Spring officially is Sunday at 4 but Victoria is ahead

Yesterday I visited Beacon Hill Park to get my dose of Spring Fever....One shot was not enough. Seemed like everywhere I turned the color just got better and better. Passing back through the city I could not help but notice a good number of cars from frozen Alberta. Smart people! Enjoy.... For more pics, visit our facbook site at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=34103&l=16599c13d8&id=152079471515355

Although these photos were taken at Beacon Hill Park, you can see more of the same walking 20 min or so to Saxe Point Park, not far from our B&B.

Victoria showing signs of spring coming

Following the appearance of snow drops and daffodils poking through the earth, the trees are starting their bloom. Once this starts Victorians know that spring is really on the way. In a few weeks full spring bloom will occur. There are a few rhododendrons blossoming as well. So, if you are looking for a place to get out of the snow, Victoria is the place. Come and stay at our B&B.

Spring has Sprung in Victoria - predictions are right

This tree is not laden with blossoms but they are starting to come out. The snow-drops are coming out of the ground as are the tulips. Buds are starting open. I must admit that I have seen blossoms in late December and often in the middle of January, so these are not really that early, even though they have been out for about ten days. I hesitate to post our weather conditions because I have seen what it has been like across Canada and in the USA. We again feel really lucky to live here. We did get snow for a short while. It was however short lived. The second snowfall, I did not even bother to shovel. I let the liquid sunshine take it away. This does not mean that we could not have another downturn in the weather, but all forecasts are for an early spring, so we hope these early signs will bring it on! Spring is in the air!

The Year of the Rabbit - Victoria Chinatown Celebrates February 3-6

Picture above: Crowd watches the Lion Dance just outside the Gates of Harmonious Interest in -
Top Picture: Year of the Rabbit..one of UVic's finest - Why do they hang out there?

Victoria's Chinatown. If you have not gone before, do so soon. It is quite a spectacle of color and pageantry. It is exciting and very well attended. Get their early to get a good viewing point. This year's celebrations take place from February 3-6th.

Victoria Tea Festival Feb 12, 13 at the Crystal Garden

Visit the Victoria Tea Festival
February 12 & 13, 2011 at the Crystal Garden

Come visit the largest public tea exhibition in North America! Hosted in the tea capital of Canada, the 5th annual event features tea tastings, tea-food selections, complimentary presentations, and opportunities to purchase tea, tea-related products, and exquisite tea wares. A Silent Auction (live and online) will be offered. Proceeds to Camosun College Child Care Services! It’s a one stop shop for all things tea! For more info & ticket outlets, click here.

Critic's Choice - Victoria's Best Restaurants

Photo above Courtesy of the Hotel Grand Pacific.

The Victoria Times Colonist Food Critic, Pam Grant just released her Best of Victoria Restaurants for the 2010 year. The Mark shown above is one of Victoria's best restaurants. Her is what Pam says about the Mark. "The city's most exclusive dining spot seats 26. Menus illustrate genuine respect for both ingredient and methodology, offering unique and faultlessly harmonious dishes. Indulge in one of the seasonally themed tasting menus or dine a la carte, with local oysters with horseradish oil and preserved lemon mignoinette, followed by duck breast, butternut squash and chestnut confit and molasses butter. Desert? Perhaps roasted pear tart scented with fennel seed and orange zest, served with tarragon panna cotta and cranberry compote. Service in all venues at this hotel, whether a formal evening at the March or Chef Choy's fabulous dim sum on the patio of the more relaxed Pacific Restaurant is simply exceptional".

Well if you are looking for something special, this is certainly one of the best in the City. We have eaten there and certain "ditto" Pam's remarks. When a food critic gives you the high sign, it is hard to go wrong. Be sure with all of the restaurants discussed here that you make a reservation to avoid disappointment.

Other restaurants that got the go from Pam Grant are:

The West Coast Tap House in the Four Point by Sheraton Victoria Gateway, 829 McCallum Road in beautiful Langford, phone 250-474-6033. We have had great food here as well.

Basilico Ristorante and Lounge, 832 Goldstream Avenue in Langford. Phone 250-391-5589. We have eaten here a number of times and the food is sensational.

Kim's Vietnamese Restaurant, 748 Johnson St., phone 250-385-00455 - We have had good food here as well. Downtown Victoria.

Nar, 2540 Windsor Road, Oak Bay. Phone 250-598-1085. Turkish fare. We have heard good things about this restaurant.

Green Leaf Bistro, 1684 Douglas Street, phone 250-590-8302. Downtown Victoria.

Ulla, 509 Fisgard Street, phone 250-8795. Downtown Victoria.

Bon Sushi, 1467 Hampshire Road, Oak Bay, phone 250-592-0008.

Evadar's Bistro and Wine Bar, 2829 Peatt Road, in Langford. Phone 250-391-8636. As we live near here, we have been to this place multiple times and it is great!

Al-Sultan, 1813 Douglas Street, phone 250-590-4044.

Amrikko's Fine Indian Cuisine, 298 Old Island Highway, phone 250-590-4044.

The Marina Restaurant, 1327 Beach Drive, Oak Bay. Phone 250-598-8555. This restaurant has been around for a long time and it is always good.

Golden Chopsticks Chinese Restaurant, 627 Fort Street, phone 250-388-3148.

Restorante La Piola, 3189 Quadra Street, Saanich. Phone 250-388-3148.

Ho-Ting Chinese Restaurant, 809 Craigflower Road in Vic West, phone 250-383-8897.

To view Pam Grant's comments on these restaurants, click here to view the promo I received.

The Sun Sets in Victoria - a fine Winter Day

With slightly cooler weather on the West Coast, we often get more blue sky. With the clear skies come great sunsets. These two were from last night. We were on the move through Victoria, so we were not strategically located for great photos. As we drove the intensity of the sunsets increased. It was a spectacular evening in Victoria. Enjoy.

For more information on Victoria click here. For a great place to view waterfront sunsets, stay at Hemingway's by the Sea or Denniston by the sea.