Springtide Whale Watching Victoria BC - at its best

The very first time we went whale watching the three resident pods were all in the same place at the same time, just off Henry Island near Roche Harbour. We could not turn our heads fast enough to see all the action. It was truly amazing. I have said many times that being on an island with out a boat is like being bird poo on a rock. To experience Vancouver Island you need to get out on the water. There is no better way to do that that with a charter like Springtide Whale Watching. They have a large fast yacht with a washroom and plenty of viewing space inside, on the top deck, back deck and bow. They are skilled and knowledgeable, but your still need nature to cooperate. The photo pictorial can be seen at: Click Here

For more information about whale watching in Victoria, click here.
For a great place to stay in Victoria, click here

Photo: Orca Girl

Victoria Harbour Ferry Experience Victoria's Inner Harbour

Victoria Harbour Ferries provide a great opportunity for a marine experience while visiting Victoria. You will get a great tour of our beautiful Inner Harbour and Gorge Waterway. The drivers are all very knowlegeable and give a great commentary throughout the trip. It is a fun and exciting way to see Victoria. You can visit Fisherman's Wharf and have Barb's famous fish and chips and wash that down with an ice cream cone from Jackson's. Or you can go to Spinakers Pub and have some beer from their famous brew pub and restaurant. The complete tour is really worthwhile and there is a version where you can hop on and off as much as you like. Give it a try. You will be glad you did. For more info, click here. For lots of great pictures of the Harbour Ferry experience, click here. For a great place to stay in Victoria, just a short distance from the Harbour Ferry dock, visit Hemingways by the Sea B&B.

Helijet Service Victoria to Vancouver - Helicopter Travel

We recently flew by Helijet from Victoria to Vancouver and stayed overnight in Vancouver with friends before catching our train to Whistler early the next morning. Flying with Helijet is an experience that should be on everyone’s bucket list. This is such a special experience. It starts when you enter the Helijet Passenger Lounge. The Passenger Lounge offers complimentary beverages and snacks, telephone, television, and wireless internet access. The assortment of snacks and beverages offers healthy options, something for everyone. The crew is efficient, courteous and helpful. They can easily connect you with ground transportation options to meet your needs once you are in Vancouver or back in Victoria. Our bags were checked in and all we had to do was walk to Helijet's Sikorsky S76- Spirit of Vancouver - waiting for us on the tarmac. There is no time consuming security check.

We slipped in the complementary ear plugs and lifted off. As we ascended over Victoria’s Inner Harbour we quickly realized how special this trip was going to be. The scenery was spectacular. Our course to Vancouver crossed directly over Greater Victoria. We flew over Esquimalt, View Royal, Victoria and Saanich and then on to the Gulf Islands, taking pictures as fast as we could! We seemed to be floating over the landscape and then the sea. The ride was incredibly gentle. This is the way everyone should see our beautiful city and the surrounding islands and ocean. It is so beautiful from the air. We feel so lucky to live here.

Give it a try....sooner rather than later. Top photo courtesy of Helijet. To check out more about our trip, go to our Travel Magazine. While in Victoria stay with Hemingway's by the Sea.

Chateau Victoria - A great place to visit

Whether it is Clive's Classic Cocktail Lounge you stop by for one of their legendary cocktails, or the Vista 18 for dinner, you will be thoroughly impressed by the great food, the selection of drinks and the helpful and friendly staff at the Chateau Victoria. We just toured the hotel and I would certainly recommend it to any of my friends and acquaintances. The rooms are reasonable priced but the services in the hotel are second to none. They have great chefs that produce quality and very tasty items. If you click here you will be taken to our Facebook site for a photo pictorial of the hotel. The views from the rooms and especially from Vista 18 are the best in the city. Check it out on your next visit to downtown Victoria. The location is great, only two blocks from the Inner Harbour and all the action downtown Victoria has to offer. At the very least, drop by Clive's Classic Cocktail Lounge for a drink after work. Tell them Ron sent you.

Victoria Waterfront June 1 and 2 - Fog, Sun, Rain, Sun and High Winds

Yesterday and today we played tourist and spent some time along the waterfront between Clover Point and the Ogden Point Breakwater along Dallas Road in Victoria BC. We started day one in dense fog and low tide and then the sun burned off the fog. That night it rained and then today we spent time at Clover Point in brilliant sun and high winds. There was lots of marine traffic and lots to see. Spring brings the lowest tides of the year so there is lots of shoreline that we rarely get to see. Check out our pictures, click here.

Real Chinese Food - An Experience to Remember - Golden City Restaurant

Larry the lobster was just one of the delicious items on the menu during our tasting tour of the Golden City Restaurant at 721 Fisgard Street in downtown Victoria. Our menu included Pork and Prawn rolls and Prawn and Cilantro Dumplings from the Dim Sum Menu as well as Prawn and Seaweed Spring Rolls, Stir Fried Prawns with Deep Fried Milk, Steamed Atlantic Lobster with Garlic, Singapore Style Rice Vermicelli, Jay Jay Singing Chicken Hot Pot, Chili and Peppered Calamari, Egg Friend Rice, and Satay Style Pork Chop with Onion. Ever single dish was delicious. Portions were substantial and the service was excellent. If you are looking for a "real" Chinese dinner, give them a call. If Daniel Low, the manager is on duty, he would gladly help you choose from the menu. He selected the menu for our dinner and it was excellent. I would recommend the restaurant and from the satiated look on the face of our group, they would too! Make your reservation at 250-386-8404. For a photo pictorial of our tour, click here.

Inside the Fairmont Empress Hotel - A tour

Photo Courtesy of the Fairmont Empress

Incredible decor, super friendly staff, incredible food, amazing shops, superior service, the best location, and plenty of history....what more could you ask for. Linda and I recently were invited to a tour of the Fairmont Empress Hotel. We have a photo pictorial on Facebook. Check out our tour of the stately Fairmont Empress Hotel.

We had a reception with Martinis and hors d'ouevres in the Empress Room and then were taken on a tour of the hotel. The Bengal Lounge is exceptional and it was hard to walk by the Curry Buffet without having week knees. The food looks and smells delicious and it is a well known buffet by locals and tourists who frequent the hotel. The tea lobby is where the famed Empress Afternoon tea is served. That history has been going on for over a century. It has set the standard for afternoon tea. The Willow Stream Spa is one of the best there is and offers a full range of Spa services. Great dining is available in the Empress Room. You can expect outstanding cuisine that showcases the finest ingredients from Vancouver Island and British Columbia. The hotel has a long history and has hosted movie stars, dignitaries and even Royalty. If you want to have the best dining seat in the city try the hotels Veranda and watch the world go by Victoria's magnificent Inner Harbour. The service we experienced throughout the hotel was as good as we could find anywhere. We had a sample of afternoon tea and goodies and it was excellent. To fully appreciate the Fairmont Empress, you need to experience it. We highly recommend you give it a try.