Whale Watching from Victoria BC - cimplete your vacation

This is a great time to go whale watching around Victoria. There are three resident pods and many transient whales that move through our waters making the opportunity of seeing whales on any given tour absolutely great. We recently went out with Springtide Charters and came across about 70 of the resident Orcas. It was a great experience on a great boat with super friendly staff. We highly recommend it. In order to truly experience Victoria you have to get out on the water. Springtide have a large covered ocean cruiser (the Marauder IV) and and two zodiacs (the Strongtide and the GoldenEye) if you are looking for even more excitement (the ride). Check them out.

For more information on whale watching opportunities, click here.

Winter Gardening Workshop and Lunch with Byron Cook

Join head gardener of Sooke Harbour House, Byron Cook, for an informational workshop and learn how, what, where and why to grow edible plants for winter harvests! Workshop will be held Saturday, August 21st, beginning at 10 am with an optional lunch following. Workshop is $30 per person, lunch is an additional $35. We look forward to welcoming you to the Inn soon! Call 250-642-3421 to purchase your tickets or purchase here using PAYPAL.

For more information on Sooke Harbour House, click here.

BC Day Inner Harbour Victoria BC

BC Day is on the first few days of August every year and on the Sunday of that weekend...first Sunday in August, Symphony Splash takes place in the Inner Harbour. The Symphony plays on a floating barge in the harbour to about 50,000 appreciative spectators. This is the busiest and most exciting weekend in Victoria. Check out the photo pictorial on Facebook and see what fun you can have on this weekend in Victoria. 50,000 people can't be wrong.

For more information on Victoria activities, click here.

Long Sword Training Comes to Victoria

On the BC Day long weekend, I stumbled upon a sword fight in the Inner Harbour. This elderly man was trying to take the head off this beautiful but adept maiden. It looked like something out of the Highlander. In fact it was. Master Instructor F. Braun McAsh was the instructor who trained the Highlander sword play. He is an incredible swordsman and has a historical knowledge that seems second to none. While he fought to the death in the Inner Harbour he also educated those lucky enough to pass by.

Why you ask? Well, they were promoting an upcoming course in Victoria. On August 14 and 15, at eh James Bay Community Centre, you can attend this special course. For bookings and information, contact Al Dales at 604-612-9965. The instructor for the course is Braun and he can be contacted at 604-291-8371. Don't miss this exciting opportunity if you ever dreamed of being a knight, robin hood, Zorro or whomever. Make your childhood or adult dreams come true! Sign up soon...be taught by the Master!

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Earls Restaurant at the Bay Centre in Victoria BC

Last week we attended a tasting promotion at Earls on Government Street in the Bay Centre. We have to be honest and say that we had not been in Earls since they moved from their old location on Blanshard 4 years ago. We often went there before, but had not been since. We remember the old Elephant and Castle that was at this location and it was not that great and always seemed dark and dingy. So, we stayed away. What a mistake. New menu, new decor, new staff, new attitude - all good. Check out the photo pictorial. The food was delicious. We will be back! Try it, you wont be disappointed. Everyone of the tapas style dishes we tasted was a mini version of items from their menu. The point was to give us a broad taste of what they have to offer. Everything, and I mean everything we tasted was excellent. No just good, but oh so tasty. Ron used to love the ribs at Milestones and they took them off the menu. Now the best ribs in Victoria are at Earls. He know where he will be going for my ribs. This is an excellent restaurant, certainly one of Victoria's best. Give it a try. You will not be disappointed. To see a photo pictorial of Earls Restaurant- click here.

For more information about Victoria restaurants, click here.

DINOSAURS ALIVE and THE ULTIMATE WAVE TAHITI at the IMAX VICTORIA

(Photos courtesy of Imax Theatre Victoria)

DINOSAURS ALIVE is a global adventure of science and discovery -- featuring the earliest dinosaurs of the Triassic Period to the monsters of the Cretaceous "reincarnated" life-sized for the giant IMAX® screen. Through the magic of Imax we were able to journey with some of the world's preeminent paleontologists as they uncover evidence that the descendents of dinosaurs still walk (or fly) among us. From the exotic, trackless expanses and sand dunes of Mongolia's Gobi Desert to the dramatic sandstone buttes of New Mexico, the film follows paleontologists as they explore some of the greatest dinosaur finds in history. Through the magic of scientifically accurate computer-generated animation, these newly discovered creatures, and some familiar favorites, come alive on screen in a really big way in a big way! It is narrated by Michael Douglas. Take it in as it is very worthwhile!

THE ULTIMATE WAVE TAHITI plunges into the stunning beauty of an island paradise on a quest to find the perfect wave-riding experience. Nine-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater and Tahitian surfer Raimana Van Bastolaer are amazing as they seek out the best waves breaking on the reef at Tahiti's famed surf site Teahupo'o. As the quest unfolds, we are plunged beneath the surface of things, to explore the hidden forces at work shaping ocean waves and the islands that lie in their path.
Amidst playful surfing action, the film navigates the cosmos and an ocean storm in a search for the source and nature of a wave's energy. Exploring mountainous Tahiti, the film thrusts into the turbulent volcanic past of the island and its neighbors and discover the seagoing, wave-riding roots of the islanders themselves -- a culture still rich in the music, dance and lore of the sea. Beneath the ocean, swimming with our surfers, the film explores the stunning, fragile beauty of the reef habitat -- a turbulent, wave-shaping interface that envelops the island and nurtures the ocean's multitudes in motion -- fish, dolphins, sharks and whales.
When the truly big surf arrives at Teahupo'o, surfing play becomes surfing survival as the riders artfully tackle some of the heaviest surf on the planet -- spectacularly captured for the giant screen for the first time. Very educational and well photographed. Check it out at the Imax Web Site.

For what else to do in Victoria, click here.