Victoria, B.C., is famous for its beauty, but it’s in the fall when the landscape shifts from being simply spectacular to “wow.”
The view from the B.C. Ferries ride alone from the mainland is breathtaking. As the ship glides between the coast and the many tiny islands dotting the Strait of Georgia, the transition from summer to fall is obvious. It’s when the trees lining the route, typically so green, begin to take on jewel tones of red, gold and yellow.
It also doesn’t hurt that Victoria is one of the top 10 sunniest cities in Canada, with an average of almost 2,200 hours of sunshine yearly and an eight month frost-free season — my kind of weather.
During a recent sunny weekend in Victoria we explored the Inner Harbour, which accommodates recreational vessels, small cruise ships, float planes, whale watching and ecotourism businesses, a water taxi service and an international ferry terminal with connections to Port Angeles and Seattle. The Inner Harbour is also where you’ll find some of the most talented buskers in Canada, horse and carriage rides and an innovative food and cocktail scene as sophisticated as the world travellers who seek out Victoria for its beauty and history.
Anyone planning a fall trip to Victoria should consider the weeks leading up to and including Halloween, especially if you have grandchildren, because this city truly embraces everything that’s fun about this holiday. My husband and I visited Victoria prior to Halloween last year and had a really fun time with my grandson, who turns seven this November.
Here are a few ideas for fall fun in Victoria:
Royal B.C. Museum: Mammoths Giants of the Ice Age: On now through Dec. 31.
Victoria Ghostly Walks: Your ghoulish guide will take you on a walk through Chinatown, Market "Scare," the Inner Harbour and Bastion Square telling ghastly tales from Victoria's notorious gold rush featuring a beheading, a Jack the Ripper-style killing, a bloody murder in a brothel and how Victoria came to have the West Coast's only ghost ship. Oct. 14 to 31.
Annual Zombie Walk: Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. in downtown Victoria.
Pumpkin Pursuit: Recurring daily in downtown Victoria from Oct. 24 to 31.
For more information on events and schedules visit tourismvictoria.com.
Where to stay: During our most recent visit, we stayed at the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour Hotel, which proved to be a really convenient, centrally-located home base for all of the exploring we did. And because the sun was out, we enjoyed time on the patio of the Marriott’s Fire and Water Fish and Chop House, where we sipped B.C. wine and shared a thoughtful charcuterie plate and some fabulous Korean-inspired short ribs. The Marriott’s executive chef David Roger and his culinary team are obviously inspired by the abundance of local, sustainable and fresh ingredients available to them from the Pacific West Coast. Look for special packages and rates at marriottvictoria.com.
The Inn at Laurel Point is offering two Halloween packages, available from Oct. 20 to 31: one scary room (think Alfred Hitchcock, circa 1963) and one not-so-scary room (think Mel Stuart, circa 1971). For the “trickers” Inn at Laurel Point is offering the creepy Birds Suite, which includes:
- One unforgettable night amongst The Birds in an ultra-lux Studio Suite
- A dark surprise from pastry chef Kimberly Vy
- A bottle of Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon, perfect for sipping amongst The Birds
- Parking
- Two tickets to Victoria’s own Horror Escape
For the “treaters” the Inn is offering the Treat Suite, offering so much candy dental professionals around Victoria will be thanking them. This Oompa Loompa themed experience includes:
- One shockingly sweet night in an ultra-lux studio suite
- A confectionary surprise from pastry Chef Kimberly Vy
- Two perfectly chilled bottles of Voo Doo Doughnut Beer
- Parking
- Two tickets to Victoria’s own Horror Escape
- A guaranteed sugar rush
This Halloween, it won’t just be children trick-or-treating at the Inn. Guests who choose "trick" when they check-in from Oct. 28 to 31 can go bobbing to receive a complimentary upgrade or one night of free parking. For more information, visit www.laurelpoint.com
Getting there: We took a B.C. Ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, a trip that takes about one hour and 40-minutes each way. During the summer months, B.C. Ferries increases the number of sailings it schedules to hourly on most days. Tip: When travelling without grandchildren, we often pay the extra cost to retreat to the SeaWest Lounge, where for about $12 travellers can enjoy complimentary Starbucks coffee, a variety of teas, pastries, cheese, fruit and more newspapers and magazines than a person could possibly read, even after repeat sailings. It’s also a “quiet” lounge, where loud cell phone conversations — and children — are strictly forbidden.
