Could someone please post the best route from Sidney, BC to Nanaimo? Hoping there's a way to cut off some of the distance getting to Rt 1. We'll be arriving by ferry about 5:30 pm on a Wednesday in August. Thanks.

Assuming you're taking a ferry from Anacortes to Sidney, you can always cut time by driving further north to Tsawwassen BC, and just taking a ferry directly from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo.

Yes, Carmanah has a really good point. If, however, you do end up in Sidney, there's really only one way to go. You have to drive down Highway 17 to Mackenzie, which is about 20 minutes or so - could be longer if there is a lot of ferry traffic going the same way. You turn right on Mackenzie and have about a 5-minute trip to Highway 1. From there it's about 2 hours, more or less, to Nanaimo.

There is a shortcut you can take so you don't have to go all the way to McKenzie but you are arriving at a busy time of night. I always take this route and haven't had much trouble with traffic but some people have said it is quite busy now. You take the Royal Oak exit and turn right. The road becomes Wilkinson Road at the stop light. Continue on Wilkinson Road for some distance. You will come to the intersection of Interurban - and at that point the road becomes Helmcken. That will take you to the highway. So basically you are staying on the same road only it changes names a few times. Hope that isn't too confusing - its easier than it sounds.

Or you could take the Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay ferry. That would cut off having to drive all the way into Victoria.

Thanks for your comments. We will be coming from San Juan Island, so must come into Sidney.

Traveller69: I see the route you mentioned on the map. It looks pretty easy, and the traffic can't be as bad as New Jersey's. I guess it's just smaller, confusing roads north of Royal Oak to cut through to Rt 1?

Cruiseryyc: We would love to take the ferry, but were advised that it would take about the same amount of time, and we have 4 cars in our group.

On our return from Tofino, we're staying in Oak Bay. I plotted the following route; please comment.
Rt 1 to McKenzie to Cedar Hill to Richmond to Oak Bay to Newport. Is that going through a good (not industrial) part of the city? Any preference for Rt 1 to Bay St to Richmond to Oak Bay to Newport? Or would taking McKenzie to Beach be best? Just trying to avoid some of the downtown traffic.

The only problem I can see with the Royal Oak/Wilkinson route is the intersection at Interurban. During rush hour that one spot can take so long to get through that you're not really saving any appreciable amount of time getting to the highway. You can run into the same sort of problem at Burnside and Mackenzie, but lately, at least since the beginning of summer, that hasn't been nearly as bad.

For your drive to Oak Bay, I would be tempted to take Quadra to Bay rather than any other southbound route. I work at Royal Jubilee Hospital and always take Quadra south from Mackenzie. It moves a lot more smoothly than the streets that are parallel to it, although you have to be careful because the speed limit is pretty low along there. I would certainly avoid taking Route 1 (which turns into Douglas Street) or 17 (which turns into Blanshard Street) south from Mackenzie. They're both very slow going with a lot of traffic lights.

Meetshare - I think the Interurban shouldn't be too bad by the time Clousie gets there. The ferry doesn't get into Sidney until 5:30 so I they wouldn't be there until 6ish when it will have cleared a bit.

The route I like to take to Oak Bay (we have a place at Windsor and Newport) is to take McKenzie to Cedar Hill Cross Rd all the way to Cadboro Bay Rd and take Landsdowne or one of the side streets down to Beach Drive. The houses and area are lovely there so it would be a nice drive. Clousie you have a map of Victoria so you can see what I mean. It avoids any of the city traffic and is very pretty. Where are you staying in Oak Bay?

<i>I guess it's just smaller, confusing roads north of Royal Oak to cut through to Rt 1?</i>

Yes, I sometimes go that way but usually take the more direct Royal Oak route traveller69 mentions.

Following his/her route to Oak Bay, you could make a slight detour off Cedar Hill X Road beyond Richmond Rd., turn right into Mt. Tolmie Park and cross right over down to Richmond Rd. (Mt. Tolmie is not very high but you can get a bird's eye view without even getting out of the car.) Turn left onto Richmond, then left at the lights onto Lansdowne. You can't miss the intersection - just look for the college grounds on the corner.

Travell69: We're staying at Oak Bay Guest House, which seems to be quite close to your place. I gave our small hiking/walking group a choice of staying in downtown or Oak Bay, and immediately they all chose Oak Bay.

I've been to Victoria twice, so think I'll spend most of my 1 1/2 days walking around Oak Bay and along the water. Any special suggestions of things to see, places to walk or eat? Some of the group, of course, plan to go to Butchard Gardens. What is the correct pronounciation of that?

Butchart - &quot;But&quot; pronounced like &quot;Put&quot; and &quot;chart&quot; is just chart.

Hi Clousie

You are just a block away from our place. Oak Bay is a great spot to walk around so its a good choice. One lovely spot close to you on Fairfield (your hosts will give you directions) is the Abkhazi Gardens. If you google it you get better pictures from some of the links the B&amp;B's have rather than the Abkhazi website. Its within walking distance from your B&amp;B. The Oak Bay Marina just across the street from you has an excellent restaurant. They serve lunch and dinner (maybe breakfast - haven't gone there for that) Downstairs at the marina level is a more casual deli style cafe that serves salads, sandwiches quiches etc. You can sit outside and watch the activities including the seals (or sea lions)that are begging for attention. In the park as you walk along you will see &quot;my swing&quot;. They have an old fashioned double seated swing which we like to sit on. We get quite indignant if someone is on it when we walk over there as we think it was put there just for us. Have you ever been to Craigdarroch Castle? If you are looking for interesting local things to do I recommend going there as well. It does have a fascinating story behind it. http://www.craigdarrochcastle.com/
April recommended going over Mt. Tolmie and if you don't take that route on your arrival I would certainly find time to do it at some point. The view from up there is spectacular. I usually take that route in the off season as the tour buses always end up there so it can get a little crowded. You really get an idea of the area as it is a panoramic view.
In the village of Oak Bay we like the Pennyfarthing Pub http://www.pennyfarthingpub.com/
Its a little more authentic than the other pubs and if you go in the evening there is usually someone on the piano and of course singalongs!
Also check http://www.oakbaytourism.com/. There may be something happening when you are in town. Enjoy your visit!!!

Since you apparently like to walk, may I suggest part of my old running route, which you could do from your hotel. From Central Ave. turn onto Island Road heading toward the water. That section of Island Road is like a little country lane and runs beside Anderson Hill Park (aka Blueberry Hill). Wander into the park and then back out toward the ocean. At Beach Drive turn left. The road takes you through the golf course with the waterfront view. In August you might find some blackberries to pick and eat along the way.

http://www.oakbaytourism.com/activit...ture_areas.htm

I don't recommend the viewpoint at Mt. Doug to everyone because some don't like the uphill climb from the parking lot, but it is especially nice on a clear morning or evening. If you're driving out that way you might want to take it in for the 360° views that include the Gulf Islands and Washington State mountains. But it's not just the views - something about the atmosphere up there seems to quieten people and sometimes it's... well, enchanting. There were a lot of butterflies last time I visited.

If you're out by Craigdarroch Castle, you might as well visit the Government House grounds on Rockland Avenue while you're at it. Be sure to walk around <i>behind</i> the house. I think it's best in the spring, but it's a nice walk any time of year. I usually start down the path to the right of the house (facing the ocean), then come back out through the rose garden. It's all free.

Thanks for the info everyone!

April: On my map, there is an un-named park between Currie and Windson. Is that Anderson Hill Park that you mentioned? Island Road seems to go by it. Actually, our B&amp;B is quite close to that park on Newport and Orchard. Also, where is Mt Doug? It sounds like a special place, but although my &quot;tourist map&quot; is detailed, it only goes as far north as Lansdowne Road, so is it above that?

Traveller69: Once I send the others off on their adventures, I may just already be relaxing on that double swing! Hope you don't mind....

Although I say I don't plan to go downtown, I'm sure I will at some point. Is it a walkable distance through nice areas or should I take a bus and save my walking for other areas? We will have a car, but is parking difficult? We'll be there on a Tuesday.

Hi Clousie
Victoria (and I'm sure like so many other cities) love to change names of streets as well as directions so it can sound confusing. Mt Doug is Mount Douglas. You will see the park if you follow Royal Oak on the map. The park you see between Currie and Windsor is Windsor Park. It has a lovely rose garden in the corner but basically they use it for Cricket and outdoor events (the Symphony has a concert there every summer)etc. The park April is referring to sits behind the Victoria golf course close to the water. It is a lot smaller on the map than Windsor Park.

The walk downtown is too long I would say so take the bus. The town of Oak Bay is a nice little area to browse around in and is a good hike from your B&amp;B.

Please - you have my blessing to use My swing. We will be cooling our feet on the Oregon coast for the month of August so it is all yours!!!!!!

Any other questions???

Enjoy.

Downtown Victoria is not walkable from Oak Bay. I would leave the car and take a bus, you can catch one on Oak Bay Avenue that will take you right downtown.

Actually Traveller69 that swing belongs to me!! As a child we used to swing on it every summer when visiting our grandparents - and I have pictures to prove it!!

Cruiser - It just depends on how old you are!!!!! I would never tell when I first sat on it - of course I was just a child as well!!!!

Mt. Doug is apparently off your map, but if you were driving on Lansdowne crossing Foul Bay and then Richmond, you could turn right onto the next main street, Shelbourne. Follow Shelbourne to the end and as soon as you see the park, look (left) for the road that leads to the summit.

I agree with the others that it would be an easy walk to Oak Bay village, but better to take the bus to downtown Victoria. I don't know how they are now but the busses used to be not that frequent and it could be confusing figuring out which one to take back to Oak Bay.

April I just think that Clousie is looking for Mt Doug. I pointed out in my post that it is Mt Douglas Park so I am sure she will see it. The Mt Tolmie lookout was a great suggestion. I never get tired of driving that route - just don't take it when the cruise ships are in!!! Buses, buses buses..