Victoria, Canada

Best of the West 
A place to relax after a busy day sight seeing Victoria & surrounding area.
Some "touristy" things to do in Victoria
 
• Empress Hotel
• British Columbia Parliament buildings
• Butchart Gardens
• Royal British Columbia Museum
• Victoria Art Gallery 
• Beacon Hill Park
• Craigdarroch Castle
• Chinatown

Outdoors activities:
Beaver Lake and Elk Lake 10 k walk around lakes
Island View Beach

Rithet’s Bog for bird watching or walking
Mt. Douglas Park for 360 degree view of the area with countless walking trails

SIDNEY (20 minute drive)
Small seaside town with nice waterfront, plenty of bookstores, Ocean Discovery Centre, museum, pubs, shops, aviation museum, and airport.

VANCOUVER ISLAND
Can drive the entire length of Vancouver Island in 8-10 hours
Hike the 7- day West Coast trail;  MUST have reservations
Hike the 4-day Juan de Fuca trail without reservations
Drive to Tofino, Long Beach & Uclulet in  5 hours

Drive to Cathedral Grove in 3 hours to see giant old growth Douglas Firs

Visit Cowichan Bay 1 hour north

Cowichan Valley 40 min. north for great local food & wineries
Chemainus 1 hour 15 minutes north: live theatre, painted murals, living history tours  
 
GULF ISLANDS AND MAINLAND
Ferry & airport terminals 20-30  minutes from our house (see www.bcferries.com)
Salt Spring Island (30 minutes by ferry is the largest Gulf Island. .
Vancouver (1 hr 40 mins. ferry then drive into downtown) Attractions include:
• Stanley Park
• Vancouver Aquarium
• Granville Island with galleries, artist studios and restaurants
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Museum of Anthropology and UBC Gardens

SEATTLE WA, USA (4-5 hrs by car or by ferry.)