Things to Do

So much to do and so little time...

Walking | Birding | Running | Golfing | Biking | Kayaking | Fishing
| Whale Watching | Classic Cars | Working Out | Farms & Wineries | The Arts | Dining Out

Greater Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula are teeming with things to do and see, from simple activities like walking along empty beaches and just breathing the clean air and admiring the views, to more structured activities. If a really rainy day beckons, then downtown Victoria, with art galleries, museums and interesting shops and antique dealers await. If you want to venture further afield on Vancouver Island, we've also highlighted the more popular destinations.

Here is just a very brief glimpse of some activities that may interest you. Your hosts will be more than happy to give you additional information once you arrive!

Walking

From our home you can walk to beaches and through forests and farmland on dedicated multi-use trails. All you need to decide is how long you want to spend and we can give you an itinerary to suit. The trails are both flat and hilly, so again, you choose the "degree of difficulty"! We can design walking routes that provide a "refreshment break" in a tea-room, coffee house or beachfront patio. Our favourite places are Adrienne's Tea Room at Mattick's Farm, for a great pot of tea (in its own cosy!) and pastries in an informal environment or McMorran's Beach House on Cordova Bay beach for lunch or just a cold beer on the patio. A great feature of our area is the numerous walking trails that lead through the local residential areas, allowing you to discover the neighbourhood without being confined to sidewalks.

If you want to go slightly further afield, there are many Capital Region District Parks within a 5-20 minute drive. These have clearly defined trails and offer a variety of terrain. Our favourites are Elk/Beaver Lake (three minute drive), Thetis Lake (15 minute drive) and Islandview Beach (10 minute drive).

Also, Goldstream Provincial Park (20 minute drive) is a special treat, especially during the salmon runs where a trail takes you steps away from the spawning fish and the many Bald Eagles that come here to feed on them. To enjoy spectacular 360 degree views of Victoria, the Olympic mountains and the San Juan Islands, visit Mount Douglas Park, a five minute drive away. Many trails are here, but to get to the top is quite a hike, so if you're unsure about your level of energy, we suggest you drive to the small parking lot at the peak and take a short ramble to the look-out. Another favourite place, close to downtown is Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, with trails around the lake and up the hill (the best birding near downtown). This is a ten minute drive from our home. For these trips, you may want us to pack a tasty picnic lunch for you. We can also loan you a pair of portable recliner chairs for you to relax on if you want to put your feet up for a while.

Of course, no trip to the Victoria area is complete without visiting the world-famous destination The Butchart Gardens, an attraction that boasts fifty-five acres of year-round floral displays. Checkout the rose garden in the summer - spectacular and scent-sational!

After the gardens have lunch or dinner at the eclectic Blues Bayou Cafe set on stilts overlooking the water of Brentwood Bay, great Cajun food and atmosphere here.

Downtown Victoria is especially "walker-friendly", the Downtown Victoria Business Association has published a New Walk Map brochure featuring six one-hour walks, also featuring the "Top 10 Photo Locations" . We have complementary copies of the map for our guests. If you take walk number four along Dallas Road, you must stop off at the Ogden Point Cafe for an ice cream or a snack, to marvel at the spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and the cruise ships docked at the terminal. You will also enjoy walk number six, around and through Beacon Hill Park where you can find the largest Great Blue Heron colony on the Island - see the web cam here. During summer listen to the swing music in the bandshell or watch a cricket match on the green. For another view of Victoria, arrange a trip on one of the Victoria Harbour Ferries to get a tour of the Inner Harbour and the Gorge Waterway - no walking required! Arrange to take walk number one along the Westsong Walkway, stop halfway at Spinnakers Brewpub, the first brewpub in B.C., offering superb beers, food and views. After refreshment, continue to West Bay Marina and take the ferry back to downtown from there.

If you would like to go on a guided walking tour, one of Victoria's favourite historians and authors, John Adams hosts several walks. Try Ghostly Walks, Fan Tan Alley or Discovery Walks. More information is here. The Old Cemeteries Society hosts Sunday afternoon walks starting in mid-February. More information here.

Birding [back to top]

If you like birding (bird spotting), there are many opportunities for this around the Saanich peninsula. From our front deck you may see: Bald Eagle, Coopers Hawk, Anna's Hummingbird, Turkey Vulture, Great Blue Heron, Pileated Woodpecker, Common Towhee and other species. By going further afield, you have a great chance of seeing more. For example, on the seashore, Black Oyster Catcher; in woodland and field edges California Quail and Barred Owl; in farmland, in the right season, Trumpeter Swans. You can see the recent "web stars" from the comfort of your own PC - the Eagle Eye live cam of the Bald Eagle nest and chicks on the Saanich Peninsula, a few kilometers away from us. Be quick - the chicks are growing quickly!

If you would like to have an escorted local birding tour, Gord O'Neill of Birdup will customize a personal birding tour for you.You tell him what species you are interested in seeking out. he picks you up, equips you with binoculars (should you need them) you head to the locations where he had success in locating those birds. During the tour he offers assistance in field identification, provides you with a customized lunch, and brings you back home at the end of the day.

You can take your own birding pictures, or for memorable professional pictures, purchase from one of our local wildlife photographers. Tony de Goutière is a local photographer who takes some excellent photos. The Anna's Hummingbird and the Cedar Waxwing (at the left and right of the birding section above) are from him. Tony can be contacted by e-mail by clicking here. Edwin Willcox on nearby Gabriola Island also takes great photographs (the Bald Eagles on the nest above is one of his). Edwin can be contacted by e-mail by clicking here.

Running [back to top]

If you are an active runner, you can obviously run on many of the walking trails described above, but if you want to compete, the Vancouver Island Runners Association have nine races between 8km and half-marathon. They start in mid-January and end in May, perfect for those who live in colder climates and who wish to keep in trim during the depths of the winter months. Of course, in the fall is the Royal Victoria Marathon which has 8km, half and full marathon circuits as well as a Kids Run course.

Golfing [back to top]

Victoria is the year-round golfing capital of Canada. There are nineteen (yes nineteen!) courses within a thirty minute drive from our home. Checkout the overview map here. However, you don't have to get into the car if you don't want to - there are two courses within walking distance of our home. There is the Cordova Bay Golf Course, a par 72 eighteen hole public facility. This also provides a driving range and a putting course. They have a good restaurant and bar, including a patio that overlooks the greens. Directly opposite is the Ridge Golf Course, a nine hole par three course and eighteen hole putting course. They also have a licensed cafe and patio that overlooks the course. For the young and young at heart, while away a couple of summer hours at the Mini Golf Course at Matticks Farm. A three minute drive away is the Royal Oak Golf Club, a nine hole course. A five minute drive away is another public course, the nine hole Mount Douglas Golf Course.

Your own skill level will lead you to the courses that meet your needs, suffice it to say that you will be spoilt for choice!

Biking [back to top]

Victoria also leads Canada as being the biking capital. More people bike to work here than in any other city, a result of the combination of a year-round temperate climate, numerous bike lanes on public roads and dedicated biking trails. The Canadian National and Olympic bike teams train year round here - so they must know something! All levels and types of bikers can enjoy themselves here, from novices who prefer level dedicated trails, to serious road/tri bikers as well as simple to tough mountain bike trails. Check out cyclevancouverisland.ca - it is a great overall biking site

From the top of our street, you can drop down 200 feet to the 29km Lochside Regional Trail, a multi-use (biking, walking, bridle path) trail, most of which is on dedicated, non-motorised roads. You can bike South to downtown Victoria in thirty minutes, or North to the ferry terminal in the same amount of time. At Victoria, it connects to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, a 55km trail.

Also locally, you can bike from our house to Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park which has yet more bike trails. Serious mountain bikers will want to try out the Mount Work Regional Park, a ten minute drive away. The South Island Mountain Bike Society has a good web-site for bikers.

Numerous bike rental locations exist, so if you are not bringing your own bikes with you, we can help you arrange a rental that suits you. We will be happy to pick-up and drop-off your bikes from the rental location. We can also make sure your tires are well inflated and help fix any flats you get.

Kayaking [back to top]

Although residents Kayak year-round here, the spring and summer are the best times for visitors to get a taste of this great activity. Guided tours and rentals are the way to go. All levels of Kayaking can be accommodated. If you've never done this, don't be put off by any "fear factor", the entry level programs are held in safe, sheltered waters with fully qualified instructors. We would highly recommend Pacifica Paddle Sports who have the full gamut of rentals, tours, trips and lessons. For novices who want to have a reassuring introduction to Kayaking, checkout their Pool Lessons where kayaking techniques, especially tipping and re-entry can be practiced in a nice warm indoor pool. We have personally experienced these and highly recommend them.

Another good organization is Ocean River sports, who again offer the full range of services.

If you have your own kayaks, then we can store them inside for you in our garage and point you to launch spots only minutes away from us, inland on the sheltered Elk/Beaver Lakes or on the Ocean in Cordova Bay, both less than five minutes drive away.

Fishing [back to top]

Great fishing exists right off downtown in the Juan de Fuca Strait, or slightly further afield from Sooke (right on the open Pacific), a 45 minute drive away. We would recommend Paul Paquin of If We're Lucky. He provides everything you need, just bring warm clothing and sandwiches!

Whale Watching [back to top]

Although whale watching is available all over Vancouver Island, Victoria is particularly lucky in that there are "resident" pods of Killer Whales that stay in the local area year round. This allows multiple companies to offer tours directly from the Inner Harbour in downtown, a fifteen minute drive away. Although Orcas are the big draw, these tours also take you to see Humpbacks and Fin Whales, Dall's Porpoises, Elephant Seals, Stellar & California Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and more.

Popular companies are Prince of Whales, Springtide, Orca Spirit, Ocean Explorations, Great Pacific Adventures and more - just fire up Google and research away.

After a day's adventure, return to your home base at Bay and Harbour Havens, where you can re-charge your batteries over a refreshing pot of tea and snack. What could be better than to relax in your own spacious room and replay your digital pictures on your in-room TV! You can also use our spotting scope to view some more Elephant seals lazing on Seal Rock in the bay.

Classic Cars [back to top]

If you are a classic car enthusiast, then Victoria is the place to be! There is an abundance of antique and classic cars, usually having been immaculately restored by loving owners. There are many car shows each year. In the spring (around the middle of June) the British Car Picnic gathers in Beacon Hill Park in downtown Victoria. Over 150 cars and motorcycles are on display. In the middle of July, mostly American classic cars are showcased right downtown outside the Empress Hotel and the BC Legislature. Also in July is the Victoria MG Club meet in Gyro Park. In mid-August, all makes of classic cars are on display in Oak Bay Avenue, a few kilometers from downtown. In mid-September, the Old English Car Club hosts the English Car Affair in the Park at Fort Rodd Hill, a national historic site. As soon as we know the specific dates for 2006 we will post them on the "events" page on this site.

Working Out [back to top]

If you keep to a regular workout regime and want to continue this during your vacation, we are a three minute drive away from Saanich Commonwealth Place, a multi-purpose recreation complex built for the 1994 Commonwealth Games, hosted in Victoria. Here you will find a full size gymnasium, aerobic and dance studio, fully equipped weight room, dive tank with 1, 3 and 5 metre boards, 50 metres olympic pool for length swims (open at 5:30am for the keen ones!) a steam room and sauna, with a cafe and free parking.

Farms and Wineries [back to top]

If you want to rest your feet, take a driving tour of the Saanich Peninsula or slightly further afield. The peninsula is blessed with abundant rich farmland, which in season allows many options for driving from "farm gate to farm gate" to observe and buy the local produce. Most of the produce is fully organic or natural - much of which we use in our breakfasts. In addition to the farms, there are a number of farmers' markets open on the weekends where, in addition to fruit, vegetables and meats, local craftspeople display their wares for sale. This is a great "browsing" activity on a warm spring or summer's day! The Southern Vancouver Island District Farm Marketing Association has all the resources you need to help you plan your trips (we will help you too with some extra local knowledge!)

We also have many wineries on the Saanich Peninsula as well as a small drive away in the Cowichan Valley. The Taste the Wine Islands is an excellent site that fully documents the cideries, wineries and bistros and brewpubs that serve the products. This site has great maps to guide you in your wine tour planning. We have printed copies of the Wine Islands brochure for our guests to use. Our recommendation would be to include the Saanich Peninsula wineries as part of your farm & markets tour, but to dedicate a full two days to the Cowichan Valley, a beautiful location. Of particular mention is Merridale Estate Cidery whose different ciders and apple wine are all excellent. They have a great restaurant where you can sample a beverage or two while enjoying lunch on their patio overlooking the apple orchards. Also worth a visit are Godfrey-Brownell Vineyards, Venturi-Schulze Vineyards (try their balsamic vinegar), Cherry Point Vineyards (try their blackberry port), Blue Grouse Vineyards, Echo Valley Vineyards.

We would recommend staying overnight in the village of Cowichan Bay and recommend you eat dinner in the Rock Cod Cafe - the freshest fish dinner at the best value in a very informal environment. There is an assortment of B&B and hotel accommodations to choose from here. We especially recommend Pebbled Shores B&B, where Colin and Gloria will take great care of youb in their beautiful purpose built waterfront home. Before you leave in the morning, visit True Grain Bread on the main street - fantastic breads!

We have a full binder of information available about the Cowichan Valley to help you plan your trip.