Airports, Attractions, Activities

Victoria

British Columbia

VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL MARINA, WITH THE CITY’S INNER HARBOUR BEYOND

PHOTO COURTESY SPARTAN MEDIA GROUP

THE 55-ACRE BUTCHART GARDENS

PHOTO COURTESY THE BUTCHART GARDENS

MARINE FACILITIES

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Reporting requirements for private boaters. Check the individual marina listings below for the nearest CBSA locations. cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/pb-pp-eng.html.

Victoria International Marina (VIM)

Victoria Middle Harbor The only dedicated superyacht marina in Canada or on the West Coast of the Americas. Floating concrete docks accommodate yachts up to 240 feet, max draft 10-16 feet. Wi-Fi/fiber, water, pump out, crew lounge, 50/100 amp single and three-phase power, concierge service, secure underground parking, luxury showers, gym, and event space. Boom+Baton full-service restaurant and coffee shop on site. A 10-minute waterfront walk into downtown. Fuel and customs immediately across the harbor at CSBA Raymur Point dock. vimarina.ca

Wharf Street Marina Victoria Inner Harbour

Floating concrete docks accommodate yachts up to 150 feet. WiFi, 30/50/100 amp power, fuel at Victoria Marine Fuels Fisherman’s Wharf in the harbor. Washrooms, showers, laundry next to the marina. Steps from downtown eateries, attractions, and amenities. Mandatory online reservations. Customs at CBSA Raymur Point dock in the harbor. gvha.ca/marinas-facilities/wharf-st

Ship Point Marina Victoria Inner Harbour

Floating concrete docks accommodate yachts up to 150 feet. WiFi, 30/50 amp power plus 100 amp three-phase 208 volt and 100 amp three-phase 480 volt, fuel at Victoria Marine Fuels Fisherman’s Wharf in the harbor. Steps from downtown eateries, attractions, and amenities. Mandatory online reservations. Customs at CBSA Raymur Point dock in the harbor. gvha.ca/marinas-facilities/causeway-inner-harbour

Port Sidney Marina One-hour cruise from Victoria harbor

Floating concrete docks accommodate yachts up to 140 feet, max draft 12 feet. Wifi, 15/30/50 amp power, pump out, water, laundry, 40x50-foot event tent for special events, retail clothing, chandlery, yacht sales and charters, marine supply store. CBSA customs clearance at the marina. portsidney.com

Mill Bay Marina One-hour 45-minute cruise north of Victoria Harbour

Floating docks accommodate yachts up to 300 feet. Wifi, 30 and 50 amp power, pump out, water, fuel, washroom, shower, laundry facilities, on-site Oceanfront Bistro, close walking distance to groceries and amenities. Nearest customs clearance at Port Sidney Marina, Sidney, BC. millbaymarina.ca

large investments in safe biking routes and trail networks, Victoria was declared the most bike-friendly city in Canada for 2019. Bike rental shops offer full- and half-day guided tours for small groups, as well as self-guided tours with maps or simply bike rentals to go it on your own.

Around the almost circular Inner Harbour during spring, summer, and fall, musicians of different ethnic backgrounds and genres perform, and there are dozens of fine artists at work, many of whom are First Nations (indigenous Canadians). A few minutes’ walk from the harbor is the oldest Chinatown in Canada, 150 years and still vibrant with authentic flavors and oriental fragrances emanating from every shop and narrow alleyway.

Never may I be accused of underrating the remarkable 55 acres that make up the year-round floral masterpiece that is The Butchart Gardens (butchartgardens. com). It is a 40-minute car or bus ride from downtown and worthy of a minimum half-day visit. Or combine a seaplane flightseeing tour with a spectacular inlet landing at the Butchart dock, followed by a sumptuous afternoon tea in the garden dining room.

Southern Vancouver Island offers the perfect climate to transform a wide range of grape varietals into impressive wines at owner-operated boutique wineries. Two local cideries offer tours of their farms, with hundreds of apple trees of different historic lineage and a sample “flight” of different ciders made there. There is also a well-established meadery (alcoholic honey) and several craft spirits distilleries, all receiving international recognition. Much earlier out the “spirits” gate, the Fairmont Empress Hotel (fairmont.com/ empress-victoria) launched its famous blue artisanal Empress 1908 gin, still a unique request from many visitors and a perfect Victoria souvenir.

Not surprisingly, Victoria annually garners recognition in prestigious publications. When Victoria made the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice list of “10 Friendliest Cities in the World” — now, that brought a smile to the face of this resident of nearly 30 years. It is fine to boast about the mild climate, manicured gardens and world-class museums, the mix of awesome nature, the arts, culinary adventures, and the shopping, but when visitors notice that Victoria is among the world’s most friendly cities, that moves my hometown to a whole new level. ‹

THE 114-YEAR-OLD FAIRMONT EMPRESS HOTEL

PHOTO COURTESY TOURISM VICTORIA/DEDDEDA STEMLER

CANADA’S OLDEST CHINATOWN

PHOTO ALISON GARDNER

CAPT. KINGSLEY GRANT OF KINGSIZE ADVENTURES

THE MALAHAT SKYWALK,THE REGION’S NEWEST ATTRACTION

PHOTO HAMISH HAMILTON

VICTORIA-BASED ALISON GARDNER IS A TRAVEL WRITER AND EDITOR OF TRAVELWITHACHALLENGE.COM, AN ONLINE MAGAZINE FOR MATURE TRAVELERS FEATURING ECOLOGICAL, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND VOLUNTEER VACATIONS WORLDWIDE.

Victoria International Airport (YYJ)

7,400-foot runway, customs available. victoriaairport.com

Kenmore Air (seaplane operator)

Daily services between Seattle and Victoria’s Inner Harbour, customs available. kenmoreair.com/victoria-seaplane-terminal

Harbour Air Seaplanes

Daily departures between Victoria’s Inner Harbour and seven British Columbia coastal destinations. harbourair.com

HeliJet International

Scheduled Vancouver Harbour Heliport and Victoria Harbour Heliport near downtown Victoria. helijet.com

ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES

A Taste of Victoria Food Tours

Ttwo-hour walking and tasting tour around Chinatown, Victoria’s oldest quarter. One of “Canada’s Top 10 Experiences” on TripAdvisor and the No. 1-rated food tour in the country for two years running! atasteofvictoriafoodtours.com

Arcadia Tours

Four-hour guided tour by luxury minivan featuring tastings at the award-winning boutique wineries, cideries and distilleries of the picturesque Saanich Peninsula. arcadiatours.ca

The Pedaler: Victoria by Bike

Bike rentals or guided tours. The 6.5-mile “Eat.Drink. Pedal” tour is a foodie’s delight, and the 6-mile “Hoppy Hour Ride” features tastings at the finest breweries. thepedaler.ca

KingSize Adventures

With his 40 years of fresh and saltwater fishing experience and a vast knowledge of the indigenous species, Capt. Kingsley Grant offers guests an unparalleled adventure catching halibut, salmon, rockfish or lingcod on a spacious 33-foot vessel. fishoakbay.com

Twofiveo Tour Co.

Tours of internationally-awarded wineries, cideries, and breweries in the Cowichan Valley, an hour north of Victoria. twofiveotourco.com

Harbour Air Seaplanes

Harbour Air offers a “Classic Panorama” flight tour over Greater Victoria, as well as “Soar ‘n Sip,” which includes a stop at The Butchart Gardens for tea and a stroll. harbourair.com

Malahat SkyWalk

A 2,000-foot TreeWalk through an arbutus forest leading to a spectacular spiral ramp that entices guests up 105 feet to a lookout with views of Finlayson Arm, the Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker volcano, and the Coast Mountains. malahatskywalk.com

Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit (VIMC)

Rent a fleet vehicle to test your skills on a half-day “Taste of the Circuit” or choose a guide-led tour of this country road region while sampling different luxury brand vehicles from behind the wheel. islandmotorsportcircuit.com