Honeymoon Bay Lodge and Retreat - Special Offer

Looking for a great get-away....here is the deal for you! We were just there and it is a wonderful place to stay. Click the image to enlarge if you find it hard to read.

2011 Swiftsure International Yacht Race Victoria BC hosted by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club

Did you miss Swiftsure? This is one of the most spectacular of the spring happenings in Victoria. Thousands of people line the Dallas Road Waterfront for a view of the 150 or so boats, most of which are in one of the races. Watch them jockey for a spot on the start line and then they are off, some not coming in to harbour until the next day. If you would like to see more photos of this very special event, please click on our Facebook Link and also go to the Swiftsure International Yatch Race Website. Enjoy.

Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria

Today was the 140km Tour de Rock bike ride. I got there just in time to see Ryder Hesjedal ride by. My camera would not take the picture and zoom they were gone. I was impressed that they could leave downtown Victoria travel out to Metchosin and then into Langford in just over an hour.

The Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria is a supported mass participation cycling event, catering to all ages and fitness levels by offering three distances: 140km for the enthusiast, 90km for the entry-level rider and an up to 1.5 hour Community Ride for beginners, families, and for those who want to experience cycling for the first time.

Check out some of the events over the next 10 days or so....

Lake Cowichan Gourmet Food in three Restaurants

Gourmet Food in Lake Cowichan...who would have guessed it! Not us...we were absolutely blown away by the three restaurants that we dined at while visiting Lake Cowichan. If you live in Victoria or Nanaimo or anywhere in between, take the short drive to Lake Cowichan and have dinner some evening...any evening...it is so good and well worth the trip. Good food, great hospitality and exceptional service...that is Lake Cowichan. See you there!

You can see more great pictures of food and restaurants in Lake Cowichan on our Facebook Page.

We recently took a trip to Lake Cowichan in the amazing Cowichan Valley. Our mission was to discover what this region really had to offer tourists coming to Vancouver Island. Stick with us over the next couple of weeks to discover what we found. Our first Facebook Page and Blog below was on the Kinsol Trestle and today we are featuring the Lake Cowichan Accommodations we were able to stay at and explore. There is something to satisfy the needs of everyone looking for a great place to stay. We have posted pictures on our Facebook site that detail the inside-outs of a number of accommodations. Check them all out and then make your choice for you next visit. Enjoy our Lake Cowichan Article that we will announce on this blog and be sure to stick with our facebook page to see what we found in Lake Cowichan! Enjoy. Above you can see the luxurious and spacious room we had at the Honeymoon Bay Lodge and Retreat and at the top the room and luxurious suite we had at the Cowichan River Wilderness Lodge.

Kinsol Trestle - Trans-Canada Trail just south of Duncan BC on Vancouver Island

We recently completed a tour of Lake Cowichan in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. Our first stop was at the Kinsol Trestle, just south of Duncan. The Trestle was in bad shape and could no longer be used. It is now under re-construction and by early summer it will be open for use. If you have not been there, be sure to check it out. You can get the closest too it by going to the north side.

To get there, from the Trans-Canada Highway, turn west on to Koksilah Road, then drive under a narrow railway overpass (see pics on

Facebook) and then over a wooden bridge. Then turn left onto Riverside Road. Follow it on the pavement for 4.6 kilometers. The road then turns into a narrow gravel road for the next 4.7 km. When you come to a small parking area with several large boulders, you are there. A short walk will take you to the viewing are.

This trestle will be the river crossing for the Trans-Canada Trail.

If you go to our facebook page you can see more photos of the Kinsol Trestle and how it looked before resurection.

Spring Snow Storm brings Pink Fury to Greater Victoria

Yesterday a pink snow storm bashed Greater Victoria. Please go to our facebook site to see the incredible devastation cause by nature's fury! It is hard for our prairie friends to appreciate what we have to endure. Please read the captions describing the treacherous sidewalks, dangerous roads, suffering plant life and businesses without customers....it is a tragedy folks! We know how cold and miserable it can get across Canada during the winter, but really folks, this is just too much. Be sure to watch the twister video on our facebook page as well....it was soooo scary! I risked my hide bringing your this story...so please read it with respect. The real tragedy is that I sold my "Blossom Blower".

Adrenaline Zipline Adventure Tours and Fun It Is

We recently went out by Sooke to experience this exciting tour and it was a blast. We would recommend it to anyone. It is exhilerating and breathtaking as you soar through the tree tops. You have to try this sometime. Ron does not do well with heights and he managed this quite well. It is just plane fun that you have to try to understand. It is well run and very safe. It is located on the side of the 17 mile Pub, so have some fun and then have a beer and a great meal in the pub afterwords. This is a must do if you live in Victoria or if you are visiting. Everyone we rode with was from out of town. Check out the smile on Linda's face....it pretty much says it all. View our video of this exciting day.

Spring in Langford BC - where we live

If you would like to check out the impact spring has in Langford in the Western part of Greater Victoria, go to our Facebook Page and have a look. These photos are in our backyard. Even the vegetable garden is edible. Last night we had salad with fresh lettuce from the garden. How good could it get!

One of the nicest entries to a city in Canada is Veteran's Memorial Parkway, the main entry into beautiful Langford BC. Go to our facebook page to check it out.

Special Events Calendar City of Victoria 2011

CITYVibe - Victoria's Guide to Festivals and Outdoor Events

Looking to celebrate summer in Victoria with family and friends? Get your CITYVibe, your free go-to guide for festivals and outdoor events in the Capital City.

In its second year, this City of Victoria publication showcases festivals and celebrations that are recipients of the City's 2011 Festival Investment Grant. The guide also features Victoria's vibrant public markets, City sponsored concerts and events at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park, and Summer in the Square programming in Centennial Square, next to City Hall.

Watch for CITYVibe in early May in your community newspaper, or pick up a copy at your local library, recreation, community or seniors centre, or at Victoria City Hall. To see a photo pictorial of some of the events that occur in Victoria, check our Facebook web site.

You can also view CITYVibe online below.

To view these pdf calendars of events, please click here for live links.
2011 CITYVibe - [PDF 5.3MB]
You can also view the guide by section:

Outdoor Festivals and Events - [PDF 3.7MB]
Stage in the Park (Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park) - [PDF 969KB]
Public Markets - [PDF 1.0MB]
Summer in the Square (Centennial Square, next to Victoria City Hall) - [PDF 701KB]
CITYVibe Map - [PDF 696KB]

Make CITYVibe your guide to summer fun in Victoria! For more information, contact:

Parks, Recreation and Culture Department - 250.361.0388 - Information from the City of Victoria

Avatar Grove in Port Renfrew - an old growth forest of EPIC proportions!

If you live on Vancouver Island, or plan to visit anytime soon, be sure to check out Avatar Grove. This ancient-growth forest is just a 20 minute drive from Port Renfrew (a two-hour drive from Victoria), and it is well worth it!

Avatar is one of the most breathtaking forests of old-growth Red Cedars and Douglas Firs on the Island. Named after the blockbuster movie in an effort to help save it, it truly lives up to the name.

This beautiful forest is particularly precious because it is endangered. According to the Ancient Forest Alliance, "A small portion of the Grove is protected within an Old-Growth Management Area, but most of the largest trees have been surveyed and flagged for logging. So far the Ministry of Forests and Range has not issued any cutting permits for Avatar Grove, but that could change quickly."

The Grove is easily accessed from the road, but the hike is quite rugged and not for the faint of heart! There's no official trail and ropes are provided for climbing up/down steep inclines. The overall distance is about 3 km, and can take anywhere from 1-3 hours to complete, depending on how long you want to stay with some of these amazing trees. Be sure to wear sturdy footwear, layer your clothing, and be prepared for some very large mosquitoes! This is the Wild West Coast in its purest form, and one of the best adventures we've been on here so far!

Visit while you can, enjoy your trip, and be sure to take lots of pictures!

For more photos visit our Facebook Page. For more info on Avatar Grove - and for directions, please visit the AFA Website.

Cidermaster Dinner - at Vista 18 Chateau Victoria

Photo courtesy of Sea Cider

Cidermaster Dinner, Thursday, May 12, 6:00pm - Check out this dinner....mmmmm at the Chateau Victoria and co-hosted by the Sea Cider Farm

Pommeau Cocktail
Assorted canapés to start
~
Pippins
Oyster Bisque
smoked oyster eclair
~
Kings and Spies
Pan Fried Skate Wing
cider beurre blanc and wilted spring greens
note: this is subject to availability. May be a different white fish
~
Wild English
Oven Roasted Chicken Ballotine
smoked cheddar and chorizo farce, soft polenta, sautéed nettles
~
Rum Runner
Blue Cheese Cheesecake
crisp sgambato, cider braised pork, rhubarb caviar
~
Pomona
Orange Maple Crème Caramel
hazelnut shortbread
Cidermaster Dinner

$80.00 (includes applicable tax and gratuity)
For tickets or more information, please call Kevin Neilson at 250.361.5692
Chateau Victoria

World Cocktail Week at Clive's Classic Lounge downtown Victoria BC

Clive’s Classic Lounge in the Chateau Victoria is proud to announce along with the generous sponsorship of Hendrick’s Gin & Plymouth Gin, the festivities that are planned for World Cocktail Week (WCW). World Cocktail Week was established in order to help broaden understanding and appreciation for the cocktail and its historical and culinary significance throughout the world. It will be celebrated this year from May 6 – 13, 2011 with fundraising events planned in cities around the world. The WCW fundraiser also serves to increase our membership, raise much needed revenue for our year-round operating, and enables us to produce our popular Monday Mixology Series.

Clive’s Classic Lounge will be participating in World Cocktail Week by having two fundraising events at the start and the end of the week.

Firstly, to kick the week off right, we will be partnering with Hendrick’s Gin to bring you a very special Experimental Mixology menu focusing on the theme of Cucumber & Rose. When the week is all but almost over, our closing party with Plymouth Gin Party will round the World Cocktail Week off. Plymouth Gin punch, feature cocktails & food will be there to close the week down in style.

Donations will be in the form of $2 from every feature cocktail going to the Museum of the American Cocktail. Show your support & enjoy some of the feature libations coming from the Clive’s Classic Lounge crew.

Clive's Classic Lounge, named after hotel owner Clive Piercy, defines modern elegance while embracing the unique and distinctive qualities of the hotel and its owner. Don't miss this event!

To find links to this hotel and lounge, visit our web site.

Clive’s Classic Lounge in the Chateau Victoria
740 Burdett Ave, Victoria, BC
1 250 884 3116

Adrena Line Adventure Tours - A ZIP Line Adventure

Today we visited AdrenaLINE Adventure Tours near Sooke BC, just on the outskirts of Victoria BC, on Vancouver Island. Our adventure started in the office where we geared up. Then we walked up to the training line to get some practice. Then we loaded up on the ATVs and rode to the top. Then the adventure really began. It was exhilarating, exciting, scary at times, but a real blast overall. Fun is the name of the game and these guys do a really great job. They are extremely safety conscious, but they do everything they can to make sure you have a good time.

You have to experience the ride to believe it! Be sure to give it a try. It is good for all ages. The harness is comfortable and the ride very smooth. When you hit the braking device, there is a slight bump, but it is really nothing.... a good friend making sure you don't crash into the landing pad. We were really high in the tree tops, riding through the canopy of the trees. It was amazing. I am not a lover of heights but it was manageable for me. I was not fond of the suspension bridge, but I just took my time and handled it okay. The rest go easier and more comfortable with each ride, which the guides know and expect. Everyone there truly enjoyed the day. Thanks guys.... !

For more photos, check out our Facebook Page. To find more Adventures like this, visit our Vancouver Island Travel and Tourism web site.

Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island

Cathedral Grove is one of the most accessible stands of giant "old growth" Douglas Fir in British Columbia. You only have to go from your car a few steps into the woods to see these magnificent GIANTS. MacMillan Provincial Park is located between Parksville and Port Alberni on Vancouver Island and it is a magnificent attraction, well worth a visit. When you stand among these giant trees you will find peace and tranquility. You will be humbled by their magnificence. For additional information check out our web site.
For more pictures of Cathedral Grove go to our Facebook Page.