Places to Go and Things to Do in Victoria, B. C. Canada.
We've lived in Victoria for over 30 years and we're constantly discovering new and interesting places to go and things to do. We'll keep adding content to this page as time and energy allow. In the meantime, these are some of our favourites.
Luminara Victoria Festival of Lights
July 26/08
This is one of our very favourite events in Victoria. It is a magical and mystical evening that begins as dusk falls over the City.
On Saturday, July 26th, from 5pm until 11 pm the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria will light up St. Ann's Academy and Beacon Hill Park with handmade lanterns, candlelit installations, elaborate costumes, musicians.
Performers will infuse the landscape with a captivating blend of light and shadow, colour and form.
Residents and visitors are invited to be part of the spectacle. Come in costume - and carry a lantern!
Phone:
(250) 388-4728
Organizer:
http://www.luminaravictoria.com
Location:
Beacon Hill Park, St. Ann's Academy
Email:
luminara@icavictoria.org
The Victoria Jazz Fest
June 20-29/08
Always one of our favourites, JazzFest consists of ten hot days and nights of the coolest music in town starting on June 20 and continuing until June 29. Over 80 high calibre individual jazz performances taking place in numerous indoor and outdoor venues/stages with over 325 musicians.
The Royal Theatre Concert Series begins on opening night with the globe-trotting “little” orchestra, Pink Martini. Other renowned artists appearing in the Royal Theatre concert series include jazz icon Dave Brubeck, sensational blues guitarist/vocalist Susan Tedeschi, gifted Brazilian vocalist/composer Ivan Lins, Canadian guitar superstar Jesse Cook, and sensational vocalese artists Naturally 7 and soul singer Divine Brown in a twin bill.
The series continues into the second weekend with a mainstream jazz twin bill featuring pianist Monty Alexander and one of the best jazz vocalists on the scene, Andy Bey. The Royal Theatre Concert Series closes with the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.
A series of free admission performances will also take place during the daytime with ticketed and cover charge performances scheduled in various theatres, clubs and restaurant venues in the evenings. Workshops by visiting musicians will also be available.
The Royal BC Museum
On Now thru' September
The Royal BC Museum is one of our very favourite places to visit. Always a place to find the most interesting and stimulating exhibits one of the current exhibits is a fine example.
War Brides: One-Way Passage is a new exhibit at the Royal BC Museum. Meet war brides who, for love, left behind everything they’d ever known to join their servicemen husbands overseas.
Some 44,000 war brides and their 21,000 children immigrated to Canada during the Second World War, in an effort organized and paid for by the Canadian government. In addition, an estimated 4,000 women emigrated from Canada as brides of Allied military personnel who had trained in Canada.
Location: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street (Just 2 blocks from our Metro and Urban apartments).
Victoria Day Parade-May 19th
April 10, 2008
Monday, May 19th, 2008 is Victoria Day, which heralds Victoria BC's biggest parade event of the year. More than 120,000 spectators line up along the parade route, which begins at Mayfair Centre and continues all the way down Douglas Street to Humboldt Street.
Over 150 marching bands from all over BC, Alberta, Washington State, Oregon and California participate in this colourful event as well as hundreds of floats, clowns and other entries.
The parade commences at 9 a.m. and finishes at approximately 12:30 p.m. The Victoria Day Parade is a parade well worth watching.
Anne Murray - Coast to Coast One Last Time-May 8th
Canadian icon, Anne Murray, winds up her "COAST TO COAST – ONE LAST TIME” Tour in Victoria on
Thursday May 8, 2008.
Canada’s love affair with Anne Murray began in the late 60’s but it was the 1970 release of “Snowbird” that propelled her to international stardom. Recognized world wide as one of our country’s most enduring national treasures, Murray’s signature voice has graced the airwaves on pop, country and adult contemporary radio.
Recognized with 4 Grammy Awards, 3 American Music Awards, 3 Country Music Association Awards and more than 24 Junos, Anne still holds the record for the most Junos awarded to an artist. Murray has been inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame, has a star at Hollywood and Vine on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and is on Nashville and Canada’s Walkway of Stars. She is also a Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest honour that can be awarded to a Canadian citizen.
Anne remains one of the most consistent and enduring live performers of our time – a singer’s, singer. This tour encompasses a lifetime of music and memories – an opportunity to share in the magic that is simply, Anne.
Price: $65.50 and $45.50 (Ticket price includes GST but not FMF or Service Charges). There will be Reserved Seating for this event.
Tickets are available at Select Your Tickets and may be charged by phone at (250) 220-7777 or ordered online at www.selelectyourtickets.com. Please note that a portion of all ticket sales will support local literacy programs through CanWest Raise-A-Reader.
Location: Save On Foods Memorial Centre
Event Contact Information Save On Foods Memorial Centre
Phone: (250) 220-2600
Fax: (250) 220-7887
Email: info@saveonfoodsmemorialcentre.com
Web Site: http://www.saveonfoodsmemorialcentre.com
Mount Doug
February 8, 2008
It has been some time since I climbed to the summit of Mount Doug, so if I’m a little short of breath (pant) please bear with me. Actually, it’s not that bad of a climb and, when you reach the top, it’s all worth while.
I went up there with my Grand daughter (she’s such a little trooper) and we played "King of the Castle" when we reached the peak, surveying our kingdom spread out around us.
From the top of Mount Doug, on a clear day, you can see for miles and miles and miles. Certainly the view over Victoria is one of the best to be found anywhere in our local region but, beyond downtown, the view across to the Olympic Mountains on the far side of Juan de Fuca Straight is magnificent.
Turning to a more south-easterly direction, the snow-packed face of Mount Baker glistens in the sunshine and further north and east, the Cascade Mountains stand like frozen soldiers against the blue sky as they guard the entrance to the interior mountain ranges.
Closer-in, and to the north east, the Saanich Peninnsula unfolds itself before you, green fields amidst the patchwork of trees, lakes and ocean. Further to the north, the hills of the Malahat range invite exploration to "up-island" and, on a day such as this day, they beckon me to drive the Malahat Pass to the beautiful Cowichan Valley beyond.
Further to the North West, the hills of Sooke and the meadows of Metchosin create a welcome mat for the views along the Juan de Fuca Straight as it winds its way to the Pacific Ocean, bordered on its southern shores by the majestic Olympic Peninnsula.
To reach Mount Doug trave; 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Victoria at the north end of Shelbourne Street. Another 1.5 km up Churchill Drive brings you to the summit parking lot, and to several very fine viewpoints. Then take the short climb up the trail to the peak, from where you’ll enjoy some of the most spectacular views to be found anywhere in Victoria.
Gorge Waterway
January 9, 2008
It may be only January, but the first signs of spring are already making themselves known. Out for a walk today I noticed several rhododendrums in blossom, polyanthus and snowdrops are blooming and many shrubs and trees are already showing their buds, just waiting for a few warm and sunny days before bursting into blossom.
Winter isn’t over yet, but it’s good to see that spring isn’t too far away. One special place that I like to walk at this time of the year is along the Gorge Waterway. There’s a well-paved route that winds along a route, adjacent to the Upper Gorge Inlet, it is lined by well-maintained gardens and grassy areas that, in the height of spring and summer, offer a palette of colour against the blue water of the waterway.
On the western shore of the Upper Gorge Inlet sits the Gorge Kinsmen Park which, in the early 1900’s housed a Japanese Tea House where Victorian’s would gather to sip tea while admiring the beauty of the Gorge Waterway. Today the Tea House is no longer there, but it is still a pleasant place to enjoy the pleasures of the park, including a small sandy beach where children can paddle in the water.
The Gorge Waterway is just one of the many beautiful and easy walks that can be enjoyed around our gorgeous Garden City, and it’s only a 5 minute drive from Victoria’s city centre.
Winter In Victoria
December 20, 2007
Another winter is upon us but, fortunately, here in Victoria we’re spared the severe conditions experienced by other parts of Canada and the United States. I won’t say that we never get snow, or that it never gets cold but, generally speaking, we are very lucky to experience more "green" than "white".
This year appears to be no exception. Although we’ve already had some snow on Vancouver Island, Victoria has seen very little of the white stuff. Personally, I really enjoy walking in the rain, listening to the birds and smelling the freshness of the season.
On the waterfront, mainly in the more exposed areas, there are excellent opportunities for storm watching. There’s nothing like watching the waves crash onto the shore and smelling the salty spray in the sea air (although it’s usually advisable to stand well back from the shore in the lower-lying areas).
So, if you’re planning a trip to Victoria, bring a raincoat, galoshes and an umberella, but also bring gloves, a scarf a sweater and a hat to ward off the winter winds.
Winter in Victoria is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. The pace of life is slower and the winter rains can often be gentle and refreshing. We hope you’ll visit us, in the winter, sometime soon.
Classic Boat Festival
August 31, 2007
The Victoria Classic Boat Festival takes place on the Labour Day weekend, August 31, September 1st and 2nd in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. It is a classic community event for both participants and spectators.
The festival, which started as a one-time event, has become an annual event with as many as 130-boats participating from all over the world.
The festival officially begins on Friday, August 31st with the arrival of the Honorary Commodore. Many of the vessels will be open to the public over the weekend and there will be the activity of the smaller boats, motor and steam, running around the harbour. The Sunday morning Sailpast is always a great event.
Victoria Symphony Splash
July 31, 2007
The Victoria Symphony Splash is one of Victoria’s most popular outdoor, summertime events. Up to 40,000 people crowd the Inner Harbour during the August long weekend to listen to a mix of pops and classics played by the Victoria Symphony.
This year the Symphony’s 18th annual Splash takes place on Sunday, August 5th.
Victoria’s Hanging Baskets
June 20, 2007
The City of Victoria has now completed hanging flower baskets all over town. They look marvellous and make me realize just how beautiful our city is. If you’d like to learn more about these hanging baskets visit the City of Victoria’s website. This link will take your directly to the page that will tell you all there is to know about them City of Victoria Hanging Baskets
Victoria’s Waterfront
May 18, 2007
One of the really great things about Victoria is the Inner Harbour. I’ve lived in Victoria for over 30 years and I still get a kick out of watching the activity in, and around the harbour.
Yesterday my wife and I spent some time watching the little Harbour Ferries as they shuttled passengers back and forth around the harbour. They are the cutest little ferryboats you’ve ever seen, and they’re a great way to get around to the various stopping off points around the harbour.
Then we walked around the harbour to the Blue Crab Restaurant in the Coast Harbourside Hotel. We’ve been there several times in the past and I’ve never yet had a bad experience there. The food selection is fabulous, the service is excellent and the views are out of this world.
After lunch we strolled over to Fisherman’s Wharf. What a great little spot that is! Many tourists don’t know about this "hidden treasure" where you can buy fish, fresh from the ocean directly from the fishermen who brought them in. Or you can sip on a cappuccino, or cool off with a giant ice cream cone (we did) and there’s the world famous Barb’s Fish and Chips, where you can, as they say "Dine Afloat, Or Dine Ashore".
Victoria is definitely a seaside city, a great place to live, and a wonderful place to visit.
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