Travels
A Victoria Day Trip
By The Gremotraveler
If you have ever made your way out to Vancouver and have seen all of the sights, a day trip to Victoria is an ideal diversion for the epicurean tourista. Canada's West Coast mini-London has preserved the many traditions of the mother country with a contemporary flair.
The best way to experience a day in Victoria is by sea plane. West Coast Air departs from Vancouver Harbour next to Canada Place and they offer direct service to Victoria Harbour for roughly $200 return per person. Given the time saved, the spectacular views, and the overall experience versus the ferry, it is a great deal.
But before you board, you are going to need some supplies. Be sure to stop by Caper's Community Market (now part of Whole Foods) at 1675 Robson Street, a few blocks south from the waterfront. Here you will find some great organic snacks to keep you powered through the day, like freshly picked Goldens from the Okanagon apple region or local pears, plumes, and peaches. They also have a great selection of BC Artisan Cheeses.
With snacks and some comfortable shoes, you take off for the 35 minute crossing to Victoria. They don't show any movie because the exceptional views of the mountains and Gulf Islands from the plane distract from the plot and upsets the director. When you land, you are in the heart of the harbour, and ready for lunch. Why not catch something quick like a oven fired pizza at The Tapa Bar in the heart of Trounce Alley. The small little bistro is cozy and eclectic and its location on the narrow Trounce Alley ads to its charm. Oh, and the food is pretty good too!
After a light lunch, it is time to explore Victoria. The city is very pedestrian friendly with most of the must-see attractions located on or near Government Street. A must-stop is Murchie's Tea & Coffee located at 1110 Government Street. Founded in 1894 by John Murchie, the company has a long tradition of producing world-class teas and coffees. Their No 10 blend, named after the famous No 10 Downing Street in London, is a mild, sweet blend of green and black teas. Grandfather John Murchie's unconventional tea blending ideas resulted in one of Murchie's most famous blends. His unusual method of blending green and black teas together was controversial and scoffed by experts at the time. However, he obviously did something right because over 100 years later it remains one of their best sellers.
Down the street is one of Victoria's finest attractions, the historic building housing Munro's Books. In 1963, Jim Munro and his first wife, Alice (yes, the author) - set up shop in a long, narrow space on Yates Street, near Victoria's movie theatres. The fine neo-classical building they restored and currently occupy was designed for the Royal Bank of Canada in 1909 by Thomas Hooper, the architect of many of B.C.'s finest commercial and public buildings. The beautiful coffered 24ft. ceiling closely resembles the ceiling of the porch of the great library of Ephesus built by the Romans in ancient times. Besides being beautiful, the store has an excellent selection of cookbooks. A choice selection would be Giuseppe Posteraro's cookbook based on his famous Vancouver restaurant Cioppino's in Yaletown. Known to his many friends as "Pino", his book will surprise and refresh your taste buds with "Cucina Naturale" which is his forte. Basically, a classical style of cooking, "Cucina Naturale" emphasizes the use of fresh ingredients, especially vegetables.
Further towards the harbour is the flagship store for Roger's Chocolates (913 Government Street). The first Rogers' chocolates were made in 1885 by Charles "Candy" Rogers in the back of his grocery store in Victoria, B.C. He quickly became a popular man. In 1891, Rogers expanded his chocolate operation to the company's current heritage storefront on Government Street and the rest, as they say, is history. Many of the traditional methods undertaken over 100 years ago are still used today and their loyal fans span the globe.
After some shopping, be sure to spend some time wandering the harbourfront and seeing the site. If you don't mind the hike, a trip to the southern point of Victoria along Dallas Road offers spectacular views of the Olympic Range in nearby Washington State. If you are a romantic, why not bring a bottle of local wine to enjoy (discreetly) while enjoying the view. The 2005 Kettle Valley Winery Merlot is a pleasant wine to sip while you take in the beauty that is the west coast. Opened in 1996, the winery takes its name from the Kettle Valley Railway, which traveled through the Naramata area on the east side of Okanagan Lake. Naramata is easily the premier growing region in British Columbia, with it's moderate temperatures, abundant sunshine and cooling breezes. Kettle Valley Winery is known for it's dark, intense and well structured red wines, including Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
After a day of site seeing and a few bottles of Merlot, it is time to say goodbye to Victoria. If you are a last-minute hopeful, you may want to take a few minutes to reserve a table at Cioppino's (1133 Hamilton Street) in Vancouver. After all, you should be back on the mainland within 45 minutes.
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