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Sometime between mid-December and the end of February the signs of spring start surfacing in Victoria. It starts with crocuses and snow-drops.

These are followed closely with daffodils and tulips. While these are popping out of the ground, the plum and cherry trees start turning pink first.

Then the green leaves start to unfurl filling the city with more green than the evergreens and ivy the winter provides. Victoria is the first place in Canada to get spring!

During my walks through the University’s Finnerty Gardens, just blocks from my house, I have noticed all of this happening at the beginning of February this year. There are some purple azaeles already in full display.

Each walk I pass through spring fragrance that almost takes my breath away. There are rhododenrons that are starting to blossom. Although they are just in the beginning stages, it will not be long before the gardens start to fill with color.

Ron Kirstein is the owner of a Canadian Travel & Tourism Web
site (since 1995). Ron has traveled the length and breadth
of Vancouver Island BC Canada in search of
adventures; see http://tourismmall.victoria.bc.ca/travelmagazine

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Travelling north from Nanaimo on the Inland Island Highway, there’s a stretch of wilderness before you reach the Comox Valley. It’s so easy to tell when you arrive in the first metropolitan area on the northern part of Vancouver Island. On your left are the snow-capped Beaufort Mountains and the Comox Glacier defining the western edge of the valley. The salty sea of the Georgia Strait to your right defines the eastern edge of the valley. Rocky snow covered peaks roll gently down to the valleys below.

Forests, alpine meadows, crystal clear rivers, sandy beaches and bucolic farmland make up the beautiful Comox Valley. The Comox Valley extends from Fanny Bay in the South to Saratoga Beach in the North, a distance of about 30 miles or 50 kilometers. It is the Recreation Capital of Vancouver Island. Only in the Comox Valley can you ski, golf, fish, kayak and scuba dive all on the same day. Choose a vacation filled with outdoor adventures or check out the incredible artistic and cultural community - the four museums, the live theatre performances, the many local festivals and attractions - or you can go shopping in the many boutique-style stores.

We arrived at our beautiful accommodations at the historic “Ship’s Point Inn” near Fanny Bay. This distinguished Inn is a serene Bed and Breakfast nestled on the shore of Ships Point. The manicured gardens and flower-covered arbour entry greet you as you drive into the parking area. The Inn has a garden gazebo, a covered hot tub and a deck overlooking miles of ocean scenery. In the distance you can hear the sea lions discussing their day.

The Inn has six elegantly appointed rooms, with views of the Baynes Sound and Georgia Strait.

The Inn is at the end of Ships Point Road and is well away from the Oceanside Route Highway into Courtenay and Comox. From the spacious deck you can see snow-capped mountains, sea lions, eagles, the Denman Island ferry dock and ocean cruise ships traveling to and from to Alaska.

It’s so peaceful and the sunsets are very special indeed. This 4 Star Inn is a great romantic retreat or just a great place to get away and relax. The area is perfect for “antiquing”, visiting art galleries, beach-walking, cycling, bird- watching, fishing, golfing, hiking and kayaking.

Check out the Comox Vacation Deals

Fanny Bay is home of the world famous Fanny Bay Oysters. Check with the Inn staff and they will tell you where to get a feed of these great oysters. Fanny Bay is also the gateway to Denman and Hornby Islands with regular BC Ferry service. To get to Hornby Island you must first take the ferry to Denman, drive across the island and the take a well-timed ferry to Hornby.

Once we checked in, we were off to have some lunch. One of our local friends recommended the Monte Cristo. This restaurant is situated on the Courtenay River and the deck hangs over a tributary. The meal was excellent and since we were celebrating a birthday, the staff responded by bringing the “birthday girl” a special cake. This restaurant has been recommended by a number of people and is one of the best in Courtenay.

After lunch we decided to visit the world’s best little tourist trap, the Coombs Country market. This gem of a country store is famous for the goats that live on the grass roof above the store. The owner shops the world and fills the store with unique gifts and specialty food items. Coombs is not in the Comox Valley, but being in Fanny Bay makes so many things central. Coombs is only a 30 minute drive south and west of Fanny Bay. The Coombs Country Market has a deli, a produce section, bakery, and incredible crafts from around the world and probably the best ice cream bar on Vancouver Island. The 40-foot ice cream bar offers over 30 flavors of ice cream as well as sorbet and gelato (Italian ice cream). The Coombs Country Market has spawned a village of other establishments that thrive because of the draw of the market. On the return trip to Fanny Bay, we followed the scenic Oceanside Route (Highway19a). It travels through Qualicum Beach, Bowser, Lighthouse, and other communities.

Ron Kirstein is the owner of a Canadian Travel & Tourism Web
site (since 1995). Ron has traveled the length and breadth
of Vancouver Island BC Canada in search of
adventures; see http://tourismmall.victoria.bc.ca/travelmagazine

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If you are coming to Victoria soon, here is some information that might make you trip a bit more enjoyable. The weather here has been unseasonably warm floating between 7 and 10 Celsius day time highs (that is approaching 50 degrees F), not bad for winter. We have had our fair share of rain this December, but the more it rains, the warmer it is.

Start your Victoria visit at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. The Festival of Trees is on through January 4th. Visit the magical forest of decorated trees on display throughout the hotel and adjoining conference centre. You are invited to stroll the hallways and vote for your favorite tree with a minimum two-dollar donation. For more information call 250-380-1527. If you are going to the Fairmont Empress, why not make a reservation for the incredible buffet at Kipling’s. This is one of the finest buffets in Victoria and a great way to celebrate the season. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (250) 389-2727

For something unique, take in Molten Obsessions Two from November 24 to December 31, 2004. Starfish Glassworks presents Molten Obsessions 2, hosting the second Pacific Pyros members show which promises to be a diverse and funky exhibit of the group’s efforts. Emerging and established artists are represented. Exciting new work at affordable prices. This is your chance to collect early gems from future stars! Visit 630 Yates Street.

If you have nothing planned for Christmas day perhaps the Annual Christmas Dinner (Dec 25 from 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m) will fill your bill. It is prepared by the Peninsula Christmas Dinner Committee and takes place at the Mary Winspear Centre in beautiful Sidney by the Sea, just 25 minutes from downtown Victoria. For more information call (250) 655-6417 or Email: sidneycomdev@telus.net. Also contact The Mary Winspear Centre @ Sanscha & Charlie White Theatre Box Office - (250) 656-0275 or www.sanscha.com or info@sanscha.com
Peninsula Celebrations Society - (250) 656-4365.

Annual Christmas Celebrations take place at the Butchart Gardens from December 1 to January 6. Tens of thousands of lights brighten the holiday season. This winter wonderland is made even brighter by strolling carollers, children’s entertainers, and a festive brass band. Great food is served up in the Poppyseed restaurant. Butchart Gardens is at 800 Benvenuto Avenue. Phone: (250) 652-4422

For a glimpse of Christmas past, visit Craigdarroch Castle a cast you eyes on a brilliant example of historic Victorian decorations and lights in the 1890’s castle built by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir.

Christmas at Craigdarroch is celebrated traditionally with festive music. Tour the lavishly decorated castle, replete with Victorian decorations, hundreds of lights, singers and entertainment.

This year the theme is “A Child’s Christmas” and displays of children’s clothing as well as antique toys and furniture heighten your experience of Christmas in a bygone era.

Plan your visit in advance. Several ticketed events add significance to a Victorian Christmas experience: The Curator’s Dinner and Tour, Sweet Night Music; and Hogmanay, A Scottish New Year’s Celebration. Craigdarroch is open daily: 10am - 4:30pm, however it is closed Christmas Day(Dec.25), Boxing Day (Dec.26) and New Year’s Day(Jan.1). It is located at 1050 Joan Crescent (off Fort Street). Contact the castle at: Phone: (250) 592-5323, Fax: (250) 592-1099 or Email: info@craigdarrochcastle.com

A very special show is now on at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Be sure to take in The French Masters, featuring works of art by Degas, Delacroix, Gericault, David, and Cezanne. Masterworks of 19th Century French Realism and French Drawings are two separate exhibitions from the National Gallery of Canada that, combined, present over three centuries of French drawings and paintings by some of France’s most prestigious and celebrated artists. This exhibition ends in mid February.

The sixteen masterful paintings included in Masterworks of 19th Century French Realism include Degas, Cezanne, Courbet, Millet, Corot and Daumier. The exhibition features many stunningly landscapes as well as spectacular portraits of ordinary people.

The French Drawings exhibition of over 70 drawings as it surveys the works of French masters art from 16th to the 19th centuries. This extraordinary collection of works includes artists: Callot, Le Brun, Watteau, Fragonard, David, Delacroix, Gericault, Degas, Puvis de Chavannes and Redon. For further information, contact the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria at (250) 384-4101.

The Butchart Gardens are celebrating their 100th birthday and have transformed the gardens into spectacular displays of Christmas lights. As you wander through the glorious paths, the imaginative light shows illuminating the colourful flowerbeds will dazzle you.

Butchart Gardens Christmas Lights

The 12 days of Christmas are displayed with special scenes as you move through each Garden to the jolly sound of carollers singing traditional Christmas songs. If you are lucky, it might even snow, which makes the event even more spectacular. Snow is really rare in Victoria, but it can happen. In Victoria, you generally do not shovel snow, you simply wait for it to melt.

Many of the hotels have special Christmas packages. For example, try the Queen Victoria Hotel & Suites at www.qvhotel.com or call 1-800-663-7007.

Butchart Gardens Christmas Lights

A unique event takes place at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. From November 18th to January 3rd — check out the “Festival of Trees”. Groups and organizations throughout Victoria have decorated Christmas trees with themes that represent their business, organization or group. Visitors vote for the trees and the money raised goes to charity. There is no charge. Donations are asked for when you make your vote.

Victoria is the home of the Pacific Naval Fleet and from December 16 to 31, 2004 you can take in the 17th Annual Navy Lighting Contest at CFB Esquimalt. Come see all the ships lit up!

Buses pick up viewers off Admirals Road from 6 pm to 9 pm. Buses will ferry visitors around HMC Dockyard for the 20-minute tour. Parking will be available at the Naden entrance to the base, off Admirals Road, with buses leaving every 20 minutes. Closed Christmas Day.

Admission is by cash donation or a non-perishable food item for the Mustard Seed Food Bank.

Enjoy your visit to Victoria this Christmas Season and through New Years.

If you want a truly memorable Christmas or New Year, contact Sahhali Serenity Luxury B&B on Pender Island. This will be a get-a-way that you will never forget. Contact Peny at: 1-877-625-2583, she has specials throughout the holiday season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR….
Home — Victoria — Vancouver Island

Ron Kirstein is the owner of a Canadian Travel & Tourism Web
site (since 1995). Ron has traveled the length and breadth
of Vancouver Island BC Canada in search of
adventures; see http://tourismmall.victoria.bc.ca/travelmagazine

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