Gaye’s guidebook
Sightseeing
A beautiful nature sanctuary right across the road from our home. Guests can take a walk around the lake, visit the nature house, see many birds and other wild life.
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary
3873 Swan Lake RoadA beautiful nature sanctuary right across the road from our home. Guests can take a walk around the lake, visit the nature house, see many birds and other wild life.
A short drive will take you to the top of Mt. Tolmie, where you can get a 180 degree view of Victoria and take a short walk.
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Mount Tolmie
A short drive will take you to the top of Mt. Tolmie, where you can get a 180 degree view of Victoria and take a short walk.
A beautiful park in the centre of Victoria, Beacon Hill park has gardens, playing fields, a petting zoo, peacocks in the trees, a dog park along the ocean and much more. Located near lovely Cook Street Village.
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Beacon Hill Park
100 Cook StA beautiful park in the centre of Victoria, Beacon Hill park has gardens, playing fields, a petting zoo, peacocks in the trees, a dog park along the ocean and much more. Located near lovely Cook Street Village.
Gorgeous botanical gardens with an excellent restaurant, Butchart Gardens is located about 20 minutes drive up the Patricia Bay Highway from Victoria.
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Butchart Gardens
800 Benvenuto AveGorgeous botanical gardens with an excellent restaurant, Butchart Gardens is located about 20 minutes drive up the Patricia Bay Highway from Victoria.
For a nice little day trip, visit this charming little seaside town. Located about 45 minutes out of Victoria, Cowichan Bay welcomes sailors as well as tourists. Good food, fun pub, small and accessible!
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Cowichan Bay
For a nice little day trip, visit this charming little seaside town. Located about 45 minutes out of Victoria, Cowichan Bay welcomes sailors as well as tourists. Good food, fun pub, small and accessible!
Another fun day trip is to the Old Country Market in Coombs. Known for the fact that they have goats on the grass roof during the summer. The complex is quite large and includes restaurant, ice cream store and a large market with food products from all over the world. It's located at 2326 Alberni Hwy, Coombs, about an hour and a half drive from Victoria. A warning that is very popular and often crowded.
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Gamle Country Market - Geiter på taket
2326 Alberni HwyAnother fun day trip is to the Old Country Market in Coombs. Known for the fact that they have goats on the grass roof during the summer. The complex is quite large and includes restaurant, ice cream store and a large market with food products from all over the world. It's located at 2326 Alberni Hwy, Coombs, about an hour and a half drive from Victoria. A warning that is very popular and often crowded.
Take a little sea bus trip from Victoria's downtown inner harbour to tiny Fisherman's Wharf. It is also an easy walk from the inner harbour. Have a delicious lunch and one of the many food vendors there and marvel at the charming houseboats.
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Fisherman's Wharf Park
12 Erie StTake a little sea bus trip from Victoria's downtown inner harbour to tiny Fisherman's Wharf. It is also an easy walk from the inner harbour. Have a delicious lunch and one of the many food vendors there and marvel at the charming houseboats.
A fun place to go for a swim or just to walk around! Sooke Potholes are located about a half hour drive from Victoria.
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Sooke Potholes Provincial Park
Sooke River RoadA fun place to go for a swim or just to walk around! Sooke Potholes are located about a half hour drive from Victoria.
Located 20 minutes from Victoria, this is a lovely place to spend a couple of hours. Thousands of tropical butterflies (up to 70 species) in all phases of development from chrysalis to mature, poison dart frogs, tortoises, large iguanas, flamingos, tropical ducks, free flying tropical birds and more. Lush gardens including tropical flowers, carnivorous plants and fruits of the world.and a new exhibit, the Insectarium with impressive insects & invertebrates from around the world.
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Victoria Butterfly Gardens
1461 Benvenuto AveLocated 20 minutes from Victoria, this is a lovely place to spend a couple of hours. Thousands of tropical butterflies (up to 70 species) in all phases of development from chrysalis to mature, poison dart frogs, tortoises, large iguanas, flamingos, tropical ducks, free flying tropical birds and more. Lush gardens including tropical flowers, carnivorous plants and fruits of the world.and a new exhibit, the Insectarium with impressive insects & invertebrates from around the world.
A hub for sightseeing and entertainment, the Inner Harbour in downtown Victoria is a must see. Take a water taxi to Fishermans Wharf for a walk and a quick meal. Shop local crafts at the weekend market. Take a boat trip around the harbour or visit one of the many festivals that happen over the summer months. Abundant restaurants and eateries in the surrounding area make this a tourist must-see!
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Inner Harbour Centre
950 Wharf StA hub for sightseeing and entertainment, the Inner Harbour in downtown Victoria is a must see. Take a water taxi to Fishermans Wharf for a walk and a quick meal. Shop local crafts at the weekend market. Take a boat trip around the harbour or visit one of the many festivals that happen over the summer months. Abundant restaurants and eateries in the surrounding area make this a tourist must-see!
Another fun day trip from Victoria is the tiny town of Chemainus. Known for their many murals, it's a pleasant place to walk around, have a meal, do a bit of tourist shopping. Located south of Nanaimo, about an hour and a half's drive from Victoria.
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Chemainus
Another fun day trip from Victoria is the tiny town of Chemainus. Known for their many murals, it's a pleasant place to walk around, have a meal, do a bit of tourist shopping. Located south of Nanaimo, about an hour and a half's drive from Victoria.
Walking/hiking
For those who enjoy walking or hiking, a visit to Mt. Douglas Park is a must. Beautiful trails and views of the ocean. Take a picnic lunch.
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Mt. Douglas Park
4550 Cordova Bay RdFor those who enjoy walking or hiking, a visit to Mt. Douglas Park is a must. Beautiful trails and views of the ocean. Take a picnic lunch.
The Galloping Goose Trail is a multi use trail that runs from north of Sooke all the way into the centre of Victoria. The 55 km trail runs along an old railway right of way through scenic rural and urban areas. For a pleasant walk or bicycle ride that can take you to Uptown Mall nearby or all the way into Esquimalt and the downtown core, the Galloping Goose Trail intersects with the Lochside Trail that runs across Saanich Road a couple of blocks from our house.
https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/find-park-trail/galloping-goose
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Galloping Goose Trail
Galloping Goose TrailThe Galloping Goose Trail is a multi use trail that runs from north of Sooke all the way into the centre of Victoria. The 55 km trail runs along an old railway right of way through scenic rural and urban areas. For a pleasant walk or bicycle ride that can take you to Uptown Mall nearby or all the way into Esquimalt and the downtown core, the Galloping Goose Trail intersects with the Lochside Trail that runs across Saanich Road a couple of blocks from our house.
https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/find-park-trail/galloping-goose
This scenic regional biking/walking trail runs along an old railway right of way from Schwartz Bay to Victoria. It crosses the street a few blocks from our home and intersects with the Galloping Goose trail.
https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/find-park-trail/lochside
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Lochside Regional Trail
Lochside Regional TrailThis scenic regional biking/walking trail runs along an old railway right of way from Schwartz Bay to Victoria. It crosses the street a few blocks from our home and intersects with the Galloping Goose trail.
https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/find-park-trail/lochside
Food scene
A grand old hotel from the Railway Hotel era, the Fairmont Empress is a landmark in downtown Victoria. Enjoy High Tea here before going for a horse drawn carriage ride around historic James Bay.
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Hotel Fairmont Empress
721 Government StA grand old hotel from the Railway Hotel era, the Fairmont Empress is a landmark in downtown Victoria. Enjoy High Tea here before going for a horse drawn carriage ride around historic James Bay.
Delicious Japanese food with a modern twist. Located downtown near the inner harbour. One of our favorite restaurants!
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Gozen Sushi Bar Izakaya
1005 Langley StDelicious Japanese food with a modern twist. Located downtown near the inner harbour. One of our favorite restaurants!
This pub in James Bay is a fun place to go to kick back. Sited in an 1880's house (rumored to be haunted), it also has an outdoor garden. Popular with the 30-something set, it has excellent food and and serves craft brews.
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The Bent Mast
512 Simcoe StThis pub in James Bay is a fun place to go to kick back. Sited in an 1880's house (rumored to be haunted), it also has an outdoor garden. Popular with the 30-something set, it has excellent food and and serves craft brews.
A great place for a good meal or just to hang out for a few drinks. Located at 308 Catherines Street in west Victoria, it's outdoor patio looks out over the water toward Washington.
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Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & GuestHouses
308 Catherine StA great place for a good meal or just to hang out for a few drinks. Located at 308 Catherines Street in west Victoria, it's outdoor patio looks out over the water toward Washington.
Located in historical James Bay, this restaurant is a local favorite. Fabulous Brunches, dinners, etc. Located a short way from the inner harbour, it is a lovely neighborhood for a stroll as well.
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Heron Rock Bistro
435 Simcoe StLocated in historical James Bay, this restaurant is a local favorite. Fabulous Brunches, dinners, etc. Located a short way from the inner harbour, it is a lovely neighborhood for a stroll as well.
Prima Strada takes pizza to a whole new level with their interesting ingredients and freshness. Warning, this restaurant is very popular so you may want to arrive early!
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Pizzeria Prima Strada
230 Cook StPrima Strada takes pizza to a whole new level with their interesting ingredients and freshness. Warning, this restaurant is very popular so you may want to arrive early!
Located a few blocks away at the corner of Quadra and McKenzie, Royal Tandoor has excellent and authentic Indian food.
The Royal Tandoor
4011 Quadra StreetLocated a few blocks away at the corner of Quadra and McKenzie, Royal Tandoor has excellent and authentic Indian food.
Gorgeous view and excellent food. Located in the Delta hotel in Victoria West. They have a lovely patio overlooking the inner harbour.
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LURE Restaurant & Bar
100 Harbour RdGorgeous view and excellent food. Located in the Delta hotel in Victoria West. They have a lovely patio overlooking the inner harbour.
Excellent food and service and a beautiful patio overlooking the water. One of my very favorite places to eat!
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Glo Restaurant + Lounge
2940 Jutland RdExcellent food and service and a beautiful patio overlooking the water. One of my very favorite places to eat!
Small and very popular, this Taco restaurant downtown, originally from Tofino, has delicious food.
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Tacofino
760 Pandora AveSmall and very popular, this Taco restaurant downtown, originally from Tofino, has delicious food.
Located a few blocks from our house at Quadra and Reynolds, this restaurant makes excellent south Indian food.
Southern Flavours
3945 Quadra StreetLocated a few blocks from our house at Quadra and Reynolds, this restaurant makes excellent south Indian food.
Located in Esquimalt, this delightful restaurant was started by Syrian immigrants. Delicious food in a warm and welcoming casual atmosphere.
Syriana Restaurant & Catering
Located in Esquimalt, this delightful restaurant was started by Syrian immigrants. Delicious food in a warm and welcoming casual atmosphere.
Museums and Galleries
One of my favorite places to visit in Victoria is the Royal BC Museum. It has many exhibits, but my favorite is a replica of Captain Vancouver's ship and a mock up of early Vancouver. There is also an Imax theatre with great films.
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Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville StOne of my favorite places to visit in Victoria is the Royal BC Museum. It has many exhibits, but my favorite is a replica of Captain Vancouver's ship and a mock up of early Vancouver. There is also an Imax theatre with great films.
Neighbourhoods
Near the Schwartz Bay ferry terminal is a small community that calls itself Sidney by the Sea. It's a charming little town with shopping, eateries, a small aquarium and, in the summer, a street market on Thursday nights and a farmer's market on Sundays.
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Sidney
Near the Schwartz Bay ferry terminal is a small community that calls itself Sidney by the Sea. It's a charming little town with shopping, eateries, a small aquarium and, in the summer, a street market on Thursday nights and a farmer's market on Sundays.
Charming neighborhood with restaurants, cafes, shopping. Close to the Oak Bay marina.
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Oak Bay
Charming neighborhood with restaurants, cafes, shopping. Close to the Oak Bay marina.
Close to Beacon Hill Park, a local favorite with cafes and restaurants, bakeries and shopping.
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Cook Street
Cook StreetClose to Beacon Hill Park, a local favorite with cafes and restaurants, bakeries and shopping.