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Victoria Day TripsEast Sooke Regional Park Cowichan Bay Witty's Lagoon Regional Park Sooke Potholes Sidney, British Columbia Chemainus Oak BayEast Sooke Regional Park
East Sooke Regional Park has some of the best hiking along the coast of Vancouver Island. There are 50km of trails through fields, marshlands and forest. The 10km Coast Trail is for those who wish a more challenging hike. See beaches, tide pools, rocky bays and wonderful views of the Olympic Mountains and Strait of Juan de Fuca. There are three main entry points:
http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/east_sooke.htm Cowichan Bay
Cowichan Bay is for land lovers and those who enjoy the water with a blend of boats, piers, wharves and surrounding activities. Up on the hill are vineyards producing some of the best local wines available. Water activities include sailing on a twin masted ship, whale watching, boat rentals, deep sea diving and kayaking. For the land lovers, there's tennis on the 2nd oldest lawn tennis court of the world, horseback riding, hiking and biking. After you day of adventure in Cowichan Bay, enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants over looking the water and enjoying fresh seafood. http://www.cowichanbay.com/ Witty's Lagoon Regional Park
Witty's Lagoon is a large lagoon offering excellent birdwatching, over 5km of trails through marsh and woodland, a sandy beach and Nature Centre. Forested trails, views of Sitting Lady Falls, a sandy beach and pinicing in one of three pinic areas all await you. Over 160 species of birds for the birdwatcher in the family. The Nature Centre is open noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays most of the year. In July and August the centre is open Wednesday through Sunday and holiday Mondays. http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/wittys_lagoon.htm Sooke Potholes
Sooke Potholes Regional Park on the Sooke River is paradise for the swimmers. With it's cool clear water and scenery, this swimming spot is popular with locals and visitors. If you are not interested in swimming, there is a small creek to explore. Upstream is a waterfall, shallow pools and rocks to explore. http://www.sookepotholes.com/ Sidney, British Columbia20 minutes from VictoriaSidney, British Columbia, has attractions, charters and tours to fill your day. Whale watching, sailing, fishing charters, oceanfront parks and shopping are all available in Sidney. Outdoor activities include fishing charters, whale watching, golfing, kayaking, scooter and bike rentals, marine charters and scuba diving. If museums are on your list, there are three to choose from, BC Aviation Museum, Heritage Acres and Sidney Museum. http://sidneybc.com/ Chemainus1.5 hours from VictoriaLocated on the east coast of Vancouver Island, Chemainus is a small town between the mountains and sea. Originally a mining, fishing and forestry town with Chinese, Japanese, East Indians, Scots and Germans immigrants looking for their fortune Chemainus has a long history. Also home to the original First Nations people, there is the influence of Native Indian heritage within the town. Today Chemainus is famous worldwide for it's revitalization program of giant wall murals on the town's buildings. It is also home to a number of local artist galleries and museums. http://www.chemainus.com/ Oak Bay
Oak Bay is a seaside community full of one of a kind galleries, cafes and bistros, shops, and green space. Beautiful gardens are everywhere, in the public gardens and in the local private gardens. The beaches in Oak Bay are sandy and rocky with tidal pools full of aquatic life. If you are looking for art, culture, shopping or history, Oak Bay has it all. Antique store are along Oak Bay Avenue. Jewelery stores have estate and vintage jewerlery. The bookstores have the latest best sellers along with collectibles. Galleries displaying British Columbia and Canadian artists' works offer a full range of art for any budget. http://www.oakbaytourism.com/ |
