Victoria is one of our favorite summertime destinations. It’s only a three hour ferry ride from Seattle, but the European architectural influence and the relaxed atmosphere makes it feels a world away. Here are the top spots we’d recommend for a weekend trip to Victoria.
BC
Planning ahead for summer fun—locally + globally.
Our favorite PNW season is nearly upon us, so we’re doing all we can get to get properly prepared. This weekend we’re giving you three things to consider—some opportunities happen just on the other side of Lake Washington, others are popping up across a much larger pond.
Ringing in the New Year in ways rockin’, rejuvenating + just plain fun.
Admittedly, we’re not all planners. As December chugs along, if you’re still finding yourself seeking a memorable way to cap off the last few hours of 2017, we’ve gathered several alluring ideas.
If you haven’t heard of Osoyoos, British Columbia before, you’re not the only one. We didn’t hear about Osoyoos until Devour! Canada’s only desert climate produces some dank-ass wine (yes, we said it) that gives Washington state a run for its money. Devour! Osoyoos brought us five hours northeast of the border to partake in a delectable celebration of some of British Columbia’s top chefs, wineries, and filmmakers in a spectacular weekend getaway experience.
Some of our favorite places in Vancouver.
There is so much to explore in Vancouver’s many vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, including outdoor activities, walking the city, and delicious places to eat and drink. Here are some of our must-do’s when we visit Vancouver. The US Dollar is still strong, with $1USD = $1.37CAD so it can be an affordable weekend getaway.
If the combination of Seattle’s infamous rainfall and our country’s current political climate have fueled your need for escapism and wanderlust, Devour! The Film Fest may be just what you need. In 2009, Chef Michael Howell hosted the inaugural event in Nova Scotia to pay tribute to exquisite cuisine, cinema, and viticulture (the science, production, and study of grapes). Its cross-country expansion to Osoyoos (o-soo-ews), British Columbia last year proved wildly successful. For the festival’s second tour of the region’s delectable offerings, this weekend-long excursion will be your best introduction to the Okanagan Valley.
We’ve always found British Columbia to be an alluring destination: The beautiful province is conveniently close to Seattle and offers an opportunity to use our passports when we’re feeling the itch. Perhaps most importantly, Canada happens to be home to some of the nicest people on the planet. (And right now, for obvious reasons, many of us feel an urge to migrate north more than ever before.)
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve fallen back for daylight savings, Thanksgiving weekend just passed, and we’ve officially entered the holiday season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are the standard celebrations, but have you considered visiting our neighbors up north for Chinese New Year? It’s a quick trip—2 hours and 15 minutes hours if there’s no traffic (check border traffic before you head out).
With a strong U.S. dollar and sunny summer weather, now is the perfect time to travel to Canada’s west coast. Vancouver is a mere 3-hour drive north and makes an awesome day or weekend trip destination. Personally, I’d recommend staying the weekend since there are so many awesome things to do, see, and eat. Like Seattle, the city is diverse and near the water, with delicious food, friendly people, and beautiful nature to explore. In addition, we are partnering with Sea to Sky Gondola to give away a pair of round trip passes to the summit.
New to Victoria’s brew scene? West Coast Brewery Tours will happily haul you and your friends in their lively van to three different breweries in the area so you can merrily get sloshed! Near the beginning of the tour, you will learn bits and pieces of Victoria’s early beer scene history from when it started in the 19th century and a bit about the current climate of craft beer in British Columbia (BC). Much like craft beer in the states and Washington in particular, craft breweries in BC are exploding. There are currently102 breweries and 36 are scheduled to open this year!
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