cheese, heirloom tomatoes with olive oil, gourmet local aged and young cheeses, spiced nuts, dried fruit, crackers, freshly baked bread, olives, pickled onions, etc. Every evening after 8 p.m. there was a selection of a few desserts served and there were always drinks available like espresso, gourmet loose leaf hot tea with hotel china and individual little bottles of honey made from the bee hive on property. The beverage fridge had bottled sparkling and flat water, juices, and sodas. We definitely enjoyed our time in the Lounge and the service, staff and environment was pleasant. The Gold Lounge really made our stay at the Empress a 5 star. -
Dawn’s 5-star review: A visit to Victoria was our first visit to Canada and hopefully not the last, it was truly memorable. We were originally only going to stay two days and one night but as soon as we disembarked the Victoria Clipper I saw the Horse Drawn carriages, waterfront, and beautiful clean city with gorgeous buildings and I knew one night was not going to cut it. Victoria is beautiful, it almost felt like we stepped back in time and were visiting a quaint European town. We booked part of our stay with the Victoria Clipper Ferry Company which included Ferry transport to and from Seattle, and a direct bus and admission to Butchart Gardens. We did not have a car but did not really need one for our short visit. Our hotel the Empress was pretty centrally located to shops and attractions and they also had bicycles so we were able to either walk or bike around the city to get to all of the other sites. I also heard from some other visitors that public bus transportation is very reasonable, convenient and user friendly so we may consider that for a future trip. It would be nice to have a car to travel up Island and see the beautiful Cathedral Forrest we have been hearing about, we just did not have enough time to fit it in. Actually taking a few week car tour through Canada would also be fun. As soon as we disembarked from the Clipper in the early am we took a 5 minute walk to The Empress, checked in, left our bags with the bellman and hopped on a CVS bus that was waiting in front of the hotel which leaves on the hour to Butchart Gardens (bus tickets and admission reserved and paid through the Clipper). After our great day at the gardens which I highly recommend visiting when in Victoria, we hurried back to catch a visit to Christ Cathedral for a Sunday evening Choral service and then unwind back at the hotel. The following day we took our bikes to visit and tour the Parliament Building, Fisherman's Wharf, Ogden Point Breakwater, Beacon Hill Park and Children's Petting Zoo. We stopped at the hotel to freshen up, grab a bite to eat and watch the sunset (around 9 pm in summer) then did some late night shopping on Government Street. Although the hotel staff was nice and accommodating we really enjoyed meeting and talking with the locals including some working in local law enforcement. Everyone we met was incredibly down to earth and nice to chat with. Victoria really is a lovely city and I would love to visit again as soon as possible, I feel like we just scratched the surface of seeing some of the local gems. -
Dawn’s 5-star review: Breathtaking and beautiful. The gardens are about a 10 mile, half hour ride from downtown Victoria. A must see and local gem. We spent 4 hours touring the gardens, walking, relaxing on benches and taking it all in. One of the nice guides at the entrance told us to just keep walking to the left and we would make it through all of the gardens and he was correct. My favorite spaces were the sunken garden, the Japanese garden and the area just beyond the Japanese garden where the boat docks are. I've never seen so many beautiful flowers and unique flowers all in one place. It was inspirational and amazing too see how the Butchart's could turn a quarry into such a beautiful botanical space. If I visit Victoria again I would not hesitate to return as I am sure no one day is ever quite the same as there is always something new in bloom. -
Dawn’s 5-star review: There are free tours of this beautiful building, its worth a stop even for a self guided tour. You will have to go through a small screening/metal detector. The architecture, detailed woodwork, murals and stained glass make this a local gem. The building is beautiful during the day and even more charming lit up at night. This is where all of the local laws are legislated and current issues of the day are discussed. Don't miss the small gift shop at the end of the building just near the exit! I dread shopping but I found my best souvenir shopping for family here, unique stuff unlike most of the shops on Government St. which all have the same cheap "junk". Found a great authentic tartan tie from Scotland and a few other items. -
Dawn’s 5-star review: The Wharf is so colorful with bright colored painted house boats making this a quaint small spot to visit in Victoria, BC. I can not imagine you would spend more than a couple of hours here though. We visited for about an hour and that was enough to walk around and get a feel of the wharf. Water taxi's leave from Government street or there is a bike/walking path as well. It took us about 5-10 minutes to bike to the Wharf from the Parliament Building. We had fun walking around and visiting the shops. We even met one of the owners of the house boats on the way over to the Wharf and had a great chat. There are several "touristy" food stands, we didn't try any because we were still full from breakfast, but we stopped for ice cream at Jackson's and I would highly recommend it. -
Dawn’s 5-star review: I bookmarked this through Yelp and I am so glad I did! Worth a stop when at Fisherman's Wharf in Victoria. Ice Cream Perfection! About a dozen flavors to choose from. I chose the Maple Walnut flavor it was perfect. Get the waffle cone for .75 cent CAD more, it is fresh, crunchy and yummy. Some of the best ice cream I've ever had. Perfect sweetness, creaminess and flavor. Made by Island Farms, a local company. -
Dawn’s 5-star review: While in Victoria we visited Beacon Hill Children's Farm located in the beautiful and rather large Beacon Hill Park. This visit was a highlight of our trip and definitely one of the most fun experiences we had in Victoria. Admission is free with suggested donation. Guests may take a self guided tour through the farm and are able to enter an enclosed petting area with bunnies, goats, etc . There are plenty of wash stations for dirty hands. We arrived just before closing and most of the animals were already put away, missed seeing the chickens :(. We did see pigs, sheep, goats, peacocks roaming freely, llamas, but our favorite animals were the Jacob's Sheep...hilarious animals! They communicate with one another in a repetitive fashion and we found them quite humorous to watch. Fun Fact: Goat races take place when they open and close the farm. The goats race from one side of the farm to the other to get their food and they allow guests to line up and video the one minute race. Parking is just outside the Children's Farm inside of the park, but we biked there.
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