Category: general

What to do in Victoria during autumn

Posted on September 26, 2018 by - activities, attractions, events, general, Uncategorized

Are you coming to Victoria in the offseason and looking for something indoors to do? Here are a few options!

Butterfly Gardens

Get out of the wind and rain and explore the Butterfly Gardens. This indoor oasis will not disappoint, it is tropical and warm with exotic wildlife and many different types of butterflies. The Butterfly Gardens also has an insectarium, where they have stick bugs, leaf cutter ants, tarantulas and more! One of the highlights of Butterfly Gardens is Little E, he is an Eclectus Parrot and is very friendly, but the thing is he will only land on women, he is quite the ladies’ man. Butterfly Gardens is about a 40-minute drive from downtown Victoria, it is about a five-minute drive from Butchart Gardens. Butterfly Gardens is an indoor greenhouse and is perfect to go to on a rainy day. Come explore this indoor tropical jungle and hang out with the wildlife.

Axe and Grind

Frustrated because it’s raining on your vacation? Take some aggression out and go axe throwing! Axe and Grind is an indoor axe throwing club in Victoria. It’s one of Victoria’s newest attractions and people are loving it. Axe throwing is a very unique sport that is very fun! When you first go there the staff will teach you how to safely throw axes. After that have fun! They have different types of axes that you can throw. Challenge your friends and have fun!

Afternoon Tea

There are many places that you can have tea around Victoria. The most iconic places to have tea are The Fairmont Empress and Butchart Gardens.

The Fairmont Empress is a classic place to get tea in Victoria. They offer 21 different varieties of tea paired perfectly with their three-tiered platter offering sweet and savory options. You can read more about the experience in our previous blog regarding everything you need to know about Tea at the Empress.

A second place to have tea is Butchart Gardens. If you already have a trip to Butchart Gardens this is great add on to complete your day especially if it is a little chilly out. They have nine different varieties of tea that you can choose from and if you really enjoy it you can purchase most of them from their gift shop and the end of your visit. They offer a three-tiered platter complete with sweet and savory options.

Museum

The Royal BC Museum is the perfect place to go on a rainy day. Learn about the history of British Columbia. The museum is currently holding the exhibition Egypt: The time of the Pharaohs until December 31st. They have many interesting artifacts on display in this exhibition. The museum also has some permanent exhibits which include the Natural history of BC, Modern History, First Peoples Galleries, and Our Living languages. All the exhibits in the museum are exceptional.

 

We hope that this blog has given you some ideas on what to while in Victoria during the rainy months.

Best Time Of Year To Visit Victoria

Posted on August 15, 2017 by - general

best-time-of-year-visit-victoria-bc

Are you planning a trip to Victoria BC? If you have done some research on the best activities, you may have seen that Victoria has lots to offer at all times of the year. So, what really is the best time? Fans of boat rides and whale watching may suggest summertime in BC, while avid skiers may tell you to visit in the middle of winter. Although the “best time” may vary depending on preference, generally the most popular times are March to May and September to November. This is based on the best weather and temperatures and the festival season, which occurs mainly in the summer months. But to help you decide on your best time of year to visit Victoria and the surrounding area, read on.

March-May:

With the beautiful landscape and natural scenery in BC, spring is a great time to take in all that Victoria and Vancouver Island has to offer. Many plants bloom as the sun comes out, and many small animals can be seen coming out of hibernation after a long winter. The average temperature is 50-65 degrees F, and as it gets warmer visitors will be able to enjoy the upcoming festival season. In March, check out Victoria beer week or take a walk in one of the many provincial parks.

June-August:

June marks the start of the busiest time of year for Victoria, and many tourists flock to BC during the summer months. With only a small amount of rain and warmer weather, seeing the great outdoors is easy to enjoy. Visitors can get involved in hiking, biking, whale watching, picnics, and vineyard and garden tours during the summer.  Also be sure to check out the many festivals in the area such as the Victoria Film Festival, the TD International JazzFest, the Symphony Splash, and the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival. Although there is lots to do, this often attracts large crowds, and July has the highest accommodation prices of the year. Be sure to book your room early to ensure availability and a reasonable price. We recommend booking at least three weeks before your arrival.

September-November:

Although temperatures get a little cooler in the autumn months, those willing to throw on a few layers will thoroughly enjoy Vancouver Island. Rainfall amounts increase throughout the fall, so pack an umbrella if you plan on visiting Victoria. Visitors in the fall will see a decrease in summer tourists and a slower paced relaxing vacation. Also, hotel prices decrease as the demand goes down, so you may find some great deals at the best Victoria BC hotels. The Victoria festival season remains in full swing into September and October with the Classic Boat Festival and the Art of the Cocktail Festival.

December-February:

The offseason is a great opportunity to visit Victoria as prices are low and crowds are thin. With that said you can expect big crowds all December long as Butchart Gardens goes all out for Christmas with their amazing displays. Although many people don’t vacation in the winter, British Columbia actually experiences mild winters that most visitors can brave. While you are nearby, don’t forget to check out Whistler village and the great skiing in the mountains. Enjoy the Whiskey Festival in January as a nice way to warm up, or cozy up in a local pub. If you are going to be outside, a word of caution- don’t forget your rain gear if you are visiting the coast!

While in Victoria, be sure to enjoy one of our sightseeing tours.

Best Ways To Get To Victoria From Vancouver

Posted on August 1, 2017 by - general

best ways to get to victoria from vancouver

Vancouver and Victoria are the two most well known cities in BC, and it is worth the trip for visitors to try and experience both. With their close proximity to each other, it is fairly easy to travel between the two cities. But if you are in Vancouver and want to head to Victoria, there are some fun ways to make the trip. Visiting Vancouver Island is worth the trip, and you can visit for just a day or stay a little longer. Check out some of the options for travelling between Vancouver and Victoria below:

1 – BC Ferries

BC Ferries is a reliable way to cross the Strait of Georgia, and there are a few benefits of choosing this option. First, you can bring your car across for easy travelling once you get to Victoria. Enjoy the fresh ocean air and skyline view, and maybe spot a whale or two. Other wildlife include sea lions and dolphins that often make an appearance on the journey. If you are using this travel method in the spring or summer, you are in for a scenic treat. Another benefit is the shopping that you can do onboard! If you are hungry or thirsty during the trip, there are 3 dining options available. Grab a souvenir at the gift shop while you wait, or just relax and enjoy the ride. The cruise begins and ends about 30 minutes outside of each city, so taking your car is a good idea. But be sure to book your appointment ahead, especially on the weekend, as the ferry can get very busy. If you don’t want to take a car, a shuttle bus is available on either side to take you right into the city.

2 – Whale Watching

While it’s nice to see whales on the ferry over, going out on a dedicated whale watching tour gives you a great chance to see some wildlife. The Prince of Whales Ultimate Day Tour takes you out whale watching while also delivering you safely to Victoria at the end of the tour. The four hour tour takes you across beautiful scenic areas to find the best whale watching spots, and once you arrive in Victoria you will have some time to explore the city. If you aren’t ready to leave Victoria the same day, there are flexible options to spread the trip out over a few days. Finish your tour with a sunset cruise back to Vancouver.

3 – Float Plane

Harbour Air Seaplanes offers a quick and interesting way to make the trip between Vancouver and Victoria with a flight that takes about 40 minutes. This option is great for those who want to experience Victoria just for the day, and there are flexible and frequent departure times that fit around a busy schedule. Arrive early to get a window seat for the best view of the ride at a unique angle! Be sure to book this flight in advance.

4 – Helijet

One of the newest methods of travel between the two cities, Helijet offers the high sights as well as a cool ride. This ride takes about 35 minutes, and there are several flights every day between the cities. One of the best things about this method is that kids under 12 fly free, so book in advance to take advantage of that offer. Also, you can bring your luggage as the allowance is 50lbs per passenger!

5- V2V Vacations

If you don’t mind spending a bit more money, the newest addition to the list of options is V2V. This luxury cruise moves between downtown Vancouver and Victoria, and there are three levels of class that include leather seats, three course meals, and charging stations. Although the trip is only 3.5 hours, visitors will love their cruise, and packages are available that include accommodation or golf!

Once in Victoria, we would love to have you on one of our sightseeing tours.