Milner Gardens Art & Photography in the Garden

Milner Gardens Art & Photography in the Garden
July 17th & 18th from 10:00am to 5:00pm (last entry at 4:30pm)

Meet, mingle and be inspired by local artists at work, painting, sketching, carving and photographing the beauty of this Artist’s Garden. Bonsai artists, potters, and live music. Artwork silent auction in support of the Gardens. Hand stamp allows re-entry Sunday.

The Tea Room opens early from 11:00am to 4:00pm for homemade soups and scones.

For more information call 250-752-6153 or http://www.milnergardens.org/

See photos on facebook

Milner Gardens & Woodland Music in the Garden
August 14 & 15 2010,

Classics on Saturday and Jazz on Sunday. Music from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m., rain or shine.


Tickets may be purchased at Milner Gardens in person or by phone, and in person only at Vancouver Island University Main Campus Bookstore and Turley’s Florists in Nanaimo, and the Parksville, Nanoose and Qualicum Beach branches of the Coastal Community Credit Union.

Single day: Regular $30, Members/youth/VIU student $25

Both days: Regular $55, Members/youth/VIU student $45

Gate opens at 11:30 a.m. Please show your Milner Gardens membership card for discounted tickets.

Wine, beer and food sales available. No off site liquor permitted.

Tickets are non-refundable, and may be purchased at gate. Sorry, on August 14th and 15th the garden is open only to ticket holders. No pets permitted except guide and assistance dogs.

For more information call 250-752-6153 or www.milnergardens.org

Botanical Beach Port Renfrew west of Victoria on Vancouver Island

Botanical Beach is one of my favourite places on Vancouver Island. At low tide a whole shelf of the rocky coastline is exposed leaving hundreds of large tide pools. We took Don, Betty and Dan there to share it with them. It is such a phenomenal place you have to see it to believe it. Check out my pictures. Click Here. The scenery is spectacular and you are standing on the west end of Juan de Fuca Strait looking out into the Pacific Ocean. Across the Strait you will see the American shore of Juan de Fuca Strait around Neah Bay. The scenery is spectacular. There is generally lots of wave action and the tide pools are amazing. You need to go on a low tide, the lower the better. You can go on any tide below 3 feet and you should see lots. The spring and summer are the best times because the low tides occur during daytime. Have fun and be sure to look at the pictures.

Blackfish Tours aboard the Aquatania to Fort Rodd Hill

Blackfish is the newest tour company in town. If you would like a truly unique and interesting tour from Fisherman's Wharf to Fort Rodd Hill aboard a 45 foot ocean going canoe, this is the tour for you. Captain Al is fulfilling a dream with his new tour company. The Aquatania is sea worthy and will take you for a tour of Fort Rodd Hill and the oldest lighthouse on the west coast, the Fisgard Lighthouse. There is so much to see along the way, you will be amazed. This is a great tour, so check it out. If you live in Victoria, you will still be amazed. Not often do Victorian's get to see this view of their harbour and shoreline. Give Al a call. To see a pictorial of the tour, click here.

Chateau Victoria - A Great Victoria Hotel worth a visit

Whether it is Clive's Classic Cocktail Lounge you stop by for one of their legendary cocktails, or the Vista 18 for dinner, you will be thoroughly impressed by the great food, the selection of drinks and the helpful and friendly staff at the Chateau Victoria. We just toured the hotel and I would certainly recommend it to any of my friends and acquaintances. The rooms are reasonable priced but the services in the hotel are second to none. They have great chefs that produce quality and very tasty items. If you click here you will be taken to our Facebook site for a photo pictorial of the hotel. The views from the rooms and especially from Vista 18 are the best in the city. Check it out on your next visit to downtown Victoria. The location is great, only two blocks from the Inner Harbour and all the action downtown Victoria has to offer. At the very least, drop by Clive's Classic Cocktail Lounge for a drink after work. Tell them Ron sent you.

Habour Ferries - Victoria BC - Get out an see our Inner Harbour

Escape to Victoria's Harbour for 2 days of unlimited harbour hops and discounted Harbour experiences with the new Harbour Holiday Pass. These guys do such a great job of the harbour tours. They know the harbour intimately and are oh so friendly. You can get on and off and see all the sights along the way. Be sure to include this water experience when you are in Victoria. They also do a cool "ballet". Five skippers dance their boats through a charming rendition of the Blue Danube in the Water Ballet which is performed in Victoria’s Inner Harbour every Sunday at 10:45 am, from May to September. The performance can be seen and heard from the Inner Harbour causeway. In fact, most Sundays we find hundreds of people waiting for the boats to appear. Check out Victoria's Harbour Ferry.
For more pictures, Click Here.

Victoria Taste - Festival of Food and Wine

Victoria's first annual festival of food and wine... a local taste of Vancouver Island and the wine regions of British Columbia. July 15-18.
Taste uncorks Thursday July 15, 2010 with an evening tasting of more than 100 British Columbia wines and local cuisine prepared by top Vancouver Island chefs. Not just a wine festival, Taste is a culinary tourism experiences all around downtown Victoria, as well as farms and vineyards throughout the Saanich Peninsula... an extra long weekend of tastings, seminars and events Thursday July 15, 2010 through Sunday July 18, 2010.

They also offer special events and tours. Check out Victoria Taste. For more pictures Click Here.

Ocean River Sports - get out on the Water Victoria BC

If you spend time on an Island without a boat, you are just like bird poo on the rocks. Ocean River Sports can make your dreams come true. The have the boats, the staff, the knowledge and the skill to show you the time of your life. When you are on the water in Victoria, you just never know what you will see. It might be whales, seals, sea lions, eagles, and a host of other marine life. To find out, you need to be on the water. To see more pictures, Click Here. They can put you in places like what you see above. Check them out. 1`824 Store Street.

Rain Forest Tours Victoria BC Guided Tours

Rainforest Tours can take you into the wilderness that surrounds Victoria. You will be amazed at what you can see so close to Victoria.
Rainforest Tours offers guided adventures into the spectacular beauty of Vancouver Island’s temperate rainforests. From lush rainforest canopies and hidden waterfalls, to colourful and rich tidal pools teaming with diverse sea life, the parks we explore will take your breath away.

Rainforest Tours experienced guides are highly skilled and eager to share their love and knowledge of the natural surroundings.

Whether you join a guided hiking tour or create your own customized adventure, your day will end with your senses truly indulged and your thirst to experience Vancouver Island’s rainforests fully satisfied. For more pictures click here.

Golf Central - Get in the Game Victoria BC

Golf Central Tours is a business that can put you on some amazing golf courses. Complete tours area offered. If you want to see the best courses on Vancouver Island, these guys know where they are. Check them out. For more pictures, Click Here. If you have golf questions, give them a call.

Lido Bistro Victoria BC on the Inner Harbour

I just discovered this year old restaurant right on the edge of our beautiful Inner Harbour. The have a wonderful menu and if the appies we had are any indication of the quality of the rest of the menu, visitors to the Lido Bistro are in for a treat. The Bistro is at 1234 S. Wharf Street. Go down the stairs from Wharf Street and you are there. Great beer, super food, a spectacular view of the Inner Harbour...wow! Thanks to Chef Fauna Martin for some great treats. For more pictures Click Here

3-Hour Sail -visit International Fleet Anchorage AND SHOWS

Saturday June 12th the 3-Hour Sail is offering a special event sailing to share the naval celebrations with our visitors. We will depart at 11AM and sail to the International Fleet Anchorage. At 11:30 the will be a Skyhawks parachute show. At 12:00 there will be a military fly past. At 12:30 the Snowbirds perform an aerial acrobatic show. All of this under sail! We will return at 2PM.

As always, guests can bring along whatever they like to eat and drink. We have everything they may need ie: cooler, ice, glasses, wind and waterproof gear, blankets, sunscreen etc.

Come celebrate our naval history aboard the historic Tall ship THANE!

DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY

Spa Sirona in Cook Street Village Victoria BC

Spa Sirona is the newest Spa in Victoria. It is the Spa in Cook Street Village in Victoria BC. It is a family project created by concerned owners and that is reflected in the decor and the amenities in the Spa. The staff must have been carefully chosen as they are outgoing, friendly and helpful. The Spa has a number of well equipped treatment rooms and provides most Spa services. The main room offers pedicure and manicures while you sit and get a chair massage. The chairs provide excellent massage. Nice combination. Tonight was a special opening for members of the Victoria Guest Services Network. Guests were well taken care of by the staff and management. The Spa offers many spa services and does a lot of special events. Check them out at #3-313 Cook Street in the heart of Cook Street Village. If you would like to view a few pictures, click here. Above, guests enjoy the massage chairs. Make sure you pay them a visit. You will be glad you did.

Highland Pacific Golf Course Victoria BC

Today I was invited along with a tourism and hospitality group to check out the new course at Highland Pacific Golf Course. It is a spectacular course that has been very well designed making it one of the best courses in Victoria. Check out my facebook page to see a photo pictorial of the golf course. Most of the holes on the course are signature holes. The course is well manicured and the greens are in great shape. There is a paved cart path throughout the course. The two-tier practice range is superb and it has a chipping and putting area off to the side. The pro shop is well equipped and the range restaurant has very good food (see range club sandwich above...mmm good).

Everything at Highland Pacific is first class. Well done. Check it out, you will be glad you did. Be sure to bring along your camera.

Bay Pub in Cowichan Bay - Great Food

We had a visit to Cowichan Bay in search of great food. We hit the motherload at the Bay Pub. Check our pictures on our facebook site. The food was great, service was good and the views spectacular. The have very good fish and chips and their chowder is award winnning year after year. If you are heading to Cowichan Bay near Duncan, check it out. You will be glad you did.

Victoria Waterfront June 1 and 2 - Fog, Sun, Rain, Sun and High Winds

Yesterday and today we played tourist and spent some time along the waterfront between Clover Point and the Ogden Point Breakwater along Dallas Road in Victoria BC. We started day one in dense fog and low tide and then the sun burned off the fog. That night it rained and then today we spent time at Clover Point in brilliant sun and high winds. There was lots of marine traffic and lots to see. Spring brings the lowest tides of the year so there is lots of shoreline that we rarely get to see. Check out our pictures, click here.