Chateau Victoria Clives Tiki Tiki Summer Cocktail Launch Party

TIKI PARTY
APRIL 1 ~ 6pm – 8pm

Tiki culture has always been associated with long summer nights, gaudy mugs and even gaudier garnishes. Tiki is the epitome of what summer should be if you were in the tropics.

Clive’s Classic Lounge is proud to announce the launch of its new Spring/Summer cocktail list with a launch party with a difference. TIKI TIKI is taking over the lounge in a big way with a full page of the new list dedicated to Tiki drinks such as the Zombie, Mai Tai and Pisco Punch. Clive’s will be the place to come after the sun goes down and you want to continue the summer rush.

The launch party is April 1 starting at 6pm, come dressed in your favourite Hawaiian outfit and enjoy samples of some classic Tiki cocktails and finger food with Shawn and the gang.

This is your opportunity to kick off the summer right!



Located Lobby Level ~ Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites
http://www.clivesclassiclounge.com/ 250.361.5684

For more info on the Chateau Victoria, click here.

Christ Church Cathedral Easter Weekend

Check out what is happening this weekend at Christ Church Cathedral.

Student Fine Art Show and Sale Victoria BC - Victoria College of Art

Join us to celebrate our 36th annual year-end show at Victoria College of Art. This is a free event with live music and refreshments featuring over 400 works of art on display and super sale from $25 and up. The college is in an interesting 104 year old ex public school close to Richmond and Oak Bay, built by the Rattenbury firm, architects of the Empress and Parliament buildings. You will thoroughly enjoy Artblast. The show runs Friday April 9th - 7:00 - 9:30pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The school is at 1625 Bank Street and details can be obtained at 250-598-5422.

Secrets of Victoria, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands

The Ogden Point Breakwater on Dallas Road in Victoria is one of the secrets of the city that only a few tourist find. You can walk out on the breakwater for a half mile to the mouth of Victoria's Inner Harbour. We found lots of marine life including barnacles, limpets, chitons, mussels, snails, several anemones and an abalone that had its shell dancing for us. On other visits we have seen seals, sealions, and whales. You just don't know what you will see when you walk into the sea. It is a great place to scuba dive or watch divers in action. People fish off the breakwater and catch ling cod, rock fish and even salmon. All the marine action from the Inner Harbour passes the end of the breakwater. Cafe 199 is a great place to have coffee, tea, cool drinks and snacks or lunch. The view is spectacular as you can clearly see the Olympic Mountains that backdrop Juan de Fuca strait. Sea birds are everywhere. You can see pictures on Facebook so become a friend a stay tuned on Victoria, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Or follow us on Twitter to keep tuned to what is happen now. Follow our blog, Facebook and Twitter and you will be on top of what is happening on Vancouver Island, Victoria and the Gulf Islands. We also do articles on special locations on our travel magazine. Stay with us and you will be informed on Victoria, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The Secrets will unfold before your eyes.

Sooke Harbour House Sooke BC Special Event

When you know how to grow your own herbs and vegetables, cooking takes on a new dimension. Check out this special event at Sooke Harbour House. Visit Sooke Harbour House, Click Here.

Galiano Island Galiano Inn Gulf Islands BC

Do you know what you are looking at? We are in the Gulf Island near Victoria. These photos are taken on Galiano Island. The top picture is the view from our room at the Galiano Inn on Galiano Island. This beautiful Inn is within walking distance from the Sturdies Bay Ferry Dock. Behind the dock is spectacular snow-covered Mount Baker in Washington State. The picture above that is a spectacular cave on the west side of the island at Retreat Cove. It is accessible from shore which is rare. The photo just above was take at the Bluffs Park and you can see all the way to Victoria and beyond to the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. This is just a sample of what can be found on Galiano Island. If you go there, I recommend you stay at the Galiano Inn. It is very special and has a great spa and very good food.

For more information on Galiano Island click here.

Bear Mountain Valley Course - Beyond Scenic

Almost every hole on the new 18 hole valley course at bear mountain could be called a signature hole. The holes are beautiful with a dash of trouble on almost every hole. There are a few sand traps that could sub in for the beach at Thetis Lake Park. There are a few water hazards that keep you honest. The greens were probably designed by Leonardo da Vinci, beautiful but full of intrigue. All in all, it is a very impressive golf course. With the different tee choices, there are lengths for every level of golfer. The women's tees are well planned to give females a competitive position against long hitting male partners. Everything at Bear Mountain is done with class. The on-board GPS really helps when you are playing the course for the first time. It helps with the distance guess work. Thanks to all the staff who helped put on today's event, especially my personal guide Rick. He was so helpful, especially with the advice about the arbutus tree. If you are looking for some great golf on world class golf courses, Bear Mountain has two of them. Check it out. Have a look at the monster trap (above) on one of the par 3 holes.

For more information on golf on Vancouver Island, click here.

Terrible Snow Storm Hits Victoria Mid March

Today was an unusual day in Victoria. Overnight it snowed, however it was a typical spring snow. It was supposed to rain, but overnight temperatures caused the rain to turn to snow. I exercise each morning and during my exercise the snow started to melt. I ran to grab my camera to take a photo before it melts. You can see the cement where the snow has already melted. It is going up to 9C today, so it will all be gone soon. This is a good day, no shovelling. Too bad though, it did cover over the blossoms along side the curbs. I am not sure the tulips liked the snow.

Painting in the jungle with Wild Arts at Victoria Butterfly Gardens

Painting in the jungle with Wild Arts at Victoria Butterfly Gardens!
Come explore your Wild Side with creative adventures for kids.

Workshops include a tour of the gardens, interactive personal artistic encouragement, all painting supplies, a nutritious snack and all day access to Victoria Butterfly Gardens following your class.

After a playful exploration of the beautiful plants and creatures inhabiting the Gardens, we will paint and draw what most inspires us. Wild Arts instructor, Fiona Percy encourages us on this magical adventure into our creative wild side.


Children's workshops in March:
March 8th, 10th, 12th, 15th, and 17th
From 11:30 am - 1 pm

Children's workshops in April:
April 17th & 18th
From 11:30 am - 1 pm

Cost: $22.50 plus tax includes all day admission, a healthy snack,
all necessary materials and art to take home! *Children aged 4 - 12 years

Adult, Senior and Student Workshops in April:
April 17th & 18th
From 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Cost: $24.50 plus tax includes all day admission, a healthy snack,
all necessary materials and art to take home! *Student age begins at 13 years

Contact Kacey at Victoria Butterfly Gardens for details and registration.
Email: info@butterflygardens.com
Phone: 250-652-3822 ext. 101

For more information on Butterfly Gardens, click here.

Easter Brunch Victoria Style - Inn at Laurel Point

If you are looking for something special to during the Easter holiday season, check out the brunch at the Inn at Laurel Point. Enjoy a lavish buffet brunch this Easter at the Inn with adults at $39 and children 5-11 years $20. At this popular event, seatings are every half hour from 9:30am until 1:30pm (Seatings are reserved on a 1¾ hour basis. You can reserve on-line at www.aurarestaurant.ca or via telephone 250.414.6739

For more information about the Inn at Laurel Point, click here. For more information about Victoria, click here.

Spring time in Victoria, Blossom Boom

There are many things I like about Spring in Victoria, but it is the blossoms that really let me know that it is time for a new "beginning". The cycle starts again with a blast of color all over the city. The snow drops and blue bells are up first, followed by the daffodils, all of which were really early this year. Sometimes the first Cherry trees blossom in early January, but the explosion happened in February. The city is currently filled with white and pink blossoms. It is beautiful and early leafing trees are starting to bloom. Some of the Cherry trees are already past their peaks and starting to show green leaves. What is really cool is when the blossoms start to fall and the streets and curb sides are filled with blossoms. It looks like snow, but it isn't. This is the spectacular part of living in Victoria. The rest of Canada wont get this kind of weather till May or later. Enjoy the pictures of Spring in Victoria.

To find out more about Victoria, click here.