Daniel_Williams

Hello

I'm planning on going to Victoria this summer and wished to stay in a part of town (I have a preference for B&B or locally-run hotels) which has access to a bit of streetlife (restaurants and grocery stores), such that I can walk and take public transit to sites. I tend to like areas that have a bit of artistic, bohemian flair (creatively-decorated homes and gardens, areas with some home-grown musical nightlife, that kind of thing). Any suggestions of what streets I should be looking to be close to.

Also, during the day, I love to check out peaceful city parks. (I'm planning on going to Butchart Gardens.) Let me know if you have any favourites, whether you like it for its pretty views, manicured gardens, peaceful energy or even if lots of people roam through but it has an energy you enjoy. If you like it, I want to check it out!

Best wishes,

DAN

Cruiseryyc

You should look for B&B's in the Cook Street Village area, lots of "bohemian flare". Plus it's close enough to downtown to walk, within walking distance to Beacon Hill Park which has lovely gardens. You still have to take a trip out to Butchart's though, it's not to be missed.

SusanInToronto

Hi Dan. We've been to Victoria several times, but usually stay with friends, so I can't offer advice on specific places to stay. We were told one odd thing though. We had gone to meet other friends for brunch and then we flagged down a cab to take us back to where we were staying. Apparently that's unusual in Victoria - people don't 'flag' cabs! We were told that you would usually get the restaurant to call, etc. I don't know if that's true, but coming from Toronto, that seemed very odd to us. It seemed like the kind of advice you'd get in Mexico City, not Victoria!

traveller69

Susan I think perhaps why someone told you that about flagging a cab was because there was an incident with a cab driver a few years ago. I can't remember all of the details but a woman was assaulted by a cab driver. Of course the got the guy but at that time they were advising women to have someone call the cab so they knew it was legit - not just someone out there looking for victims. That is probably good advice for a single woman in a new town but other than that it is perfectly fine to flag a cab. I will post some recommendations for B&B's and gardens later. Have a good time.

April

The James Bay neighbourhood by the harbour is less bohemian perhaps but close to many main sights and downtown, and still within walking distance to Beacon Hill Park and the waterfront.

As for gardens, Government House at 1401 Rockland Avenue has lovely grounds to visit and it's free. Be sure to walk behind the residence which, to me, is the highlight with the rock gardens, Garry oak covered slope and views to the ocean. Best in spring perhaps, there are ever changing flowers, some unusual, along the loop path. Many of my favourite photos were taken here. I enjoy the feeling of peaceful solitude at any time of day, but in the early morning you might find very few people around.

If you take the path down to the right of the house you can follow it and the driveway back up to the rose garden. Benches are positioned along the way. Open from dawn to dusk.

I think Victoria is not the green garden city of yesteryear. Lack of rain and water restrictions have left it quite brown in the summertime. Places like Butchart's won't be affected though.

hdm

We did Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle -- all without a car.

We stayed at the Hotel Magnolia in Victoria's harbour area and it was lovely. It's a two-minute walk away from everything.

traveller69

Dan - Here is a website for garden tours. Some friends did this and really enjoyed it. You get to see private gardens as well as public.
http://www.victoriangardentours.com/

sinecure

With the new reservoir they build a few years ago, there have not been any watering restrictions. So it should look as it once did.

Cheers,
-S

traveller69

Don't worry about Victoria being brown this year!!!! Its very green.

April

Yes, so far, she said looking out at the pouring rain.

April

PS. The Stage 1 water conservation bylaw will probably be in effect during the summer months. But regardless of all that, I just meant that people in Victoria don't water their lawns and gardens as much as they used to. Flower baskets will be downtown as usual.

Wallace_and_Gromit

I'm also doing Vancouver/Victoria without a car at the end of August.

I always stay at B&Bs and do a lot of research to make sure I choose the right one (for me). I have only been disappointed with my decision once. (In Toronto)

I will be staying at the Medana Grove
http://www.medanagrove.com/index.html

but my 2nd choice is the one I think you might be interested in :

http://www.marketas.com/

Let me know if you want to swap research. (Also, if you click on my screen-name, you can see questions I asked about Victoria)

Wallace_and_Gromit

PS- I just realized that if you briefly look at the link I gave you for Marketa's it seems kind of like a "boring" type place. ;-)

Here is a link to her "About Me" page
http://www.marketas.com/hosts.shtml

nbujic

Victoria is small, one can walk most places.
Don't miss the Museum ( First nations masks are fantastic) and the Art Gallery
( great Inuit art).

Daniel_Williams

Wow

Post something in the morning and look how many responses I discover in the evening! How Superb! Beacon Hill Park has been duly noted as has Government House; I'll make sure to plan strolls by these two!

Thanks for the heads-up about hailing cabs SusaninToronto! Best wishes to everyone for all your myriad thoughts! DAN

sinecure

While not technically parks, I enjoy taking the walkway from the inner harbor up to fisherman's wharf, where there is a great local restaurant called Barb's fish and Chips. As well, the back side of the Parliament buildings are quire nice, and the source of many wedding photo's.

-S

Daniel_Williams

Thanks so much for taking the time out to share your thoughts for my visit to Victoria this year (which took place a year later than originally intended).

Here's my trip report if you're interested.

Victoria Visit

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35141002