Eagle Cam

Everywhere you go on Vancouver Island you have the opportunity to view eagles. There are some great places like Goldsteam Park in Victoria during the fall salmon run. Recently eagle cams arrived on the scene. If you have never seen one before, get to this one quickly. It has two young chicks in it. I watched the parents feeding the chicks and while this occured a blackbird was harassing the adult. It landed on the adults tail and pecked it in the back. The eagle never flinched. It was like the blackbird did not exist. Take a look for yourself.

Grizzly Bears spotted on Vancouver Island

Just recently there were confirmed sitings of grizzly bears on Vancouver Island. These bears must have made the swim unless they were picked up hitch hiking from the Alberta Rockies. There is an excellent Grizzly Bear Tour that you can take out of Telegraph Cove. Check it out on our web site at:

http://tourismmall.victoria.bc.ca/travelmagazine/2007july3.htm

Swiftsure International Yacht Race - A Victoria Tradition

The Swiftsure International Yacht Race is put on by the Royal Victoria Yatcht Club and this is the 65th year. It conisist of three offshore courses and one inshore course. The race is spectacular to see. If you missed it this year, come next year in late May. Check out details at our web site.

Sooke Harbour House

One of the finest accommodations with the best food can be found a short distance west of Victoria in Sooke. Sooke Harbour House is world renown.
Check it out on our Travel Magazine. You will be glad you did. This is a superb accommodation and place to eat.

Marvelous Malahat

If you want to have lunch or dinner with a view may I suggest the Malahat Mountain Inn. The food is good and the views are spectacular as shown on the photo to the right. You are near the top of the Malahat and perched on the side of a cliff overlooking Finlayson Arm of Saanich Inlet. This deep fjord is over 700 feet deep and bordered by high forested hills. It does not get much better than this. The have a good sized outdoor patio, so if you want to fully enjoy it, reserve a patio seat on a warm spring or summer day. Enjoy!

Another Special Place

Denman and Horby Islands are a special place to visit. There is so much to see and do here. To get details, please click here. This link will take you to our travel magazine article on Denman and Horby Islands. The picture shown to the right was taken at Boyle Point on Denmen Island. We were looking slightly downward and to the right of the point into an eagles nest where two babies were cuddled up. Dad was just to the right watching intently. You can't get a better view of an eagle's nest than this.

Its a hummer

On my last trip to God's Pocket, a scuba diving resort near the northern tip of Vancouver Island, I discovered that it is also Hummer Heaven. Never have I seen so many hummingbirds in one place at one time. There were often times 30 or so zooming in on one of about six feeders on the dock at the resort, as the photo on the right attests. Visit our travel magazine to read more about Port Hardy and God's Pocket.

Spring Golf is always good. I got out for my first round of the year on Friday. In Victoria, many of the golf courses are like playing at Augusta. I love to see rhodos and cherry trees in bloom on Golf Courses. The photo is at Mount Douglas, a sleepy little golf course in the Shadow of Mount Douglas. It is just 9 holes, but it is one of the least expensive places to golf in Victoria. It is for the average golfer and duffers. Serious dudes look elsewhere. It is fun and much easier for the ladies who don't hit the ball as far. Check it out, you may be surprised. The fairways are real wide and forgiving. Have fun.

Little Gems with Big Views

All throughout Victoria, there are small oceanfront parks that very few people know about except the locals who live there, and me. I have visited them all.
If you go deep into Esquimalt following Esquimalt Road from downtown Victoria and then turn on Grafton, just before the Esquimalt Naval Base, you will go to the end of Grafton and find Denniston Park. It is a great place for a picnic on a warm summer day and it has incredible views of Saxe Point Park, the Olympic Mountains, and the Western Shore of Greater Victoria. Check it out, you will be glad you did. The photo on the right is the view towards Saxe Point Park.

The Garden City

Victoria has long been known as the garden city. That is never more apparent than during the spring when everything seems to blossom. People and businesses in Victoria take pride in their gardens. I noticed this spectacular and colorful display at the Forestry Centre on Burnside Road. It is typical of the beautiful gardens created throughout the city.

Luxton Rodeo May Long Weekend

On the May long weekend, the Luxton Fairgrounds will be home to the Luxton Pro Rodeo. Saddle & Bareback Bronc Riding, Bull Riding, Tie Down Roping, Steer Wrestling, Ladies Barrels, Team Roping, Mutton Bustin’, and Mutton Scramble events make up this exciting rodeo. The rodeo takes place May 17,18, and 19th. It take place in Langford, just off Sooke Road in the Luxton area. Try something new and attend this exciting "first of the season" event. The photo shown is the Luxton Fairgrounds. This is a rural area of Greater Victoria. Check it out.